St Lazarus Bank is situated in the Mozambique channel about  70 nautical miles east of the northern Mozambique coast. This shallow seamount has almost 60 square kilometres of shallow topography and has exceptional physical and biological characteristics that make it a biodiversity hotspot and a paradise for yellow fin tuna, dogtooth tuna and marlin. 

​

Although the St Lazarus Bank is known as an atoll the reefs do not reach the surface and back-reef lagoons, typical for atolls, are lacking. The central, table-like platform of the seamount reaches from six to about 60 m deep on the margins and rapidly drops to around 2000 m on all sides. Expect an abundance of fish and birds feasting on an ocean of delicacies, especially during August to December when it is Mantis Shrimp season and billions of these crustaceans rise to the surface to mate every year. 

Large examples of predatory fish species can be found in these waters and includes snappers, jacks and this is one of the few areas left on earth where pelagic fish can still be found in large quantities. Manta rays, sharks (around eight species to date), whale sharks, huge schools of feeding barracuda, many species of king fish, red snappers, green and hawksbill turtles, pods of humpback dolphins and humpbacked whales (in season) frequent these waters.

A trip to St Lazarus Bank is the ultimate holiday for experienced divers and fishermen. Here the fish are so abundant and monstrous that using rapala or tackle less than 50 lb is asking for trouble. It is not a surprise that this area is known as “Legendary St Lazarus Bank” and you could be one of the few who not only talk and dream about fishing or diving here, but can experience something that few people have experienced before.

​