subject: Beaches of Mozambique [print this page] Beaches of Mozambique Beaches of Mozambique
Mozambique beaches offer some of the most romantic settings in the world. The surrounding archipelago and the tropical climate provide 2 500 km's of pristine white sand beaches. Fringed with palm trees and warm, blue, calm water there is very little else in the world that can make one feel so close to heaven. Whether you want to lie in the sun, splash around in the shallows, go snorkelling or try your hand at proper SCUBA diving, the beaches of Mozambique hold the key to paradise on earth.
The present day economy of Mozambique is considered to hold huge potential there are vast natural resources and massive potential for cultivation of cash crops. Agriculture makes up 25% of the gross domestic product of Mozambique and employs over 80% of the population mostly, though, in subsistence operations. Despite this, tourism is an important part of the Mozambique economy. The majority of these tourists are drawn by the world class diving that one can experience at almost any of the coastal towns and resorts that dot the tropical coastline.The prospect of diving with Whale Sharks off the Mozambique beaches is a massive draw card for divers both amateur and experienced as there are not many places left in the world where this is still possible. Whale sharks do populate the seas around South East Asia, the legal hunting that was practised for many decades in the area and the now illegal hunting that still occurs have made their numbers dwindle and made them shy of human beings.
The tropical waters and surrounding coral wildlife offer divers a glimpse of some of the most amazing marine wildlife imaginable, leaving visitors satisfied even when the Whale Sharks don't come out to play. The coral reefs in the waters around Mozambique, like most reefs in the world, are a delicately balanced ecosystem that is suffering. Increased tourism and increased industrialisation on the mainland is all having a negative impact on the coral reefs around Mozambique.
A good litmus test for the state of these delicate eco systems is the Whale Shark, these creatures are relatively easy to monitor due to their massive size and the fact that they feed on plankton. Plankton is the lowest form of nutrition in the marine food chain and is easily affected by minor changes in their environment, such as water temperature and oxygen levels. Thus these tiny creatures are the really the perfect indicator of the state of the marine ecosystem, however due to their size they are difficult to monitor and more often than not we see the affects once it is too late. Hence the Whale Shark becomes an accurate way to monitor the state of the surrounding ocean, and to gauge the availability of plankton and how itis behaving.
Mozambique beaches are as amazing below the water as they are above it and there are very few other destinations in the world that can offer the laid back African atmosphere with the pristine, dreamlike, white beaches and the amazing array of marine life. What makes it even more special is that you don't have to be an expert diver to experience this incredible display of animal life. There are countless dive schools available up and down the coast and if breathing underwater is still too unnatural for you then the reefs can be viewed with a simple snorkel and goggles.
