The best diving spots in Zanzibar

Zanzibar is undoubtedly themost common place for diving in Tanzania. It's a archipelago of islands made of two main islands which are:

• Unguja (the main one, which is the island that is generally called "Zanzibar"). A few kilometers northeast of Unguja, the island of Mnemba is also known for its seabed.

• Pemba, an island slightly smaller than its big sister, is still notorious for its seabed.

When to dive in Zanzibar?

The Zanzibar archipelago is experiencing a equatorial climate with two rainy seasons:

• March to May
• October to December

It is quite feasible to dive all year round, however, the best times are:

• January to March
• July to September

However, be aware that these conditions are very fluctuating.

For my part, I dived in the Zanzibar archipelago in March and then at the end of May in Mafia. I was lucky during my various sea trips since the conditions were excellent.

 

What is the temperature of the water in Zanzibar?

La temperature of the ocean various depending on the period, however be aware that she remains very pleasant throughout the year due to the equatorial climate.

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

I for my part dived end of March and end of May and the temperature varied between 26 ° C and 28 ° C.

 

 

 

What is the price of a dive in Zanzibar?

Le rate of a dive in Tanzania various according to several elements:

• Le spot chosen for diving
•  Le club dive selected
• Whether or not you need to rent equipment Diving

In general, diving centers located in the same place will have similar prices.

In Zanzibar, count on average:

• An excursion in snorkeling: US $ 30/45
• Simple dive: US $ 65
• Double dive: between US $ 85 and US $ 110
• Equipment: US $ 25
• Certificate PADI Open Water: approximately US $ 500

It's about a average, you will logically find much cheaper and more expensive prices. I recommend you to do not select your club solely by relying on the price charged. Remember that there areother essential criteria to properly choose your diving club.

Be aware that in Tanzania, if you wish pay by credit card (it is also necessary that the establishment accepts bank cards), a 4% commission will be automatically charged by the Tanzanian bank. This, whether you have or not, subscribed to an international option with your French bank.

 

The conditions to be respected during a dive in Zanzibar

 

In order to dive in all security, it is essential to comply with certain rules. These rules will benefit both you and the protection of the seabed:

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

 

What to see while diving in Zanzibar?

 

Zanzibar's seabed happens to be very rich. We see especially:

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

 

How to choose your dive center in Zanzibar?

 

La exclusive of a diving club should not be taken lightly since your safety depends on it and the experience you will have in the water.

You will find lots of diving clubs different in tourist towns so I recommend that you correctly choose your club.

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

• Choose an approved diving club: think of a structure approved or labeled by a known federation (FFESSM, PADI, SSI, etc.)
• Find out about the club: you can, among other things, go to the site, call the center or even look at the opinions and comments left on the internet

Diving clubs in Zanzibar

Zanzibar being a well-known place for diving, you are spoiled for choice to find a dive center that suits you.

I have prepared a list of the most famous dive centers in Zanzibar :

• One Ocean Dive
• Fun Miscellaneous Zanzibar
• dive point
• Spanish Dancer Miscellaneous 
• Fun Miscellaneous 
• Buccaneer Diving
• Nakupenda Diving Center 

French-speaking diving clubs in Zanzibar

Among the diving clubs mentioned above, We speak french in the following:

• One Ocean Dive
• dive point
• Spanish Dancer Miscellaneous 

However, changing staff in diving clubs, I advise you to contact the club directly dive that interests you to check that there is indeed a French speaking instructor when you want to go there.

 

The best diving spots in Zanzibar

 

In Zanzibar you will find dive sites for all levels. For beginners as well as for more experienced divers.

I chose this place for pass my PADI Open Water, and I am delighted because I have seen extraordinary backgrounds.

The best diving spots around Mnemba Atoll in Zanzibar

It is surely the most popular dive area in all of Tanzania. 

There are many spots diving all around the island with a visibility often greater than 20 meters. 

There are for all levels, both for people in snorkeling that for divers more experienced with greater depths. 

There exists a fifteen spots around the Mnemba atoll but the most famous spots are certainly:

• Kichwani : a sloping wall covered with soft corals with a depth ranging from 2 meters to 20 meters creating a magnificent coral wall. With luck you can see reef sharks, groupers, wrasse and occasionally mantas. 

• Wattabomi : this is a fantastic spot for all experience levels. There are many moray eels, lion fish, scorpion fish, popcorn shrimp, porcelain crabs, turtles etc. 

• big wall : for experienced divers because the top of the wall is 40 meters and drops to more than 80 meters. There are large schools of fish as well as white tip sharks and wrasse.

• small-wall : diving reserved for the most experienced. This drift dive starts at a depth of 5 meters and descends gently to 40 meters. You can observe rays, wrasse, butterfly fish etc ...

• Aquarium : this spot owes its name to the fact that there are a very large number of fish such as parrotfish, reef sharks, surgeonfish, groupers, turtles etc. 

The best diving spots in the north of Zanzibar

In the north of Zanzibar, you can find many spots around Ras Nungwi.

Among these many sites, the most interesting are, without a doubt :

• Tumbatu Island : located west of Nungwi, this island is home to several diving spots. This island has one of the most beautiful coral gardens in northern Zanzibar. These spots are perfect for beginners with 3 to 12 meters deep. You will find turtles, leaf fish, scorpion fish, moray eels, nudibranchs. 

• Magic reef : reef with a depth of 12 to 20 meters. It is a paradise for photographic divers. You will find, in particular, seahorses, leaf fish, scorpion fish, frogfish, mantis shrimp, crocodile fish, moray eels, turtles etc ...

• Hunga / Nankivelle: among the most beautiful sites in Nungwi with very good visibility. The two sites, side by side, lie 12 and 16 meters deep. The bottom is covered with colorful corals. You can see barracudas, unicorn fish, groupers, wrasse, stone fish, crocodile fish, scorpion fish etc ...

• Leven Bank: One of the most beautiful dives in Zanzibar. It is a submerged mountain that rises between 12 and 55 meters. This dive is reserved for the most experienced because of the strong currents. You can see large moray eels, groupers, rays, tuna, humpback whales etc ...

• Mbwangawa: also called "the turtle house". You will understand, we can see many turtles there. 

• Kichafi's reef: is home to a very diverse fauna.

The best dive sites around Stone Town, Zanzibar

Departing from Stone Town, the capital of Zanzibar, you can find very beautiful dive sites as well as wrecks.

• Bawe Reef : Base Island is home to some very interesting diving spots. You can see seahorses, moray eels, cuttlefish, rays, turtles etc.

• Panje Reef: one of the best spots, especially for night diving. There are beautiful coral formations and many fish (moray eels, ion fish, rays, octopus etc…).

• The Great Northern: this is a British wiring boat. It sank in 1902. The coral surrounding this wreck is one of the most beautiful in Zanzibar.

• The Royal Navy lighter: located 30 meters deep this wreck is an ideal place for experienced divers. 

The best diving spots in the south of Zanzibar

We find spots less known to tourists around Kizimkazi which is located in the south of Zanzibar. But these sites are just as beautiful as those in the North.

• Dolphin wall : or you will have the best chance to meet dolphins. 

• Hammerhead : the most beautiful dive in the South. This spot is home to eagle rays, black tip sharks, large moray eels, reef sharks, hammerhead sharks etc. 

Zanzibar is a diving lover's paradise. I don't doubt for a single second that you will find your happiness on this beautiful island in the Indian Ocean.