PRASIDENT - Quirimbas Archipelago
The *Präsident* isn't your typical deep, dark wreck dive. This steamship, built in 1900, sits startlingly shallow, just three metres down in the Quirimbas. It’s an unusual sight, a testament to time and the ocean's reclaiming power. We love that it’s so accessible, almost like a museum piece you can swim over. What you'll find here is less about penetration and more about the light-filled, eerie silhouette of a long-lost vessel. Sunlight streams through the water, illuminating the hull's ghostly outline. Corals, mostly hard varieties, have started to encrust the metalwork, forming small, colourful patches. Look for schools of juvenile snapper flitting between the ribs, and sometimes, if you're lucky, a green turtle might be grazing on the sparse seagrass nearby. It’s a photographer's dream on a sunny day, capturing the play of light and shadow on the aged structure. This spot is perfect for snorkelers, freedivers, and open-water divers who appreciate a historical relic in clear, calm conditions. It’s a very different experience to deeper wrecks, offering an intimate glimpse into maritime history without the pressure of depth.
- Location
- Quirimbas Archipelago, Mozambique, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- -10.500000, 39.683334
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 3m
Best Time to Dive in Quirimbas Archipelago
The warmest water temperatures in Quirimbas Archipelago occur in January, averaging 28.9°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 28.9°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.9°C (air: 27.3°C)
- February: 28.9°C (air: 27.4°C)
- March: 28.9°C (air: 27.5°C)
- April: 28.9°C (air: 27.1°C)
- May: 28.9°C (air: 26.3°C)
- June: 28.9°C (air: 25.3°C)
- July: 28.9°C (air: 24.5°C)
- August: 28.9°C (air: 24.5°C)
- September: 28.9°C (air: 24.9°C)
- October: 28.9°C (air: 25.8°C)
- November: 28.9°C (air: 26.9°C)
- December: 28.9°C (air: 27.5°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Quirimbas Archipelago
Nearest Dive Centres to PRASIDENT
Marine Life in Quirimbas Archipelago
Home to 311 recorded species including 198 reef fish, 94 hard corals, 9 sharks & rays, 3 sea snails & nudibranchs, 2 seagrass & algae, 2 jellyfish.
Notable Species
- Silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis) - Sharks & Rays
- Allison's Tuna (Thunnus albacares) - Reef Fish
- Barracuda (Acanthocybium solandri) - Reef Fish
- Flasher (Lobotes surinamensis) - Reef Fish
- Dorado (Coryphaena hippurus) - Reef Fish
- Kingston (Decapterus macarellus) - Reef Fish
- Ocean Triggerfish (Canthidermis maculata) - Reef Fish
- Salmon (Elagatis bipinnulata) - Reef Fish
- Bluespotted stingray (Neotrygon kuhlii) - Sharks & Rays
- Stripy (Katsuwonus pelamis) - Reef Fish
- Jordan's Blue Dogshark (Loxodon macrorhinus) - Sharks & Rays
- Brownbanded wrasse (Halichoeres scapularis) - Reef Fish
- Goldbar wrasse (Thalassoma hebraicum) - Reef Fish
- Argus Grouper (Cephalopholis argus) - Reef Fish
- Cape Damsel (Chrysiptera unimaculata) - Reef Fish
- Manini (Acanthurus triostegus) - Reef Fish
- Sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) - Reef Fish
- Spottail Coris (Coris caudimacula) - Reef Fish
- Blue-spotted Stingray (Taeniura lymma) - Sharks & Rays
- Red Squirrelfish (Sargocentron diadema) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for PRASIDENT
Based on average water temperature of 28.9°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories