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The best time to dive East Africa, including Tanzania, is from September to March. February is the best time for whale sharks.
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Zanzibar is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, 25-50 km off the coast of Tanzania. There are two main islands: Zanzibar which is also known as Unguja, and Pemba. The Zanzibar archipelago was, until 1964, a separate state but is now part of Tanzania. This page covers the diving around the Zanzibar archipelago and also Mafia island of Tanzania.
I think that we have been lucky with the vis, because we had every dive at least 30 m. Was like being in the Red Sea, with the big difference that we have always been the only divers on each one of the dives in the water. We went in November and aparently November, February, March and April are the months with the best vis.
Alfred, Germany, 2008
Zanzibar, Tanzania is truly the paradise. Waters were so clear. We went down to 18 m and saw green turtles, potato groupers (large ones), piped fish, trumpet fish, lion fish and so much more.
Arif
Beautiful tropical setting, many different levels of diving, miriad of colours of coral and fish. Also turtles, dolphins, manta rays. Crystal waters, general good coverage of species, shoals and shoals of darting fish.
Gemma Steel
Learnt to dive in Zanzibar and this was my first ever open water dive, so I didn't really appreciate just how beautiful this site is at the time. Four years later I've failed to find anywhere that comes close! Turtles, trumpefish, lionfish, crocodile fish, and the coral displays stunning colours. Recommended!
Vanessa Hayes, 2006
We were diving in Mnemba Island, Zanzibar one month ago. Fantastic place, but be aware of dishonest boatmen. I lost my money and shorts when diving with One Ocean company.
Erkki J Saarela, 2005
Clearest viz ever, green back turtles, most amazing reefs' best fish .
Richard Labuschagne, 2009
We saw many, many more smaller and much more colourful fishes. Truly a wonderful site. Beautiful green waters changing slowly to swimming pool blue. Unbelievable!
Arif
Apparently they have a lot of nice hard and soft coral on this dive, but it was so full of fish that most of the time we couldn't see anything else. Schools of baracuda, massive schools of snappers and bat fish. Some cobias and schools of trevallies...
Alfred, Germany, 2008
Reef in the open sea where we saw loads of crocodile fish, groupers, lobsters, trevelis, schools of barracuda and squid.
Yolandi, 2007
Plates of coral, a lot of life.
Albert, UK, 2010
Viz was not as great as other Zanzibar sites, but the quality of the reef was the best we have ever seen! Amazing diversity of hard and soft corals.
Yolandi, 2007
Special dive for huge sections of rigid plate corals and we saw three turtles!
Yolandi, 2007
Great dive with all a diver and photographer could ask for.
Alfred, Germany, 2008
Here we saw all this stuff that you usually never see, sea horses, ghost pipe fish, 10 different kinds of nudi's, 8 different kinds of scorpion fish inclding crocodile fish, mauritius scorpion fish, weedy scorpion fish, leaf fish, frog fish and all in one dive!
Alfred, Germany, 2008
Turtles ,barracudas, white tips, banks of tunas, dolphins, easy dive.
Albert, UK, 2010
Coral wall, a lot of fish and coral.
Albert, UK, 2010
Deep Dive, Wonderful wall for deep dives full of live and nice corals.
David Noland (Spain), 2011
Great for pictures! Cocodile fish, Leaf Fish, Lion Fish, Blue Spotted Sting Rays, Napoleon Wrasse
David Noland (Spain), 2011
Territorial Trigger Fish, Moray Eels...
David Noland (Spain), 2011
The most incredible coral banks I have ever seen with as many fish as the Yongala.
David, 2008
Amazing reefs on the Eastern side of the island in Chole Bay, large potato groups humpback wrasse, hawsbill turtles, and plenty of parrot, butterfly and angelfish. On the western side of the island there are some less pristine reefs that have been damaged by dynamite fishing but there are still some areas with amazing diving, furthermore the western side of the island is often visited between November-March by large goups of whale sharks, a truly amazing site when diving or snorkelling.
Matt Davies, 2008
Almost all Mafia's best diving is at depths of less than 30m so it is a sport diver's paradise. The reefs of the archipelago offer a staggeringly beautiful and varied display of marine life. The excellent condition and high diversity of the reefs stimulated the creation of Mafia Island Marine Park, Tanzania's first marine park. Examples of most kinds of tropical marine habitat occur here, including exposed fringing reefs, rock walls, soft corals and algae-dominated reefs. The diversity of animal and plant life is hard to match, with over 50 genera of corals and 460 species of fish so far identified; many more still await determination. There are excellent examples of giant table corals, delicate seafans, whip corals, and huge stands of blue-tipped staghorn corals. Large predatory fish and turtles are common and surprisingly unaffected by approaching divers
Peter Byrne, Blue World Diving, 2010
Dive Operators on Mafia Island
Chole Bay is blessed with a number of excellent dives within the Bay, ensuring diving in almost any weather, as well as easy access. Visibility varies with the wind and tides, and is generally poor on outgoing tides as there is the normal accumulation of organic and granular matter in the water as it empties the Bay through the narrows of Kinasi Pass. The diving is tide-dependent for this reason and also to avoid strong currents at the dive sites which are close to the mouth of the Bay (Kinasi Pass). We usually dive on the full low, full high or on the incoming tide for the Kinasi Pass drift dive and the Chole and Kinasi walls, which lead of from close to the end of the Pass dive.
Peter Byrne, Blue World Diving, 2010
Maximum depth: 21 m, average depth: 12-14 m, drift dive over bank reef.
Peter Byrne, Blue World Diving, 2010
Pristine corals, napoleon wrasse, grouper, moray eel, sting ray
Mario Odorisio, Big Blu Mafia, 2010
A sloping reef starting at 6 m on a full tide. The dive starts at a sandy bottom facing the reef. A wide variety of hard and soft corals and abundant reef fish as this is a nursery area. There are vast schools of immatures and many species here. An excellent dive, especially for those interested in variety and detail, and an excellent introductory dive for those who have not dived for a while. The reef is extensive and most of it is also suitable for snorkelling.
Peter Byrne, Blue World Diving, 2010
Trevally, giant grouper, potato cod grouper, barracuda, sting ray
Mario Odorisio, Big Blu Mafia, 2010
Maximum depth: 8 m, average depth 9-12 m. A sloping bank reef that starts at about 8 m. the dive starts from a mix of sand and small limestone pebbles and climbs up the reef. There is a great variety of hard corals and colourful soft corals. There is an abundance of fish feeding here on this rich reef which thrives on the inflow to and outfall from Chole Bay. Great schools of juveniles. Spectacular species abundance, and at the end of the dive huge coral heads ("bommies") to explore. An excellent dive for the diver interested in the unusual and the small, fascinating life forms on a reef.
Peter Byrne, Blue World Diving, 2010
Many schools of fish, turtles, trevally, potato cod grouper, napoleon wrasse, sting ray, white tip shark
Mario Odorisio, Big Blu Mafia, 2010
Blue World Diving
Mafia Island
Tanzania
Tel: (0)255 777 424 588
E-mail: stay@mafiaisland.com
http://www.mafiaisland.com/
Dive base dedicated exclusively to Mafia Island guests - uses local boats - mashuas - for its activities and these are usually sailed back to base after diving. This minimises pollution and maximizes the enjoyment of experiencing a traditional sailing dhow or jahazi.Big Blu Mafia Island Diving CenterBig Blu Mafia Island Diving Center
Peter Byrne, Blue World Diving, 2010
Indian Ocean Service Ltd
PO Box 88
Mafia Island
Tanzania
Tel: +255784918069
E-mail: info@bigblumafia.com
Diving center and diving college , 12 dive spots, availability for groups of 25 divers. Humpback whales aug/sept/oct , whale sharks nov/dec/jan/feb. Double dive including equipment - 75US$, whale shark trip - 60$. Three bungalows with private bathrooms and hot water and accomodation in b&bScuba Do
Nice offer for divers: 1 night accomodation + 2 dives + full equipment + breakfast only 105$! Very good value compared to Indonesia, Red Sea, Maldives.
Mario Odorisio,(Big Blu Mafia), 2010
Kendwa Beach
Northern Zanzibar
Tel: +255 (0)784 415 179
E-mail: do-scuba@scuba-do-zanzibar.com
Rating:
We were very impressed with Scuba Do's professional operation, friendly staff, new equipment and diving off their fast RIBs.Spanish Dancer Divers
Yolandi, 2007
Spanish Dancer Dive Centre
P.O. Box: 3486
Stone Town
Zanzibar
Tanzania
Tel: +255 777 417 717
E-mail: contact@spanishdancerdivers.com
Rating:
Diving was great, one in a million dive guide and good equipment. Thanks again for a great time.
Alfred, 2008
Nungwi north coast. Excellent service, very friendly staff, nice location, good equipment, nice experience.Fumba Blue World Diving
Albert, 2010
PO Box 3705
Stone Town
Zanzibar
Tanzania
Tel: 255-773-125-078
E-mail: diving@fumbabeachlodge.co.tz Zanzibar Dive Adventures
PO Box 1784
Zanzibar
Tanzania
Tel: +255 777 415660
E-mail: info@zanzibarwatersports.com Buccaneer Diving
Zanzibar
Tanzania
Tel: +254 (0)728 630369
E-mail: info@buccaneerdiving.com
Bases at Voyager Hotel, Sun 'n Sand, Whitesands Hotel and Nyali Beach Hotel. Karafuu Dive Center
Pingwe
Zanzibar
Tanzania
Excellent equipment and experienced team. Small groups and wide boats for a relaxing trip..Radio, cellphone, two engines, Oxygen, Emergency Kit, Experienced Captain always on board. Not expensive at all, worth it.Sunset Bungalows Kendwa Beach, Northern Zanzibar.
Better than the average, great surprise to find that kind of service
David Noland (Spain), 2011
We stayed in Sunset Bungalows for $55 per double. Rooms were clean and comfortable and good value for money.Kendwa Rocks Bungalows Kendwa Beach, Northern Zanzibar.
Yolandi, 2007
Stayed in the Kendwa Rocks Bungalows, situated on a GREAT beach with clean rooms. All rooms with sea view. We paid $60 in off season, and compared to what other hotels were offering it was the best deal on the beach.
Alfred, Germany, 2008
Basic but very good.The Dive Sites of Kenya and Tanzania, 1997.
Albert, UK, 2010
Zanzibar: Pemba - Mafia (Bradt Travel Guide) , Chris and Susan McIntyre, 2009.
Please send us your comments on the Tanzania. Do you want to recommend a diving centre or dive site? Let us know. Have a question - try our Diving Board. If you own a dive centre get yourself added.
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