Zanzibar is a small archipelago, washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean. Almost from all sides the island is surrounded by coral reefs, so it is not surprising that diving is a favorite occupation for locals and tourists. Throughout the year, the water temperature is about 27 ° C, and visibility under water is almost 30 m. This creates ideal conditions for underwater diving and snorkeling.
Features of local diving
Today, diving in Zanzibar is considered one of the best in the world. The archipelago is surrounded by small islands - Pemba , Mafia and Mnemba, which delight the beauty of the underwater world and natural abundance. Here all conditions for divers of different level of preparation are created. Plunging to the depths, you are heading towards the endless coral gardens. Here there are large marine fish, like giant tuna, manta and reef sharks. The rarest representatives of the local fauna are the lion fish and the scorpion fish. Near the shore you can come across flocks of bright tropical fish, pleasing with a variety of shapes, colors and sizes.
For those who want to dive for the first time, local dive centers have been established in Zanzibar . Experienced instructors will help you learn the basics of diving in the PADI education system. Upon completion of the training you will be issued a certificate that gives you the right to dive not only in Zanzibar, but in all the cities of Tanzania . The largest center for the training of divers operates in the capital of Zanzibar - Stone Town .
Popular places for diving
Among local divers, the most popular is the island of Mnemba. At a successful coincidence of circumstances here it is possible to meet barracuda, vahu and dorado. Of course, the greatest pleasure comes from swimming with dolphins, who never mind to play with divers and charge them with unforgettable impressions.
Other equally popular places for diving in Zanzibar include:
- Pange Reef, located in the western part of Zanzibar;
- reef Boribi, the depth in which reaches 30 m;
- Wattabomi, where you can also do snoring;
- sunken British ship, which became an artificial reef;
- the island of Prison .
For beginners it is best to choose Pange Reef, in which the maximum depth is only 14 m. The waters here are quiet and calm, pleasing with a variety of coral reefs and tropical fish like parrot fish and clownfish. Plunging into the evening and night, you can run into the night inhabitants of the Indian Ocean - skates, squids and crabs.
No less beautiful diving site in Zanzibar is the Boribi Reef, in which you will be met by beautiful hills and corals in the form of columns. The depth of the dive is about 30 meters. Inhabitants of local waters are lobsters and white sharks.
Diving in Wattabomi, you can explore the waters of Zanzibar at a depth of about 20-40 meters. Here you can come across a vertical coral wall, near which there are coral sharks and rays.
Of particular interest to tourists engaged in diving in Zanzibar, is a British ship, sunk in 1902. Plunged to the bottom, it became a kind of artificial reef. Despite the fact that 114 years have passed since the collapse, some details of the ship remained untouched. Of course, most of it is overgrown with corals and serves as a home for local inhabitants - moray eels and some fish species.
If you want to admire the giant sea turtles, then safely go to the island of Prison. In this part of Zanzibar there are excellent conditions for diving and snorkeling. Turtles brought here from the Seychelles are already so accustomed to divers that they do not pay any attention to them.
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