Bazaruto Archipelago and Vilanculos

Before Scuba or Snorkeling

• Use a licensed, staffed provider with documented insurance, certified crew and a clear weather/cancellation policy.
• Ask who carries oxygen, first-aid supplies, working radio or satellite communications, rescue flotation and a plan for transporting a diver from the island to medical care. Marketing claims are not verification.
• Match site to training. Two Mile Reef has a range of depths and currents; Bazaruto Northern Tip and deeper sections are not automatic beginner recommendations.
• Use flotation and in-water supervision for snorkelers, especially in the tidal channel. Do not treat surface snorkeling as an excuse for unsupervised deep breath holds.
• Respect boat lanes, reefs, wildlife buffers and current park controls. No cave, technical or overhead diving offer was verified in this scope.
• DAN flying-after-diving guidance advises at least 12 hours after a single no-decompression dive and 18 hours after multiple dives or multiple days as a baseline, with more conservative intervals depending on dive profile and medical advice. Do not fly while symptomatic; air evacuation after a suspected dive accident requires expert coordination.

Weather and Water-quality Uncertainty

The area has wet-season tropical weather risk and tide-driven currents. No current systematic nearshore microbiological water-quality clearance, all-beach swimming safety audit or fixed annual closure schedule was found. Ask the local guide whether rainfall, runoff, debris, stingers or boat traffic affect the specific swimming spot.

Remote Island Care and Diving Emergencies

Vilanculos has mainland medical services, but sources do not substantiate a reliable on-site recompression facility or 24-hour advanced dive medicine at the park. The UK health advisory warns that serious medical cases can require evacuation, sometimes out of Mozambique. Obtain the destination-specific ambulance route, hospital receiving plan, air or boat extraction plan and accepted insurance guarantees before departure.

For suspected decompression illness, oxygen and immediate emergency medical assessment are time critical; do not delay seeking help to complete travel. Contact the local emergency number and a diving medical hotline. DAN lists DAN Southern Africa +27 828 10 60 10 for calls from outside South Africa and +1 919 684 9111 internationally, staffed 24/7 for emergencies. These lines advise on dive medicine; they are not local ambulances or a guaranteed evacuation asset.

CDC Mozambique advice includes malaria prevention; see a travel-health clinician for prophylaxis, vaccination and insect-avoidance choices. Carry essential medicines and treatment documentation, and check potable water and food hygiene with accommodation.

Protected Reef and Endangered Marine Mammals

Bazaruto Archipelago National Park is co-managed by Mozambique ANAC and African Parks. African Parks documents the last-known viable dugong population on the East African coast, critically endangered locally, as well as important nesting habitat for multiple turtle species. Dugong sightings are rare and not a legitimate promise or incentive for pursuing animals.

• Never stand on, remove or anchor on coral. Do not collect shells or harm seagrass.
• Never feed, touch, chase or crowd dugongs, turtles, whales, dolphins or sharks. Respect appropriate separation, speed and noise controls as instructed by current rangers.
• The park whale-watching code instructs visitors not to enter the water from boats to swim with whales.
• Pay entry/activity fees and support authorized local providers; use explicit consent and local guides for trips onto inhabited or sensitive islands.
• Check current Ministerial Diploma 15/2026 with the park before conducting potentially restricted boating, snorkeling, drone use, fishing, landing or scientific-style wildlife activity. Earlier summaries have conflicting speed guidance; no fixed speed limit is published here as verified law.