The best diving spots in Pemba, Zanzibar

The archipelago of Zanzibar consists mainly of two islands, to know :

• Unguja (also called simply Zanzibar), the main island of Zanzibar
• Pemba, the second, slightly smaller island located north of Unguja

Zanzibar is a well known place for diving, many tourists make the trip there especially for this. 

The island of Pemba is somewhat less known than her big sister, although it attracts more and more tourists every year. 

This island benefits from sumptuous diving spots while avoiding the crowds of divers.

When to dive in Pemba Island?

The Zanzibar archipelago, and more precisely the island of Pemba, knows a equatorial climate with two periods of rain :

•  March to May
•  October to December

It is possible to dive all year round, however, the best times are the following:

• January and February
• July to September

However, you should know that these conditions vary widely.

For my part, I dived in the Zanzibar archipelago end March, I was lucky during my many trips to sea since the conditions were excellent.

What is the water temperature in Pemba Island?

The warmth of the water varies depending on the month of the year, however be sure that it remains very pleasant whatever the time of the year because of the equatorial weather.

We can find a water around 30 ° C during the warmer months (January to March) and a temperature that decreases to about 22 ° C in 24 ° C during the winter months, from July to September.

I personally dived in late March and the temperature was about 28 ° C.

What is the price of a dive on Pemba Island?

Le cost of a dive in Tanzania varies according to several criteria:

• Le website chosen for diving
• Le club chosen dive
•  Whether or not you need to rent diving equipment

Generally speaking, dive centers located in the same place will have identical prices.

A Pemba, count on average:

• An excursion in snorkeling: US $ 30/45
• Simple dive : US $ 80 / US $ 110
• Double dive : between US $ 130 and US $ 170
• Diving equipment : included in most dive centers
• Certificate PADI Open Water: around US $ 540

Those are averages, you will logically find cheaper and more expensive rates. I recommend you to don't just check the price by taking the cheapest club. Remember that there are other important conditions for properly select your dive club.

Be aware that in Pemba, if you wish to pay by credit card (the establishment must also accept credit cards), a commission of 4% will be automatically, collected by the Tanzanian bank. This whether or not you have subscribed to an international option with your bank in France.

The conditions to follow during a dive in Pemba

In order to dive safely, it is mandatory to comply with certain rules. These rules will benefit both you and the preservation of the seabed:

• Respect and follow the recommendations of your instructor
• Do not throw anything into the sea: be it bottles, plastic, cigarette ends etc ...
• Do not touch anything in the water (both corals and fish)

What to see while diving in Pemba?

The seabed of Pemba Island is very rich.

We see in particular:

• A rich and varied coral fauna,
• Manta rays, spotted and leopards,
• Turtles,
• Dolphins,
• Reef sharks, or black tip, whale sharks,
• Many nudibranchs,
• Whales,
• Some wrecks

How to choose your dive center in Pemba?

La exclusive a diving club should not be taken lightly because it depends on your security et Experience that you will live underwater.

You will find a few diving clubs in the seaside villages so I recommend that you choose your club correctly.

When you choose your dive center, it will be be advised to:

• Favor an approved diving center: opt for a structure approved or labeled by a known federation (FFESSM, PADI, SSI, etc.)
• Find out about the club: you have the possibility of, among other things, going on the site, contacting the center or even consulting the opinions and comments published on the internet.

Diving clubs in Pemba

There are several diving centers in Pemba, among which:

• 360 ° (diving center of the Manta Resort hotel)
• Various Swahili
• 710 Diving center 

French-speaking diving clubs in Pemba

In some dive clubs in Pemba it is possibly possible to find French instructors. 

However, evolving staff season after season, I will recommande de contact the clubs before going to the island, check with them whether the staff speak French.

The best diving spots in Pemba

The absence of mass tourists allows the best possible use of the multicolored aquatic world by Pemba. 

It is possible to dive all around the island except the east coast. 

The best diving spots in North Pemba

The diving spots in the North of Pemba are, in general, accessible for all divers. Also good for beginners that for experienced, depending on the diving spots. 

Among most famous sites, we find those from the north of the island including:

• The Swiss Reef : dive site with a depth of 26-32 meters, is reserved for the most experienced divers. It is a spectacular site. You can observe pelagics, turtles and large schools of fish.

• The Edge : dive site for the more experienced. It is a wall starting at 30m and descending into the depths of the ocean. It is a perfect place to meet wrasse, turtles, reef sharks etc. 

• Shimba Hills or Shimba Walls : dive sites for beginners (about 12 meters deep). These sites are beautiful drop offs covered with corals, sea fans etc. You can find riflemen, etc.

• Manta Point: one of the most famous sites in Pemba, this site is reserved for experienced divers. As its name suggests, you can admire Manta rays on this spot. There are also dolphins, eagle rays, turtles, reef sharks and many more.

• Fundo Gap: this site, also reserved for experienced divers, is one of the most beautiful. The current will carry you along the spot. You will see magnificent corals, wrasse, barracudas, etc.

The best center diving spots in Pemba

A great diversity of diving spots are around the small island of Misali which is located to the west near Chake Chake.

This small island of Misali has long been a haunt of pirates.

Un only diving club in the surroundings allows you to go diving around this small island, it is about Fundu Lagoon.

Among best spots dive sites in the area, there are:

• Uvinje gap southern and northern wall: the spot in the South is accessible to all levels but on the other hand, the spot in the North is reserved for experienced divers. There are very beautiful colored corals there with generally very good visibility. You can see mantas, barracudas, eagle rays, turtles, napoleons etc ...

• Misali island : Misali Island has been part of a protected conservation area since 1998. Marine life is therefore of high quality and rather abundant. There are lots of corals and beautiful fish. You can see dolphins there too. 

The best southern diving spots in Pemba

The diving spots of South of Pemba can only to be explored from October to March. 

The most famous spots are reserved for experienced divers and are as follows:

• Lighthouse: this spot is known for its fairly strong current. There are napoleons, barracudas etc.

• Panza reef 

• Panza Wreck: it is a 94 m wreck, the boat sank in 1967. This wreck is covered with colored corals. You can see napoleons, etc.

• Emerald Reef: there can be strong currents, giant barracudas, fusiliers etc. Visibility on this spot is around 30 m.