Cyclone Irina moves near the east coast of South Africa.

On the afternoon of March 8 2011, cyclone Irina’s winds finally dropped to 35 knots reducing it to a storm. At this point it was still in the southern Mozambique Channel, south east of Maputo, Mozambique, and heading westwards. On 12 March what was left of Irina made landfall over the Gaza Province, and simply dissipated.

They “see” us before we see them. Yet we become aware of their presence almost immediately on entering the water.

While on a story for African Diver Magazine in the Bazaruto archipelago investigating conservation efforts to conserve a dwindling population of large sanguine, sea grass-eating mammals known as dugongs, I came to learn of the artisanal fishing people of the Mozambican coastline and their struggle to survive. 

And there is only one place I know in Mozambique where the world does not seem to spin crazily, where cell phones do not work and the Internet seems worthless.

Wakatobi’s house reef will keep you occupied for ages and I found myself spending ages snorkeling on the reef with my camera.