Due to the rugged nature of the South African coastline and the severe weather conditions that are often experienced around the entire 3 000 kilometre coastline of South Africa liveaboard diving is not a possibility. All diving in South Africa is shore based and is done from “Rubber Ducks” (Zodiacs or RIB’s) and is done very early in the morning so as to take advantage of the favourable sea and weather conditions. By noon the wind has picked up causing a big “chop” on the water, which makes for unpleasant diving conditions. South Africa is not a liveaboard dive destination.

If you think of where all the liveaboard action takes place, in areas where the seas are flat, calm, warm and crystal clear. Areas that have tropical islands covered in palm trees and forests, coral reefs, sandy beaches ... well that’s Mozambique and that’s where all our liveaboard diving takes place. Around exotic places such as the Bazaruto Archipelago, the Quirimbas Archipelago, St Lazarus Banks, Bassas da India and the Comoros. But this is liveaboard diving like you’ve never experienced before. The boats are not anything like the Aggressor Fleet’s boats, nor the boats that you are likely to find cruising on the Red Sea or at the Maldives. Liveaboard diving in Mozambique is unlike liveaboard diving anywhere else in the world.

All the liveaboards that operate off the Mozambique coast are not like liveaboards out of the Maldives, the Red Sea etc. which have fixed sailing dates and which return to their home port on a fixed date. We have not progressed to that stage yet!

The liveaboards that operate off Mozambique are owned by private people or consortiums who charter out their entire boat when they are not using it. We currently have access to 6 boats that we use which accommodate from 6 passengers, which is the smallest, to 12 passengers being the most people that can be accommodated on any one boat.

These boats don't have fixed sailing schedules and groups normally charter the entire boat for anything between 7 to 14 days, the length of time depends on the groups requirements. "Fill-up charters" are available for those not wanting to charter the entire boat but are very difficult to co-ordinate. A "fill up charter" is when you get individuals or couples filling up a boat for a specific charter, and the reason why its so difficult is that to get individuals or couples to fill the entire boat on dates that suit all, for a specific number of nights that suit all, to a destination that suits all - is almost impossible. That's why the majority of charters are to groups of between 4, 6, 8 or 10 people who charter the whole boat for themselves, at dates, time and destinations to suit themselves.

For a "fill-up" charter to happen, a price can only be established once there are sufficient numbers to fill the whole boat, if this does not happen, the people who want to go on the charter must pay for the empty berths in order for the cruise to take place.

Just as a guide, you are looking at about R 12 600 per person to R 14 000 per person for a 6 night cruise, depending on numbers.

Should you be interested in either booking an entire boat for you and your party or should you be interested in a “fill-up charter” please fill in your “wish-list” or e-mail us and we’ll get back to you advising availability and price.