Buccaneer Diving - Dar es Salaam & Offshore Islands
The team at Buccaneer Diving are our go-to in Dar es Salaam, especially when we’re looking to get out to the offshore islands. They’re PADI, so all the usual courses are covered, but it’s their local knowledge that really shines. We’ve found them consistently good at reading the conditions, which, let’s be honest, can be a bit variable here. What we really love about Buccaneer is their focus on the less-frequented sites around Bongoyo and Mbudya. While everyone else is hitting the same spots, they’re often nudging you towards something a little different, like the deeper pinnacles where we’ve had some cracking encounters with potato groupers and even a couple of shy reef sharks. The visibility out there can really open up, sometimes hitting 25 metres, and the water feels like a warm bath. Our favourite time to dive with them is mornings, getting out before the day boats crowd the islands. They’re super laid back, but still efficient, and the gear always feels well maintained. If you’re serious about exploring beyond the immediate coast, they’re the crew to call.
- Location
- Dar es Salaam & Offshore Islands, Tanzania, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- -6.266848, 39.536255
- Website
- https://www.buccaneerdiving.com/
- Certification Agencies
- PADI
- Courses
- yes
- Equipment Rental
- yes
- Air Fills
- yes
- Address
- Paje Beach
- Languages
- null
- Price Range
- null
Dive Sites Near Buccaneer Diving
Buccaneer Diving provides access to 15 dive sites in Dar es Salaam & Offshore Islands.
- Aquarium (reef)
- Big Wall - 15-40m (wall)
- Big Wall (wall)
- Captain Muddy - 10-30m (wreck)
- Club 54 - 10-25m (reef)
- Diving spot - 5-20m (reef)
- End of the world
- Fundo Gap
- Fungu Yasini Island (reef)
- HMS Pegasus (wreck)
- KRONBERG - 2m (wreck)
- Lighthouse
- Little Wall (wall)
- Little Wall - 15-40m (wall)
- Mandela Wall (wall)
Other Dive Centres in Dar es Salaam & Offshore Islands
Best Time to Dive in Dar es Salaam & Offshore Islands
The warmest water temperatures in Dar es Salaam & Offshore Islands occur in April, averaging 29.3°C. The coolest conditions are in August at 25.5°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.2°C
- February: 28.6°C
- March: 29.2°C
- April: 29.3°C
- May: 28.1°C
- June: 27.1°C
- July: 25.9°C
- August: 25.5°C
- September: 25.8°C
- October: 26.7°C
- November: 27.6°C
- December: 28.7°C
Marine Life in Dar es Salaam & Offshore Islands
Home to 55 recorded species including 33 reef fish, 14 seagrass & algae, 2 other, 2 sea snails & nudibranchs, 1 clams & mussels, 1 starfish.
Notable Marine Life
- Marbled Parrotfish (Leptoscarus vaigiensis) - Reef Fish
- Cigar wrasse (Cheilio inermis) - Reef Fish
- Hooded oyster (Saccostrea cuccullata) - Clams & Mussels
- Spangled emperor (Lethrinus nebulosus) - Reef Fish
- Silver-streaked rainbowfish (Stethojulis strigiventer) - Reef Fish
- cymodocea (Cymodocea rotundata) - Seagrass & Algae
- thalassia (Thalassia hemprichii) - Seagrass & Algae
- Crested Sabretooth Blenny (Petroscirtes mitratus) - Reef Fish
- Alligator pipefish (Syngnathoides biaculeatus) - Reef Fish
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Recommended Packing List for Dar es Salaam & Offshore Islands
Based on average water temperature of 27.6°C, currents 33 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins (stiff blade recommended for strong currents)
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories