Ponta do Ouro · Mozambique · Reef
Checkers
Frogfish, ribbon eels and mantis shrimp at 16 m
Area photo: Hein waschefort · CC BY-SA 3.0
Checkers averages 16 m with a maximum of 19 m and is a short boat ride from the launch, which Scubago describes as interesting for all levels of divers. The reef carries frogfish, ribbon eels, potato bass, scorpionfish, mantis shrimp, paper fish and spotted rays, over a spread of corals, sponges and anemones.
Where it is and how deep
No published position for this site — the map shows Ponta do Ouro and its other sites; operators know the mooring.
The dive
Checkers is close in, a short boat ride from the launch, and averages 16 m with 19 m at its deepest. That is a comfortable working depth: the dive ends on gas rather than on no-stop time, which is part of why Scubago describes the site as interesting for all levels of divers rather than pitching it at one certification band.
What it rewards is a slow pass rather than a long swim. Frogfish and paper fish sit against the rock, ribbon eels come out of the bottom, mantis shrimp work their burrows and scorpionfish hold still where they are hardest to see, with potato bass over the reef and spotted rays through the sand. The structure itself is a mix of corals, sponges and anemones, and the best of the dive is found within a couple of metres of it.
Marine life and season
- Frogfish
- Groupers
- Macro critters
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good |
Season follows Ponta do Ouro: Resident dolphins are seen year-round; shark activity at Pinnacles and whale migration peak July-October.
Know before you go
- Scorpionfish are well camouflaged on this reef; look before you settle and keep fins and hands clear of the rock.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Checkers?+
It averages 16 m with a maximum of 19 m, and it is only a short boat ride from the launch. Scubago describes it as interesting for all levels of divers.
Sources
- Checkers — Scubago
- Diving in Mozambique — Wikivoyage
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Similar dives elsewhere
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