Tanzania
Tanzania is without a doubt a global dive destination. It has an Indian Ocean coastline that is literally packed with fish, and bordered by a fringing reef. Where there are Islands such as Mafia, Zanzibar and Pemba, the marine life becomes even more prolific, and the reefs and deep walls are even more adventurous.
There is something for everyone in Tanzania. The diving on Zanzibar itself varies from wrecks to reefs to the deep. Pemba island has steep walls and pelagics in the cooler months, and the protected lagoon of Mafia allows year-round diving in calm conditions.
Find out more about Pemba island from our interview with marine biologist Dr Ewald Lieske who lived and worked on Pemba island from 1993 until 2010. The interview was conducted nearly a decade ago when we lived on Pemba Island, however, Dr Lieskes’ words are still as valid as they were then. It shows why East Africa is still a global underwater biodiversity hotspot and gives us good reasons to revisit both Pemba and Zanzibar islands for diving.
Pemba Island
Pemba Island is a small volcanic island to the north of Zanzibar. It is home to the best diving that Tanzania has to offer. As a volcanic rock, it has the steepest walls in East African diving and a plethora of marine life including schools of jacks and chubbs. Some pelagics can be seen in Pemba in the colder months of July August September and early October.
Zanzibar
The paradise island of Zanzibar is known for spices, long white beaches, historic architecture and cool evening hangouts. With scores of hotels offering every level of comfort, Zanzibar tours are world-famous. What is less well-known is that scuba diving in Zanzibar is excellent. Zanzibar has many shallow and easily accessible and quite frankly stunning coral reefs. Beyond the islands of Tumbatu are the deeper dives off Mnemba Atol which offer awesome visibility and marine life. Scuba diving tours in Zanzibar are truly world-class.