Palm Grove Scuba Dive Centre

Barra Mozambique

Email us: bookmozambique@madbookings.com

Palm Grove Lodge lies on a virgin beach with the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean, and is less than 500 kilometers north of Maputo, access is on tarred roads until the last 7kms leading to the lodge which are gravel.

Palm Grove is a secluded un-spoilt beach bordered by the Inhambane estuary on one side and the sea on the other. The warm waters offer safe bathing and smooth and easy boat launching. Fishing grounds and diving reefs are nearby and the largely unexplored reefs offer endless pleasures for skin divers and snorkler's. Palm Grove Lodge is nestled amongst the coconut groves and has a wonderful beach.

Diving equipment
-Diving - Inflatable 8 ½ meter super duck, X2 Yamaha 85 engines
-Wet and dry deck
-18 Dive rack
-We cater for small as well as large groups
-Comfortable pontoons
-Double hull that ensures a relative dry ride.
-All our dives launch from the beach at PALM GROVE .
-Divers meet at the activity centre for a pre-dive briefing.
-Select gear, kit up and then a short drive to the beach.
-Gear - We are fully equipped to cater for all gear requirements. ( Wetsuits, Mask, Snorkel, -Fins, Buoyancy Compensator, Weight belt, Cylinders)
-Click herefor more details of the diving spots or contact Allan at +258 825 767948

Hiring of equipment
-DV/BC/Cyl/Wetsuit
-Mask/fins
-Weight belt
-Air fill private
-All inclusive
Dive sites in the areaCreshe ( Anchor Reef) Average Depth = 7 Meters Maximum Depth =10 Meters Scenery = The house reef at Barra Reef is shallow enough for snorkeling but also great for a shallower dive. With the sun shining from above it is a excellent site for underwater photography. This reef consists of scattered rock formations, rather flat with sand patches in between.
Marine & Coral Life = Cresh reef has just the right name because there is juvenile fish wherever you look. The bigger variations are present but it is the young ones that draw the attention. In the holes and under the rock crevices there were a lot to keep you busy for example Puffer fish, Blue Spotted Ray, Octopus, Pepper Eels and even a couple of Stone fish made their appearance. We saw Lizardfish, Boxfish, Clown Triggerfish and all the other tropical reef fish seen in the warmer Mozambican water.
The coral consists more of Staghorn coral, lots of Porous corals, Sea sponges and colourful Anemones were ever present. You could wile away the time just drifting and watching the fish behaviors. This is really a very nice dive on a hot summers day.Info = To Cresh Reef you will do a boat entry from the beach at Barra in Mocambique. It is approximately 1 Km from the shore.

The diffrent dive sites you can experiance:

Mike's Cupboard
Average Depth = 12 Meters Maximum Depth = 15 Meters Scenery = This reef is flat with big holes and in these holes are small caves, overhangs and even a few arches with swimthru's. Some parts of the reef looks like boulders stacked on top of each other with sand patches in between. Marine & Coral Life =Mike's cupboard is really a true description if that is everything that can be kept there. This is truly a busy place with schools of Bluebanded Snappers, Coachmen, Angelfish, Trumpetfish, Kingfish and Tuna passing by. In the holes itself we found a brown Paperfish hiding behind a rock so no one would see him. Others that camouflaged themselves just as well were the Scorpionfish, Crocodile fish and Lizardfish. The Octopus changed his colours so quick that we almost lost sight of him moving into a hole. In the small caves we found a whole lot of Banded Shrimp moving around, there was a big Pufferfish hiding from everyone, a very shy creature. The coral on this reef consists of Whip coral in various colours, beige Fleshy soft coral, purple and white Thristle soft coral and lots of Lobed soft coral. Plate coral, Porous coral and Smooth-horned corals was also seen throughout the dive. This was a very nice dive for the inquisitive diver. Info = To Mike's Cupboard Reef you will do a boat entry from the beach at Barra in Mocambique. It is approximately 6 Km from the shore.

Gaints Castle
Average Depth = 21 Meters Maximum Depth = 32 Meters Scenery = This reef consist of a big wall almost 4 meters high with dropoff's that leads to sandy areas. All along this wall is a ridge that is rich in marine and coral life. Big rock formations add to the scenery of this reef. Marine & Coral Life = Diving this reef was really a very nice experience, with a great variety of tropical fish to be seen. A rare Weedy Scorpionfish made his appearance and was amazing how it blended in with the surroundings. This reef has a great variety of starfish species. Big Green coral trees where Goldies and Longnose Hawkfish hide from the predators. On the plateau Manta Ray's surprise you with a gracefull pasture in flight. Under the ledges are Dancing Durban Shrimp waiting to perform their cleaning duties. In the crevices and hollows there are Triggerfish and different species of Moray Eels. On this reef the coral is mostly untouched, from Porous corals to different species of Hard and Soft corals in a variety of colours and textures. Always keep an eye out in the midwater for game fish passing by. A nice dive for the Advanced Diver. Info = To Giants Castle Reef you will do a boat entry from the beach at Barra in Mocambique. It is approximately 7 Km from the shore.

Grotto's (Northern Side of Mikes
)Average Depth = 12 Meters Maximum Depth = 15 Meters Scenery = This part is next to Mike's Cupboard but just a bigger version. Still a flat reef but just more and bigger hollows in the reef itself. In these hollows are pinniclelike rock formations as well as ledges that form overhangs. Sand patches can be found on the bottom of most of these hollows. The hollows reminded me of the craters on the moon! Marine & Coral Life = On this dive we found a Greyspot Guitarfish, Honeycomb Moray Eel, Pepper Moray and various species of Nudibranchs. A great number of tropical fish like Trumpetfish, Flutemouthfish, Goldies, Peacock Rockcod and Parrotfish is to be seen, to name just a few. There are nice shells on the sand patches and the coral life is full in bloom. Various types of hard and soft coral is found on this part of the reef for instance; Fleshy soft coral, Sea urchins, Brain coral, Leather coral and lots of Anemones. There is a big number of Plate coral with fish like Angelfish hiding underneath. This is a very nice dive for photographers with almost no surge in the hollows. Info = To Grotto Reef you will do a boat entry from the beach at Barra in Mocambique. It is approximately 7 Km from the shore.

Sherwood Forest
Average Depth = 21 Meters Maximum Depth = 31 Meters Scenery = This reef looks like a huge rock formation planted in the middle of the sea floor with a few scattered rock placed here and there. It has some ledges that form overhangs about 3 meters in diameter. There are also some blowholes situated on the one side of the reef. On top there are holes that host a number of Green coral trees, with Goldies swimming in and out. The one part of the reef tends to flatten to the Southern side. Marine & Coral Life = This is one of the deeper reefs in this area but host the most amazing scenery and have to be experienced first hand. Huge Honeycomb Moray Eels, Black cheek Moray's and even a Manta Ray made his appearance. Two Blue spot Ray's were spotted lingering in one of the sand patches on top of the reef. Devil Fire fish, Rockcod, Coachmen and a great variety of tropical fish can be seen here. Fire Gobies, as much as twelve together have been seen hurdled together in one spot. The coral on the other hand ranges from Plate coral, Whip coral and Leather coral to colourful Sea sponges. Soft corals include Anemones, Thristle coral, Palmate Sea fans and Fleshy soft corals in various colours. Don' t forget to keep an eye out for game fish passing through in the midwater!Info = To Sherwood Forest Reef you will do a boat entry from the beach at Barra in Mocambique. It is approximately 6 Km from the shore

BuddiesAverage
Depth = 8 Meters Maximum Depth = 10 Meters Scenery = Buddies reef is a reef that lays parralel to the shore and consists of two rock banks that has a strip of sand in between separating the reef at some places. Marine & Coral Life =This is a nice dive for the beginner and is excellent for a night dive because it is close to shore and relatively shallow. The tops of the reefs are broken but in between the crevices the reef is blossoming. There are lots of juvenile reef fish and some rare fish found in the small caves and overhangs. We found a White Paperfish, Brown Rockmover wrasse and various kinds of Stonefish were spotted camouflaging themselves on the reef. A Peacock Mantis Shrimp was spotted during brought daylight and at night different kinds of Crayfish, Sea Cucumbers and a rare Tropical Flounder was seen on one of the rocks. The coral are mostly broken but to make up for that there are various kinds of Anemones and Polyp coral. We even found Daisy coral in a soft pink and Fleshy soft coral in some places. Interesting sea creatures can be found when taking time to look in all the small places.Info = To Buddies Reef you will do a boat entry from the beach at Barra Reef in Mocambique. It is approximately 2 Km from the shore.

OfficeAverage
Depth =18 Meters Maximum Depth = 27 Meters Scenery = This reef has a flat part on the Northern side and further on there is a part that have some small caves and overhangs as well as a wall in some places with hollows and crevices where small fish hide during the day. Marine & Coral Life = Here is a Manta cleaning station on the flat part of the reef where Manta Rays do a flyby and get cleaned by all the cleaner Wrasse. A big Honeycomb Moray Eel was lying in one of the crevices and a giant Shortspine Porcupinefish was joining him in this space. The reef fish in this area are peaceful and aren't scared of divers. They even come to inspect us. Great amount of Rubberlips, Potato Bass, Triggerfish, Goldies and Wrasse was spotted in this area. In the small hollows were Dancing Cleaning Shrimp and Banded Shrimp busy performing their duties. In the midwater we saw Manta Ray's, Devil Ray's and two Bull Ray's were playing around us for a few moments. This reef is rich in hard and soft coral with various colours and shapes. There are luscious green Whipcoral to circular big Plate coral. Pink Fleshy coral and Orange sponges are just a few of the corals found on this reef. This was one of the best reefs in this area.Info = To Office Reef you will do a boat entry from the beach at Barra in Mocambique. It is approximately 11 Km from the shore.

StalinAverage
Depth = 18 Meters Maximum Depth = 30 Meters Scenery = This is a flat reef on top with ridges along the Eastern side. There are also some small overhangs that form small caves. Marine & Coral Life = This is a deeper dive for the more advanced diver. On the reef itself there are very little sealife, but on the side along the edges most of the tropical fish hides in the hollows and small caves. The Trilggerfish especially, can be found sleeping in the hollows. A Round Ribbontail Ray and a Banded Cleaner Shrimp were getting aquinted in one of the many overhangs. Various types of Starfish and small crabs can be found on this reef. The coral in this area consist of various kinds of hard coral like Staghorn coral and Plate coral. The soft coral includes Porous coral, Anemones, Thristle coral and Fleshy soft coral. Be on the look out for schools of game fish passing by in the midwater.Info = To Stalin Reef you will do a boat entry from the beach at Barra Reef Resort in Mocambique. It is approximately 12 Km from the shore.

AmazonAverage
Depth = 20 Meters Maximum Depth = 28 Meters Scenery = A big rock formation with a wall along the one side and a flattened area on the other side with big gullies, hollows and crevices where a great variety of marine life can be found. Marine & Coral Life = When entering the water, a huge school of silvery Barra cuda passed us by. On the reef itself we found a big Honeycomb Moray Eel lying in a big crevice. Underneath the one overhang we found a Green Turtle still sleeping. Manta Ray's with a wingspan of approximately 7 meters were flying through the water like magic carpets. On the flatter part of the reef another turtle came out to mingle with the divers and play around for a while. A whole school of grey Stumpnosefish came passing by. On the reef there were allot of Green Coral Trees with Painted Surgeonfish hiding in between. Clouds of Goldies also surrounded the coral and in the crevices were allot of tropical fish swimming in and out. Whip coral, pink Thristle coral and Anemones were found al over this reef. This was really a magnificent dive and it made driving out worth our while.Info = To Amazon Reef you will do a boat entry from the beach at Barra in Mocambique. It is approximately 17 Km from the shore.

Chamber of Secrets
Average Dept = 14 to 15, Maximum Dept = 17mScenery = the drop off for this reef brings you inside an enormous crater with high walls. The crater has a sandy bottom. From the drop off across the crater straight in front, is a huge ‘bridge’ swim through with also a swim through to the right coming out at the top of the reef in a different spot. At the ‘bridge’ the whole area is off the sand about a meter with caves and crevices going in every where. On a day with good visibility this is an awesome site. On the other side of the swim through you can swim around the reef on either side. The best place however to spend your dive is inside and along the walls of the crater. All around the crater is also narrow passage ways open at the top in which you can swim, always taking care of where your fins are. Marine and Coral life = On all the walls of the crater and surrounding area there is an abundance of corals hard and soft together with all kinds of reef fish normally seen in the warmer waters of Mozambique. The walls of the crater really deserve a closer look as all kinds of interesting growths can be seen. This is definitely one of our most interesting and scenic Open water Dives.Info = To Chamber of Secrets Reef you will do a boat entry from the beach of Barra Mozambique. The reef is about 17 km from the launching site.

Coliseum
Average Dept = 27m, Maximum Dept = 32mScenery = this reef consist basically of a ledge that ends up into a huge spectacular overhang. Marine and Coral life = the hard and soft coral growth on the overhang is spectacular and draws an abundance and variety of reef fish. It is also not uncommon to see Mantas and White Tip reef sharks on this reef. Due to the dept and distance from the shore this is definitely a dive for only advance divers. Info = To Coliseum Reef you will do a boat entry from the beach of Barra Mozambique. The reef is about 12 km from the launching site.

Email us: bookmozambique@madbookings.com