Tofo · Mozambique · Wall · Cave & cavern · Reef
Marble Arch
Two archways cut through the wall of a sunken bowl
Area photo: Jon Hanson · CC BY-SA 2.0
A reef dive south of Tofo built around a huge bowl ringed by a wall of 3 to 5 m, with two archways cut through it. The bottom runs 16-19 m and the top of the wall sits at 10-12 m, so the profile is easy while the terrain stays interesting. It lies in the whale shark region, which gives the dive a second reason to be there.
Where it is and how deep
23.9012° S, 35.5477° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
You drop onto a sandy bottom in the middle of a huge bowl and find yourself ringed by a wall 3 to 5 m high. The bottom of the bowl runs 16 to 19 m and the top of the wall sits around 10 to 12 m, so the whole dive stays inside a narrow band of depth and the 45 minutes of bottom time go a long way.
The route works the wall around to the two archways, which are wide enough to swim through and give the site its name. Overhangs are scattered around the reef and repay a slow look: green turtles rest under them, lobsters back into them, Spanish dancers show up on them, and the occasional stonefish sits still enough to be missed entirely.
The sandy edges of the site are worth swinging out over before you turn back, since several species of ray and guitarfish use them. Overhead, the reef sits in the whale shark region, so a whale shark can pass while you are on the wall, and a manta occasionally comes gliding by. Neither is the reason the dive is planned, but both happen here.
Marine life and season
- Whale sharks
- Manta rays
- Sea turtles
- Stingrays
- Macro critters
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good |
Season follows Tofo: Manta rays and whale sharks are seen year-round; humpback whales add to the mix July-October, the area's peak season.
Know before you go
- Stonefish sit among the overhangs where turtles and lobsters shelter, so keep hands off the rock and do not steady yourself on ledges you have not looked at.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Marble Arch?+
The dive runs 14 to 19 m. The floor of the bowl sits at 16-19 m and the top of the surrounding wall at 10-12 m, so it is an Open Water profile with about 45 minutes of bottom time.
Can you see whale sharks at Marble Arch?+
It is possible. The reef lies within the whale shark region off Tofo and a whale shark can pass while you are diving, as can the occasional manta ray, but the dive itself is planned around the reef and its archways.
Sources
- Marble Arch - Tofo Scuba dive sites — Tofo Scuba
- Marble Arch - Scubago — Scubago
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