Diving in Mafia Island

Best Time to Dive in Mafia Island

The warmest water temperatures in Mafia Island occur in January, averaging 28.8°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 28.8°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

• January: 28.8°C (air: 27.8°C)
• February: 28.8°C (air: 28.0°C)
• March: 28.8°C (air: 27.8°C)
• April: 28.8°C (air: 27.0°C)
• May: 28.8°C (air: 26.9°C)
• June: 28.8°C (air: 26.0°C)
• July: 28.8°C (air: 25.2°C)
• August: 28.8°C (air: 25.0°C)
• September: 28.8°C (air: 25.3°C)
• October: 28.8°C (air: 26.1°C)
• November: 28.8°C (air: 27.0°C)
• December: 28.8°C (air: 27.7°C)

Marine Life in Mafia Island

Home to 165 recorded species including 94 hard corals, 63 reef fish, 3 sharks & rays, 2 jellyfish, 1 other, 1 whales & dolphins.

Dive Site Difficulty in Mafia Island

Mafia Island has 1 beginner, 1 advanced dive sites - suitable for divers of all levels.

Recommended Packing List for Mafia Island

Based on average water temperature of 28.8°C.

• Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
• Mask - essential for every dive
• Fins
• 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

Marine Protected Areas in Mafia Island

• Mafia Island - Marine Park (IUCN Category VI)
• Mangroves (Mikindani) - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangroves-Kilwa - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangroves-Kisarawe - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Rufiji-Mafia-Kilwa - Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Mangrove - Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)

Getting to Mafia Island - Nearest Airports

• Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR), Dar es Salaam - 183 km away, approx 215 min travel time
• Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ), Zanzibar - 252 km away, approx 289 min travel time
• Moi International Airport (MBA), Mombasa - 487 km away, approx 546 min travel time