Karibu Zanzibar diving

Zanzibar, an Island Paradise catering to every level of diver. Weather you are a seasoned "been there, what's next?" 'Pro or a "I'm afraid to get my feet wet" Type, Zanzibar has the Dive Centres and staff to make your holiday a true Indian Ocean experience. Let's start with StoneTown itself. There are 2 PADI DC's located on the beach front. Bahari Divers, is a small and friendly professional store. Offering daily boatdiving to over 10 dive sites, including a secret, recently discovered tug boat wreck (30mts), as well as snorkeling and PADI Courses up to Al. [...]. Bahari offer boat diving and PADI Courses. The diving around StoneTown is an excellent choice for the beginner to intermediate diver and is 'fullon' for the snorkelers. The typical dive site is 30min by dhow and most reefs start at 6mts slowly dropping to 25/ 30mts. The fishlife includes Hawksbill turtles (endangered), Grey Reef sharks, Nudibranches and the occasional dolphin. Visibility at 10 - 20mts. Next highlight for the divers would have to be 'Mnemba Atoll'. This atoll, located about 1/2 hour dhow trip from the picturesque Nungwi, gives the divers more chance to encounter pelagic species, normally associated with serious Indian Ocean Diving. Certain times of the year Mnemba Atoll is graced with whalesharks and Mantas. Nungwi has 2 PADI dive centres. The first is Dive Zanzibar and offers all PADI Courses plus boat dives departing 9am daily. [...]. East Coast diving is geared more to the experienced divers, who want big fish and clear water. Zanzibar has a number of other Dive Centres situated around the coast operating from towns such as Paje (Paje East Coast Diving) and (Rising Sun Diving). All of these dive centers offer professional services, daily boat diving, courses and of course they look after the non diving family members with much care and attention. For a truly adventurous diver Pemba Island, situated 50km north from Zanzibar, is the place to be. Here the diving is made of Gin clear Water, big fish and sheer dropoffs. Pemba Diving is for the experienced advanced diver, who wants to see Hammerheads, Mantas and Whalesharks. You can book your trip from an office situated near StoneTown (see Pemba Information) or join a Liveaboard Safari on board MV Kisiwani (Pemba Diving Ltd). Further South of Zanzibar lays Mafia Island. This whole area is now a Marine Underwater Park and rightly so with pristine coral reefs inhabited by huge schools of reef fish. There is one Dive Centre, we know of, situated in the Kinasi Camp, they run diving, snorkeling, fishing and other beach activities. So, folks, that's what's on offer U/W in around Zanzibar. All locations - offer professional service, great diving and the typical Zanzibari hospitality you all expect. Ok, now that you've read all about it, what are you waiting for? See you down under!!!

Recommended in Zanzibar, Quarterly Guide, December 2000, Issue 12