Mozambique · Indian Ocean
Best time to dive Tofo
Mantas year-round (easiest in the clearer dry season); whale sharks most often October–March with the warm-water plankton bloom; humpbacks pass June–November (some from May), most July–September. May–October is the steadiest diving; April is the historic cyclone-risk peak. Giant small-eye stingrays are seen on offshore reefs most in the southern summer.
Peak season: May–March
Overall diving, month by month
Balanced scoring · forecasts include the 2026/27 El Niño outlook
Confidence: Nov high · Dec high · Jan medium · Feb medium · Mar medium · Apr medium · May medium · Jun medium · Jul medium · Aug medium · Sep medium · Oct medium · Nov medium · Dec medium
What's good when
Each attribute scored 0–10 for every month
| Nov2026 | Dec | Jan2027 | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pelagic & big animals | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Macro life | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Coral & reef health | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Visibility | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Water temperature | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 10 |
| Weather & sea state | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 |
| Operations & access | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Water temperature & visibility
| Month | Water | Visibility |
|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | 26.5 °C (80 °F) | 10–20 m |
| December 2026 | 28.0 °C (82 °F) | 10–20 m |
| January 2027 | 28.5 °C (83 °F) | 10–20 m |
| February 2027 | 29.0 °C (84 °F) | 10–20 m |
| March 2027 | 28.5 °C (83 °F) | 10–20 m |
| April 2027 | 27.5 °C (82 °F) | 15–20 m |
| May 2027 | 26.0 °C (79 °F) | 15–25 m |
| June 2027 | 25.0 °C (77 °F) | 15–25 m |
| July 2027 | 24.0 °C (75 °F) | 15–25 m |
| August 2027 | 24.0 °C (75 °F) | 15–25 m |
| September 2027 | 24.5 °C (76 °F) | 15–25 m |
| October 2027 | 25.5 °C (78 °F) | 15–20 m |
| November 2027 | 26.5 °C (80 °F) | 10–20 m |
| December 2027 | 28.0 °C (82 °F) | 10–20 m |
Marine life calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| reef manta | ● | ● | ● | ● | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | ● | ● |
| whale shark | Peak | Peak | Peak | ● | ● | Peak | Peak | |||||
| humpback whale | ● | ● | Peak | Peak | Peak | ● | ● | |||||
| small-eye stingray | Peak | Peak | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | Peak |
Peak = best odds · ● = regularly seen · blank = unlikely. Calendar months, every year.
About the diving
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Current strength
- 3 / 5
- Luxury level
- 3 / 5
- Typical depth
- 10–30 m
- Max depth of interest
- 30 m
- Dive styles
- Day boat, Resort
- Suggested certification
- Advanced Open Water (surf launches, offshore reefs)
- Nearest airport
- INH
- Snorkelling
- Good
- Known for
- reef manta, whale shark, humpback whale, small-eye stingray
Famous sites: Manta Reef · Giant's Castle · Salon · Amazon
Season notes & sources
- Mantas year-round (easiest in the clearer dry season); whale sharks most often October–March with the warm-water plankton bloom; humpbacks pass June–November (some from May), most July–September. May–October is the steadiest diving; April is the historic cyclone-risk peak. Giant small-eye stingrays are seen on offshore reefs most in the southern summer.