Along with being dazzled by the azure ocean, pristine beach forest and silky white sand, there is so much underwater fun to be had in the warm waters of Zanzibar.
Zanzibar is one of those magical destinations that perfectly combines equal doses of exhilarating sea adventures with peaceful, feet-up relaxation. If you’re in the mood to get more than your feet wet, you can dive down to encounter the diverse, colourful marine-life that glides over the coral reefs they call home.
Zanzibar pretty much has all the great diving and snorkelling spots so if your dream holiday includes ocean exploration and adventure, read on to find out more of what you can expect on this special island off the coast of Tanzania.
Diving
Zanzibar is, quite simply, a diver’s paradise. With an average water temperature of 27 degrees Celsius and visibility between 20 and 60 metres, it is a great diving destination throughout the year.
Leven Bank is only for advanced divers as drops can descend as deep as 55 meters and strong currents call for serious endurance. Once you reach the underwater landscape of rocky, coral-laden outcrops that teem with a variety of fish species, you’ll realise the hard work was completely worth it. Possible sightings at Leven Bank include whitetip reef sharks, dolphins, rays, honeycomb moray eels, barracudas, tunas, bluefin trevallies, guitarfish, triggerfish, and groupers.
Nankivell and Hunga Reef are both great for beginner divers as their deepest drops range between 12 and 16 meters. Although not very deep, these dive sites still make for spectacular visits into the world of interesting coral formations that are the playgrounds of diverse marine-life. There are opportunities to see reef sharks, dolphins, barracudas, snappers, silver sweetlips, Napoleon wrasse, groupers, parrotfish, surgeonfish, and lobsters.
As with diving, Zanzibar and its surrounds have an impressive list of snorkelling spots. Conditions and visibility in these areas are top-notch almost year-round, making Zanzibar a haven for snorkelers.
Mnemba Atoll is a well-known conservation area in Zanzibar and at the top of most people’s ‘must-snorkel’ list. Average visibility is good year-round and ranges between 10 and 30 meters. Snorkelling along the coast of Mnemba Island will get you up close to beautiful coral reefs, assorted fish species and other marine-life like dolphins, green turtles, and sea stars.
Tumbatu Island offers a prime snorkelling spot away from the maddening crowds and closer to local people that live more traditionally than those found in the touristy areas. Since Tumbatu is less frequented by human visitors, the marine-life here is curious. Expect to swim near to bat fish, rare cute whip, ribbon eels, and leaf fish.
Also check out: Kendwa Reef, Chumbe Island, Stone Town Reef, and Prison Island.
Chat to us about planning an exciting island getaway to Zanzibar.
