Zanzibar Diving - Learn & Enjoy Your Dives

Zanzibar Diving Sites - Stone Town Dive Sites

Dive Site #1: Bawe Island

Bawe Island has a reef stretching around it with a maximum depth of 18m. Here you will find beautiful corals like Acropora, Staghorn, Brain corals and a large variety of reef fish.

Dive Site #2: Wrecks

Wreck diving for all levels:

• The Great Northern: At 12m the Great Northern (built 1870) sank on new year's eve 1902, a British steel cable laying ship. She has become a magnificent artificial reef after these many years and is home to a number of Leaf Fish, Lion Fish and Geometric Morays. Parts of the ship can still be identified and some relics may still be found though not taken. The Great Northern is an ideal wreck for the beginner diver as it is only 12m and is a snorkelers paradise.

• The Royal Navy Lighter: At 30m a wreck of the Royal Navy Lighter. It is home to large schools of Rainbow Runners, Trevally, Sweepers, Yellow Finned Goat Fish and sometimes Reef Sharks. For experienced Advanced Divers and above.

• The Penguin: At 40m a Pontoon Steam and Dredger, The Penguin, was sunk. This dive is for experienced Deep Divers. A fantastic dive due to huge numbers of big Bluefin Trevally, Barracuda, large Stringrays, Morays and lots more.

Dive Site #3: Murogo

Maximum depth 24m. Murogo has a sloping reef wall with a huge variety in coral and fish. Turtle are often seen on this dive and this is usually our preferred third dive site for the Open Water Diver course. Only 25 minutes away from our dive shop in our traditional Zanzibar Dhow powered by a 100hp Volvo Penta.

Dive Site #4: Nyange

This reef is the largest of all reefs on the west coast and contains sereval diving sites, all of which are unique. A new species of coral has recently been identified on this reef and marine biologists believe it to be endemic ti Nyange. We are the only dive shop to dive this reef on regular basis. The sites dived are called Turtles Den, Groupers Play Ground and Coral Bay.

Dive Site #5: Boribu

One of the best dive sites off Zanzibar. Our dive shop is the only dive operator in Stone Town able to transport divers to this prestine reef. Boribu is only 45 minutes by our fast custom made fiberglass boat. Huge Barrel Sponges, enormous Gorgonian fans, large Moray eel's pelagic fish, large lobsters are all features of this dive. In season, Whale Sharks pass through. The maximum depth is 30m. Boribu has an underwater reef unlike any other in Zanzibar with beautiful mountains of varying corals including the spectacular columna corals.

Zanzibar diving photo: A diver with a giant moray eel. This is a large eel, reaching up to 300 cm (10.0 ft) in length and 30 kg (66.1 lbs) in weight. While juveniles are tan in color with large black spots, adults have black specks that grade into leopard-like spots behind the head and a black area surrounding the gill opening.

Dive Site #6: Pange

Pange reef is the first sand bank west of Zanzibar Town, maximum depth 14m. An enormous variety of coral and lots of tropical reef fish such as Clown Fish, Parrot Fish, Moorish Idol and many others. Pange is ideal for Open Water Diver courses, as it offers calm and shallow waters. After the sun goes down why not try a night dive, where you may see cuttle fish, squid, crab and other night dwellers.novice

Zanzibar Diving Sites - Mnemba Atoll Dive Sites

Dive Site #7: West Gardens

Depth to 12m. A good spot for snorkelers and novice divers.

Dive Site #8: Aquarium

Depth to 20m. There's usually a slight current at this site. Patches of sandy bottoms occur quite close to the reef with Surgeon-fish, Moorish Idols, Parrot-fish, Groupers, large Hawksbill and Green Turtles along with White-tip Reef Sharks.

Dive Site #9: Wattabomi

Excellent site for snorkelers and novice diving. Schools of small reef fish, Regal Angelfish, many Blue-streak Cleaner Wrasse, Semicircle Angelfish, Moorish Idol, Moral Eels, Blue Spotted Rays, Lion-fish and many more. Take your time looking for Flounders, Scorpion-fish, Stone-fish and Soles. These fish lie on their side buried in the sand, and are very well camouflaged. For most of the year you will be treated to the beautifully-patterned Striped Dolphin, but the Bottle-nosed, Spinner and common Dolphins also occur in the clear waters around Mnemba.

Zanzibar diving photo: An Indian Walkman spotted at Wattabimi, Mnemba.

Dive Site #10: Kichwani

Deep, clear, drift dive from 20m to 40m depending on the divers experience. Many coral species including Mushroom, Moneycombe, Brain and Staghorn Coral to name just a few. Below 30m a vertical wall with many reef fish, Trumpetfish and large Napoleon Wrasse. Lucky people see Reef Sharks, Eagle and Manta Rays.

Dive Site #11: The Big Wall

Depth of 30m dropping off to 50m. You will descend down to 30m drifting along a vertical wall. On your silent drift along this wonderful wall you will be passed by different species of pelagic schools of Rainbow Runner, Bluefin Trevally and sometimes Common Dolphin-fish. Along the edge of the wall you find some overhangs and small caves often filled with Lobsters.

PADI Diving Courses

PADI Discover Scuba Diving Course

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to breathe underwater. If you want to find out but aren’t quite ready to take the plunge into a certification course, Discover Scuba Diving will let you try scuba to see if you like it. Most PADI dive shops offer a version of this program, either in a pool or other body of water. You might try it close to home or while you’re on vacation.

While not an actual scuba certification, during the Discover Scuba Diving experience you’ll learn how to use scuba equipment in shallow water and get a quick and easy introduction to what it takes to explore the underwater world.

Prerequisites

• To take Discover Scuba Diving, you must be at least 10 years old

PADI Scuba Diver Course

Short on time and long on the urge to become a certified diver? The PADI Scuba Diver certification might just be for you. This course requires less time than the PADI Open Water Diver course, covering only the first three of five sections of knowledge development, the first three of five pool sessions, and the first two of four open water training dives, resulting in a limited certification.

Particularly if you expect to go scuba diving primarily in the company of a dive guide or if you have limited time to devote to scuba certification, consider becoming a PADI Scuba Diver.

The Prerequisites for This Course

• To take this course, you must be 15 years old (or 10 years old for Junior Scuba Diver certification)

PADI Open Water Diver Course

The PADI Open Water Diver course is the world’s most popular scuba course, and has introduced millions of people to the adventurous diving lifestyle.

Prerequisites

• To enroll in the PADI Open Diver course or Junior Open Water Diver course, you must be 10 years or older (PADI eLearning requires an extra registration step for students under 13 years due to international internet laws.

PADI Advanced Open Water Dive Course

Exploration, Excitement, Experiences. They’re what the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course is all about. And no, you don’t have to be “advanced” to take it – it’s designed so you can go straight into it after the PADI Open Water Diver course. The Advanced Open Water Diver course helps you increase your confidence and build your scuba skills so you can become more comfortable in the water.

This is a great way to get more dives under your belt while continuing to learn under the supervision of your PADI Instructor. This course builds on what you’ve learned and develops new capabilities by introducing you to new activities and new ways to have fun scuba diving.

Prerequisites

To take this course, you must be:

• A PADI Open Water Diver (or qualifying certification from another training organization)
• 15 years old (12 for Junior Advanced Open Water Diver)

PADI Rescue Diver Course

“Challenging” and “rewarding” best describe the PADI Rescue Diver course. Building upon what you’ve already learned, this course expands on what you already know about how to prevent problems, and how to manage them if they occur.

Prerequisite

To enroll in the PADI Rescue Diver course, you must:

• Be 12 years or older
• Have a PADI Adventure Diver certification (or have a qualifying certification from another organization)
• Be trained and current for first aid and CPR within the previous two years (Ask your instructor about Emergency First Response CPR and first aid courses).

PADI Emergency First Response Course

First aid and CPR are good skills for anyone involved in adventure sports – just in case. And, you need these skills for the PADI Rescue Diver course.

Emergency First Response is a PADI affiliate that specializes in teaching these lifesaving skills – and they’re for anyone, not just divers. Most PADI Instructors are also Emergency First Response Instructors!

Prerequisites

• To enroll in Emergency First Response courses, you must care about other people and want to be able to assist them in a medical emergency

PADI Divemaster Course

Looking for the first step in working with scuba as a career? Your adventure into the professional levels of recreational scuba diving begins with the PADI Divemaster program. Working closely with a PADI Instructor, in this program you expand your dive knowledge and hone your skills to the professional level. PADI Divemaster training develops your leadership abilities, qualifying you to supervise dive activities and assist instructors with student divers.

PADI Divemaster is the prerequisite certification for both the PADI Assistant Instructor and PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor certifications.

Prerequisites

To take this course, you must be:

• 18 years old
• A PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (or qualifying certification from another training organization)
• A PADI Rescue Diver (or qualifying certification from another training organization)
• An Emergency First Response Primary and Secondary Care (or qualifying first aid and CPR training from another organization) course completion within the past 24 months.
• Have at least 40 dives to begin the course and 60 for certification
• Be fit for diving and submit a Medical Statement signed by a physician within the last 12 months.

Zanzibar Diving Gallery

Click on an image to enlarge:

Zanzibar diving photos: A short gallery.

Zanzibar Diving - Scuba Dives Rates

Single Dive from

USD 75 p.p.

Double (2) Dives from

USD 115 p.p. (including a light lunch)

Four (4) Dives from

USD 215 p.p.

Six (6) Dives from

USD 305 p.p.

Eight (8) Dives from

USD 390 p.p.

Ten (10) Dives from

USD 475 p.p.

Night Dive from

USD 85 p.p.

Try Dive (Fun Dive) Single Dive from

USD 130 p.p. (Second Dive from USD 35 p.p.)

PADI Diving Courses

PADI Discover Scuba Diving from

USD 150 p.p.

PADI Scuba Diver Course from

USD 350 p.p.

PADI Open Water Course from

USD 500 p.p.

PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course from

USD 450 p.p.

PADI Rescue Diver Course from

USD 530 p.p.

PADI Emergency First Response from

USD 190 p.p.

PADI Dive Master Course from

USD 700 p.p. (Plus USD 200 for manuals)