Amoray - Sodwana Bay
Amoray, for us, is a perfect antidote to the early morning Sodwana rush. We love to drop in a little later here, just as the other boats start clearing out. You get the place to yourself, which means those shy critters are often a bit bolder. The reef itself is a riot of colour, particularly with the Organ Pipe and Flowerpot corals, and you’ll often spot a Blotched Fantail Ray gliding over the sand patches between the coral bommies. Keep an eye out for the Ocellated Cardinals tucked away in crevices – they’re masters of camouflage, but once you spot one, you’ll see them everywhere. We’ve had some cracking encounters with Raggedtooth Parrotfish here too, chomping away at the reef structure. It’s a gentle drift most days, making it ideal for photographers or anyone wanting to really slow down and appreciate the details. If you’re into macro, the nooks and crannies hold some real treasures.
- Location
- Sodwana Bay, South Africa, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- -27.540890, 32.678910
Marine Protected Area: iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area
Best Time to Dive in Sodwana Bay
The warmest water temperatures in Sodwana Bay occur in January, averaging 28.1°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 28.1°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.1°C (air: 25.1°C)
- February: 28.1°C (air: 25.2°C)
- March: 28.1°C (air: 24.5°C)
- April: 28.1°C (air: 22.7°C)
- May: 28.1°C (air: 21.1°C)
- June: 28.1°C (air: 19.1°C)
- July: 28.1°C (air: 18.8°C)
- August: 28.1°C (air: 19.5°C)
- September: 28.1°C (air: 20.6°C)
- October: 28.1°C (air: 21.6°C)
- November: 28.1°C (air: 23.3°C)
- December: 28.1°C (air: 24.6°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Sodwana Bay
- 2 Mile Reef - 5-20m (reef)
- 2 Mile Reef Pinnacles (reef)
- 2 Mile Reef Pinnacles (pinnacle)
- 2 Mile Stringer (reef)
- 2 Mile Stringer (wreck)
- 300 - 48m (wreck)
- 3 Mile Reef Hotspots (reef)
- 3 Mile Reef Hotspots (wreck)
- 7 Mile Reef (reef)
- 7 Miles Reef (reef)
- 7 Miles Reef (reef)
- 9 Mile Coral Tree (reef)
- 9 Mile Coral Tree (reef)
- 9 Mile Reef (reef)
- Adventure Reef - 2 Mile Reef (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Amoray
- Coral Divers - ["PADI"]
- Gozo Azul Diving - ["PADI"]
- Malongane Beach Resort - ["PADI"]
- Maputo Dive Center - ["PADI"]
- Mermaids Cove Ei
- Occi Scuba - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in Sodwana Bay
Home to 579 recorded species including 443 reef fish, 49 sharks & rays, 35 hard corals, 12 seagrass & algae, 8 crabs & lobsters, 7 whales & dolphins.
Notable Species
- Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas) - Sharks & Rays
- Soldier (Cheimerius nufar) - Reef Fish
- Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) - Sharks & Rays
- Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) - Reef Fish
- Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
- Mozambique mouth-breeder (Oreochromis mossambicus) - Reef Fish
- Silver moony (Monodactylus argenteus) - Reef Fish
- Manini (Acanthurus triostegus) - Reef Fish
- African Weakfish (Atractoscion aequidens) - Reef Fish
- Dorado (Coryphaena hippurus) - Reef Fish
- Hound Needlefish (Tylosurus crocodilus) - Reef Fish
- Jack (Selar crumenophthalmus) - Reef Fish
- Spangled emperor (Lethrinus nebulosus) - Reef Fish
- honeycomb stingray (Himantura uarnak) - Sharks & Rays
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Crescent Grunter (Terapon jarbua) - Reef Fish
- Blackspot Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigrofuscus) - Reef Fish
- Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) - Reef Fish
- Coral Blenny (Istiblennius edentulus) - Reef Fish
- Bluefish (Kyphosus vaigiensis) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Amoray
Based on average water temperature of 28.1°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°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