Diving in Bazaruto in December & January: 30% Off BCSS Experiences

Planning an end-of-year dive trip with your crew? Diving in Bazaruto in December or January brings warm summer conditions and the opportunity to explore the reefs, sharks, rays, turtles and other marine life found across the Bazaruto Archipelago.

And this summer, there is another reason to dive with BCSS.

BCSS is offering 30% off December and January bookings, creating an opportunity to experience the Bazaruto Archipelago during its warmer summer season while diving alongside a working marine research centre.

What Is Diving in Bazaruto Like in December?

December marks the beginning of summer in the Bazaruto Archipelago, bringing warmer ocean and air temperatures to this part of Mozambique.

Underwater conditions can vary with weather, currents and biological productivity, making every dive different. Across the archipelago, divers can explore reef systems supporting a wide diversity of marine life, including reef fish, turtles, sharks and rays, while larger marine species may also be encountered depending on seasonal conditions.

BCSS maintains long-term records of marine megafauna sightings through its Ocean Observatory, including a dedicated underwater sightings dataset covering the Bazaruto Archipelago.

Explore the BCSS Ocean Observatory Data Repository to see how observations collected across the region contribute to long-term monitoring.

Wildlife encounters are always seasonal and cannot be guaranteed, and diving activities remain subject to weather and ocean conditions.

Cetacean researcher Ekaterina Kalashnikova leading a BCSS scientific ocean safari.

What Marine Life Can You See in Bazaruto in December and January?

December and January bring a shift in the marine landscape of the Bazaruto Archipelago. The winter humpback whale season is drawing to a close, water temperatures are rising, and the warmer summer months bring a different mix of marine life and underwater conditions.

Based on long-term observations collected through the BCSS Ocean Observatory, December/January is particularly interesting for divers looking for manta rays, sharks, rays, turtles and diverse reef life, while encounters with other marine megafauna remain possible.

Giant oceanic manta rays (Mobula birostris). 

Manta Rays

December marks the beginning of an important summer period for manta activity around Bazaruto. Both reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) and giant oceanic manta rays (Mobula birostris) occur in the archipelago, with BCSS records showing giant manta activity from December into March.

Mantas may be encountered feeding where plankton becomes concentrated or visiting cleaning stations around the reef. As with all wild marine life, sightings cannot be guaranteed, but the warmer months are an exciting period for manta activity in the region.

Read more about manta rays in the Bazaruto Archipelago.

Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas). Image: BCSS

Sharks and Rays

Sharks and rays are recorded across BCSS dive sites throughout the year. Historical BCSS dive surveys have documented grey reef sharks, bull sharks, hammerheads, oceanic blacktip sharks and nurse sharks, alongside spotted eagle rays, devil rays, round ribbontail rays and other ray species.

Different species favour different sites and conditions, which is one of the reasons diving across multiple locations in the archipelago can produce very different encounters.

Explore BCSS’s research into shark and ray sightings across Bazaruto dive sites.

Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)

Sea Turtles

Turtles are another important part of the Bazaruto underwater landscape. BCSS records include green turtles (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) and leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea).

During one nine-month BCSS exploratory diving survey, turtles were recorded on almost half of the dives, highlighting how important the Bazaruto seascape is for these animals.

Coral reef habitat in the Bazaruto Archipelago, supporting a diverse community of reef fish and other marine life throughout the year.

Reef Life

December/January diving is not only about the largest animals.

The Bazaruto Archipelago supports exceptionally diverse coral reef ecosystems, with reef fish, trevallies, groupers, moray eels and a wide range of smaller marine life found across BCSS dive sites. Macro life around Benguerra Island can also include nudibranchs, decorator crabs, leaf fish and seahorses.

This diversity means that even when the larger pelagic species do not appear, there is still plenty happening beneath the surface.

What About Humpback Whales?

December and January is not the month we would recommend specifically for humpback whales.

BCSS’s long-term observations show that humpback whales are most reliably detected between July and October, with the highest probability during August and September. By December, the main seasonal migration through the Bazaruto Archipelago has largely passed.

For divers specifically hoping to plan around a particular animal, we recommend using the BCSS Wildlife & Diving Seasonality Calendars, which use long-term Ocean Observatory data to show how wildlife encounters and diving conditions change throughout the year.

Remember: Bazaruto is a wild marine environment. These seasonal patterns help indicate when particular species are more likely to occur, but no wildlife encounter can ever be guaranteed.

Explore the Bazaruto Archipelago during its warmer summer season with BCSS. Image: Gunnar Oberhosel.



Group Diving in the Bazaruto Archipelago

For groups of four or more divers, the BCSS Group Diving Package is designed for teams, dive clubs and groups of friends who want more than a few days underwater.

The current package includes:

  • 12 nights at the BCSS research station on Benguerra Island
  • 16+ dives across the Bazaruto Archipelago
  • Minimum four divers
  • Dive equipment
  • National Park fees
  • Serviced accommodation and three meals per day
  • Transfers between Vilanculos Airport and Benguerra Island
  • Access to BCSS science projects

Unlike a conventional dive holiday, staying at BCSS places divers alongside an active marine research centre and Ocean Observatory, where scientific surveys and long-term ecosystem monitoring are part of everyday operations.

Explore the full BCSS Group Diving Package and diving experiences.

One of BCSS’s dive sites within the Bazaruto Archipelago, where varied underwater topography supports diverse reef communities and marine life.

Dive Sites Shaped by Years of Scientific Surveys

BCSS’s dive programme is closely connected to the scientific work carried out across the Bazaruto seascape.

Thousands of hours of scientific surveys have helped the team build knowledge of the underwater biodiversity surrounding the archipelago. BCSS has also 3D mapped its dive sites using seabed mapping technology, providing additional information about underwater topography for dive planning and briefings.

This means a Bazaruto diving holiday with BCSS offers access not only to the underwater environment, but also to the scientific knowledge being built around it.

Explore BCSS Expeditions and Dive Packages or download the BCSS Dive Centre and Dive Sites brochures.

Indo-Pacific Bottlenose dolphins encountered during a BCSS Scientific Ocean Safari, where observations of marine megafauna contribute to ongoing monitoring across the Bazaruto seascape. Photo: Ekaterina Kalashnikova

More Than Scuba Diving: Scientific Ocean Safaris

December and January visitors can also explore BCSS’s Scientific Ocean Safaris, which take marine research beyond the reef.

These expeditions allow participants to join BCSS scientists during operational marine megafauna surveys focused on spatial mapping, identification and long-term monitoring within the greater Bazaruto Archipelago seascape.

Current Scientific Ocean Safaris include Whale Shark & Megafauna ID Expeditions, providing another way to experience the marine environment while learning how observations and identification data contribute to longer-term research.

Learn more about Scientific Ocean Safaris and BCSS expeditions.

Want to Go Deeper? Join the Scientific Training Program

For those interested in developing practical marine science skills rather than joining BCSS purely for recreational diving, the Scientific Training Program (STP) provides a more immersive route into the research station.

Participants can join the scientific team for between two and twelve weeks, combining field experience, marine research and training within the Bazaruto Archipelago.

The programme is designed for university students, graduates, aspiring marine scientists, divers and others interested in gaining practical experience in marine and environmental science.

Explore the BCSS Scientific Training Program.

The BCSS research station on Benguerra Island, a base for marine research, scientific training and diving within the Bazaruto Archipelago.

30% Off BCSS December and January Bookings

Whether you are planning a group diving trip in Mozambique, looking for a Scientific Ocean Safari or considering joining the Scientific Training Program, December and January offers an opportunity to experience BCSS during Bazaruto’s warmer summer season.

For December 2026 until 30th January 2027, BCSS is offering 30% off bookings.

Residents of Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries are also encouraged to enquire about dedicated regional pricing available on selected diving experiences.

Availability is limited, and all diving and ocean activities remain dependent on weather and sea conditions.

Plan Your December or January in Bazaruto

Spend the end of the year beneath the surface of one of Mozambique’s most remarkable marine environments.

Dive the reefs. Explore the wider seascape. Meet the scientists working to understand it. And discover a side of the Bazaruto Archipelago that goes beyond a conventional dive holiday.

Enquire with BCSS about the 30% December & January offer and current availability at info@bcssmz.org.

Explore BCSS diving experiences and expeditions or learn more about the Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies.

 

Summer weather at the BCSS research station on Benguerra Island, with December bringing warmer conditions to the Bazaruto Archipelago.

More information:

For questions about this article, please contact: 

Ekaterina Kalashnikova, Bazaruto Archipelago – Ocean Observatory Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies ekaterina.kalashnikova@bcssmz.org  

To get in touch and collaborate with our research Center , please visit https://bcssmz.org/logistical-support-consultancy/  

To learn more about our Scientific Training Program, please see https://bcssmz.org/scientific-training-program/  

Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies

The Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies (BCSS) was established in 2017 as an independent, non-profit organisation with a mission to protect and support the fragile ecosystems of the Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique. Located on Benguerra Island, BCSS hosts the first permanent Ocean Observatory in Africa focused on multi-ecosystem time series research.

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