With a shoreline reef and a number of other reefs within a short boat ride away coupled with the distinct lack of people in the immediate vicinity, Moyo promised some fantastic diving.
With a quick google of “moyo island diving” returns a number of similar results all indicating that I should expect spectacular coral and crystal clear waters for good diving possibilities. However the island’s reefs do suffer from the effects of dynamite fishing.
Angel Reef
On the west coast of Moyo lies a healthy coral reef with a vertical wall dropping to over 40 meters in depth.The wall is covered in soft coral however evidence of dynamite fishing can be seen in places. Marine life generally include longfin bannerfish, redtooth triggerfish and batfish. Blacktips may also be seen in the deeper sections of this dive. Although, on the dives I made a rather large moray eel and fantastically well behaved sea snake were in residence.
Panjang Slope
Located just north of Angel Reef is this submerged coral reef. This is one of the few places that a patient and observant diver may spot the deadly yellow blue ringed octopus. Fully grown adults reach the size of half of your thumb, and carry one of the most toxic poisons to be found in the sea so don’t touch it! Unfortunately (or fortunately) none were sighted on the days I visited.
Shoreline sea wall
The Sea Wall, which is just off the beach and can be accessed by the boardwalk, has a reef wall that descends 40 metres. Turtle Street is just to the right of the camp in front of the music pavilion, where a reef ledge drops away to a sandy slope. If you don’t fancy the swim out to the pontoon then one of the extremely helpful staff will take you out on the boat. However, be warned that they’ll drop you off some distance from the pontoon so you get to snorkel up turtle street. We saw several hawks bill turtles but the ever present black tips were well hidden from sight.
