Zavora Marine Lab

Zavora Marine Lab. was created in 2009 to investigate and conserve the unique marine life and coastal ecosystems of Zavora Bay, one of the most beautiful and wild area of southern Mozambique. Zavora is one of the few places in the world literally packed with marine life including a high abundance of manta rays (Manta birostris and Manta alfredi) that still in pristine conditions. Therefore, Zavora offers the unique opportunity to study a marine environment that has had little to no impact from recreational diving activities and where there remains much reef yet to be explored. Our main ongoing research are focused on manta rays, humpback whales, nudibranchs and wreck colonization. ince its inception, we have achieved exciting progress on both research and environmental awareness projects, which includes the creation of a software to identify individual manta rays, the discovery of new species of nudibranchs and the establishment of educational programs, such as monthly beach and underwater clean up and the highly interactive Eco-Cinema. We have built a research center using low cement compressed bricks (no fire involved!), natural and green roofs, glass bottle walls, better use of sun and wind and waste zero techniques! You can directly contribute to our research and education projects by participate on our internship program or donate on-line.