Oceans Away; Forget the Caribbean.

Byline: Richard Alleman

The former Portuguese colony of Mozambique in southeastern Africa, with its glorious Indian Ocean beaches and abundant wildlife, has become the latest find for the sun-seeking crowd. Especially

desirable are the Quirimbas islands off Mozambique's north coast. Here, an exciting project involving conservationists, the government, and the Zoological Society of London is dedicated to preserving the islands' biodiversity as well as improving the local economy by opening the area to sustainable tourism with three small eco-resorts. The first of these has just opened on the island of Vamizi with twelve wooden bungalows perched among the trees-populated by Samango monkeys-on a long white beach. The interiors mix Mozambican furniture, art, and fabrics, with Mudejar screens from nearby Zanzibar. Bathrooms have sunken marble showers, and the expansive verandas are set with traditional island daybeds. The best reason to come here, however, is the diving-both snorkeling and scuba-since the Quirimbas are blessed with some of the most unspoiled waters and coral reefs on the planet. Happily, the people behind Vamizi aim to keep things that way. Rates start at $560 per person per day sharing a villa, and cover all meals, house wines, and guided activities, including one scuba dive; 011-27-11-884-8869 or vamizi.com.

Also making news on the Indian Ocean is the newly opened Maia resort, lying on a gorgeous secret beach on the main island of Mahe in the Seychelles islands. ...