Ilha do Fogo Mozambique

Welcome to the dreamy island of Ilha do Fogo (Fire Island) located 78km NEE of Pebane mainland Mozambique. This tropical island is a paradise for diving enthusiasts looking to explore unique locations with the island offering divers 150km of stunning coral reefs teeming with exotic marine life and corals.

Ilha do Fogo Accommodation

The island is surrounded and protected by a spectacular 5.8km² reef offering calmer ocean currents with other neighboring islands and reefs of Ilha Silva, Ilha Coroa, Ilha Casuarina and Ilha Epidendro all within 40km of each other.

Persistent ongoing projects on the island are brought to the table to protect the reef's ecosystem and some critically endangered marine life from past poachers such as the green and hawksbill turtles.

Migratory Corridor

The island is located along the migratory corridor where magnificent sightings of the whale shark which is also known to be endangered can be spotted along with manta rays and other apex predators such as the hammerhead shark and bull shark.

Visitors can expect to see the gentle giants of the ocean such as the humpback and southern rite whale which majestically migrate near and past Ilha do Fogo to warmer waters from as early as May through to December.

A Diving Adventure Experience

Divers will thoroughly enjoy a once in a lifetime underwater ocean adventure where "cities" of over 150km of unexplored coral-rich reefs with beautiful colours and anemones that illuminate the ocean depths. An amazing diversity of over 450 species of soft and hard corals has been recorded to date where seagrasses and 25kms of mangroves exhibit, as well as steep overhangs that'll take your breath away!

Your diving adventure will give you the opportunity to spot the rare dugong, dolphins, hammerhead sharks, bull sharks, rays, scorpionfish, giant lobsters, various nudibranchs, powder blue tang surgeonfish, orange skunk clownfish, molluscs, octopus, reef triggerfish and an abundance of other invertebrates and tropical marinelife.

Shipwrecks & Potential Treasure to be Found

Diving enthusiasts will be ecstatic to know the possibility of old wooden hull clipper type shipwrecks dating as far back as the spice trade era waiting to be discovered and explored for the very first time. These prospects makes for an all for more interesting diving experience. A magnetometer reading near the island detected what is presumed to be the 1644 shipwreck of Santo António clipper (cargo ship). More than 40 shipwrecks have been discovered between Ilha do Fogo and Ilha de Moçambique further north (approximately 350km).

±10km South East of Ilha do Fogo is the visible Dutch shipwreck of Bredenhof which wrecked off Ilha Silva back in 1753. The ship was a Dutch East-India Company (VOC or Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie) which contained silver ingots, lead ingots, copper coins, cannons. In 1986, an excavation company discovered a treasure load of silver ingots and copper coins which was taken and auctioned in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Could there still be more treasure to be found?

Interesting:

±10km South East of Ilha do Fogo is the visible Dutch shipwreck of Bredenhof which wrecked off Ilha Silva back in 1753. The ship was a Dutch East-India Company (VOC or Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie) which contained silver ingots, lead ingots, copper coins, cannons. In 1986, an excavation company discovered a treasure load of silver ingots and copper coins which was taken and auctioned in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Could there still be more treasure to be found? Read more about Ilha do Fogo

The Inner Reef

Shallow, calm and crystal clear waters on the Southern side of the island allow for an endless snorkeling adventure and is also ideal for novice scuba divers. Guaranteed sightings within these shallow waters include a myriad of clark’s clownfish, blue tangs, trumpetfish, wrasse, angelfish, butterflyfish, triggerfish, unicornfish, goatfish, lionfish and if you're lucky, the green and hawksbill turtles that love the protection of the reef where they feed off seagrass and algae.

You will be fortunate enough to witness the endangered green and hawksbill turtles come to shore to lay their eggs and nest ... but better yet, see their hatchlings break out their shells to begin a new life around the islands. Leisurely barefoot walks around the island will greet you with dozens of pink ghost crabs and sally lightfoot crabs burrowing and scrambling along the beach sand and rocky outcrops.

Deep Sea Fishing

Deep sea fishing charters off the island is another must for those looking for a tantalizingly tasty evening meal fresh from the ocean. However visitors to the island must understand that there are rules and restrictions to what certain fish can be caught, kept and cooked such as dorado, yellowfin tuna and queen mackerel.

Relaxation on the Island

Ilha do Fogo is the perfect island holiday getaway and simply exploring the peaceful island by foot is a great way to de-stress from the hustle and bustle of everyday norms. Kayaking within the bordered reef is also another past time favorite for guests staying over.