Diving in Zanzibar & Pemba
Why dive here
Zanzibar & Pemba offers some of Tanzania's richest diving, with 312+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, blue-spotted stingrays, dolphins, eagle rays and hammerhead sharks. Water sits around 28°C.
Zanzibar and Pemba offer a real split personality when it comes to diving, and we love them both for different reasons. Off Zanzibar, Mnemba Atoll is our go-to for that classic Indian Ocean feel. We’re talking drift dives over reefs thick with fusiliers, the sun dappling through schools of surgeonfish, and almost guaranteed encounters with green sea turtles munching on seagrass. You’ll often spot bottlenose dolphins cruising the shallows here, too. Pemba, though, that’s where things get interesting for more experienced divers. The currents can be serious, but they bring in the goods. Think dramatic walls dropping hundreds of metres into the blue, where you’ll hang in the current watching trevally hunt and look out for bigger pelagics. The corals here are in exceptional shape, less visited than Zanzibar, with huge gorgonian fans and barrel sponges. Visibility in Pemba can be astounding, sometimes 30 metres plus, making those deep wall dives even more spectacular. We’d suggest focusing on Pemba for a truly raw, wild dive experience, saving Zanzibar for those easier, sun-drenched reef days.
Zanzibar & Pemba Dive Site Map
Dive sites and dive centres in Zanzibar & Pemba
Zanzibar & Pemba Dive Sites
79 dive sites in Zanzibar & Pemba
Abbas reef
Castle really delivers on its name; we think it’s one of the most fun topographical dives in KZN. Dropping down, you’ll find yourself in a maze of pinnacles and buttresses that make you feel like you’re exploring ancient ruins. The swim-throughs here are excellent, narrow enough to be exciting without feeling claustrophobic, and we’ve often seen big Potato Bass lurking in the shadows of the overhangs. Keep an eye out for the smaller stuff too; the nudibranchs are always a treat, and we've spotted some brilliant Flameback Angelfish darting between the corals. It’s a site that rewards multiple dives. Each time you go, you find a new gully or a different corner where a Spotted Grouper might be hanging out. The currents can pick up, so it's best for divers comfortable navigating a drift, but the structure offers plenty of places to duck in and shelter. Our favourite time to dive it is mid-morning, when the light streams through the gaps in the reef, illuminating the schools of Indian Mackerel and Springer. We've even been lucky enough to see Grey Nurse Sharks cruising through during their season.
Abbas reef
Abbas Reef, just a quick hop from Kizimkazi, is one of those places we always recommend for a relaxed afternoon. It’s got a gentle vibe, perfect if you’re still building confidence, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s boring. We found a surprising density of activity here, especially in the shallower sections. The reef itself is a pretty healthy patch of coral, not enormous, but what’s there is vibrant. We’ve drifted over sandy patches thick with seagrass, spotting green turtles grazing – always a treat. Keep an eye out for the smaller stuff too. We’ve seen blue-spotted stingrays half-buried in the sand, their electric blue spots popping against the beige, and a few times, we’ve been lucky enough to spot seahorses clinging to the weed. The nudibranchs here are surprisingly colourful, a real photographer’s delight if you’re patient. Visibility hovers around 15 metres, often better on a calm day, and with a maximum depth of 15 metres, you get plenty of bottom time to explore. It’s an easy, unhurried dive, great for focusing on macro life or just enjoying a peaceful drift.
ALMASI
Almasi is not your typical wreck dive. Forget deep exploration; this is a true piece of history, just breaking the surface. The schooner, built in 1898, met its fiery end in 1961 when its cargo of aviation fuel detonated. Now, it's a skeletal outline, almost a ghost ship, in just three metres of water. We love Almasi for its sheer accessibility and the way it tells its story. What you'll find here isn't a grand, intact vessel, but rather the scattered ribs and timbers, a testament to that powerful explosion. It’s an easy, sun-drenched snorkel or a very shallow dive, perfect for photographers looking to capture the interplay of light and shadow on the aged wood. Schools of small silversides often shimmer around the remains, and we’ve spotted plenty of juvenile reef fish taking shelter amongst the debris. It’s a site for contemplation, for imagining the past, and for appreciating how quickly the ocean reclaims what’s hers. Come at high tide for the best visibility, when the water is calmest.
Anemona City
Cerebros delivers exactly what its name promises: brain coral everywhere, in impressive formations. We often find ourselves just floating above them, watching the light play on their convoluted surfaces. It’s a shallow site, maxing out around 14 meters, which makes it perfect for a relaxed second or third dive, or for honing your photography skills. Look closely among the coral heads for fringed filefish and American eels peeking out, and keep an eye on the sand patches for serpent brittle stars. The visibility is usually pretty reliable here, around 17 meters, so you get a good view of all those "brains.
Anemona City
Anemona City really lives up to its name. We love this site for its sheer density of anemones, it’s not just a few scattered patches. Think massive, undulating fields, each one home to dozens of clownfish darting in and out of their tentacles. It’s only a short hop from Kizimkazi, just ten minutes by boat, and the anchor point starts shallow, around 4-5 metres. Even on the plateau, you’re already spotting colourful corals and small reef fish. Our favourite part is when you hit the gentle slope, dropping down to 15-17 metres. That’s where the anemone gardens truly explode. We often find ourselves just hovering, watching the clownfish bicker and play, their bright orange fins a stark contrast to the anemones’ pastel hues. Keep an eye out for pufferfish hovering nearby, and we’ve regularly seen Green Turtles gliding gracefully past. Visibility here averages around 15 metres, which gives you a good, clear view of the action without feeling like you’re in an aquarium. It’s a beautifully relaxed dive, perfect for photographers or anyone who just wants to soak up the slower pace of reef life.
Aquarium
Aquarium is a relaxed reef dive off Pemba, ideal for those looking for a gentle drift. You'll find a healthy patch of coral, home to a scattering of reef fish. Visibility here can vary, but on a good day, it’s a pleasant spot for newer divers or a second, calmer dive. It's not a big pelagic site, but a nice place to slow down.
Aquarium
Aquarium on Pemba is one of those sites where we feel utterly spoiled. It’s a gentle wall dive, starting around 15 metres, which means you’re dropping straight into the good stuff. We love to drift along, letting the current do the work, watching the reef unfold. The two huge formations of *Turbinaria* coral are absolutely buzzing. Think clouds of yellowfin fusiliers, their scales flashing as they swirl around you, with big honeycomb groupers eyeing them from the shadows. Keep an eye out for the smaller stuff too, we’ve spotted some beautiful cowries here, and even a bloodspot pipefish tucked into the coral. Visibility is generally solid, around 18 metres, giving everything a lovely clarity. It's a relaxed dive that still delivers plenty of action, ideal for anyone who appreciates a vibrant reef without the need for extreme depths.
Aquarium
China Shop is one of those gentle Komodo sites we always make time for, especially if we’ve spent the morning battling currents at some of the park’s more infamous spots. It’s a beautifully sheltered slope, maxing out around 20 metres, and truly does feel like a delicate porcelain shop floor because of the sheer density of bowl corals. We’ve seen them stacked high, spilling over each other in shades of brown, green, and cream. The currents here are usually mild, making it a great place to slow down and really look. That’s when the nudibranchs start to pop out – we always spot several different types along the coral heads. We’ve also had eagle rays glide by in the bluer water off the slope, and once watched a couple of high hat triplefins sparring over a tiny patch of reef. It’s a relaxed drift, perfect for photographers or anyone who just wants to soak in the sheer amount of coral without fighting a washing machine.
ATA
The ATA wreck off Pemba offers a different kind of dive. This old steamship, sunk back in '58, sits mostly intact, giving you the real sense of a submerged vessel rather than just scattered debris. We like to follow the main deck, poking into the holds where schools of snapper often hang out, feeling the cool current as it moves through the structure. It’s a proper exploration dive, better suited for those who enjoy the history and atmosphere of a wreck and want to see how quickly the ocean reclaims its own.
Barracuda Point
Located in Zanzibar & Pemba, Tanzania, Barracuda Point is a dive site.
Bawe Island - North
Bawe Island North is a solid pick for a short boat ride out of Stone Town, especially when you’re craving a dive without the long haul. We’d classify it as a friendly wall dive, never dropping deeper than 16 meters, so it’s excellent for longer bottom times and less experienced divers. The continuous coral wall itself is what we love here, draped in plenty of blue sponges where we often spot cuttlefish or the occasional moray eel peeking out. Keep an eye on the open water for rainbow runners and longfin batfish gliding past, and don't forget to scan the sandy patches at the base of the wall – that's where we've seen blue spotted stingrays resting. Visibility averages around 14 meters, good enough to appreciate the details. This site is perfect for those days when you want a relaxed, colourful dive without chasing megafauna, just enjoying the reef’s quiet rhythm.
Bawe Island - North
Cuatro Piedras is one of our go-to spots in the Catalinas, especially if we’re looking for a slightly more relaxed dive. The name means "Four Rocks," and that’s precisely what you get: four distinct rock formations creating channels and swim-throughs, all sitting in a sandy basin. It’s shallower than some of the other Catalina sites, topping out around 18 metres, which means more bottom time to really explore. We love picking a channel and just drifting through, keeping an eye out for whitetip reef sharks resting on the sand or patrolling the edges. Our favourite part is the sandy patch between the rocks. It’s a bit like a sheltered amphitheatre, often protected from the stronger currents that can sweep through the outer channels. Here, you’ll find plenty of bridled sand perches poking their heads out, and we’ve even spotted big bignose congers tucked into crevices. Visibility averages around 9 metres, which isn't Bali, but it’s usually enough to get a good sense of the layout and pick out the smaller creatures like antler dragonets scooting over the rocks. We often spend a good chunk of the dive just focusing on the sand, finding chocolate tonguefish and the occasional spotted sharpnose puffer. It’s a fantastic site for newer divers to get comfortable with currents without being overwhelmed, while still offering enough complexity to keep experienced divers engaged.
Zanzibar & Pemba Dive Centres
25 dive shops and operators in Zanzibar & Pemba
Awesome Ocean Diving Center
Bawe Diving Center
Big Blu Mafia Island Dive Centre
Bluewavediving-Zanzibar
Buccaneer Diving
Cool Zanzibar Water Sports
Dive Horizons Zanzibar
Dive Point Zanzibar
Ocean Wildlife in Zanzibar & Pemba
312 species recorded in Zanzibar & Pemba
Zanzibar & Pemba Daylight & Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrise and sunset times for Zanzibar & Pemba, calculated from coordinates
Today - Monday 24 August
Sunrise
06:27
Sunset
18:25
Daylight
11h 57m
Golden Hour
17:57
First light (dawn) at 06:06 · Last light (dusk) at 18:46
Monthly Averages
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 06:19 | 18:46 | 12h 26m |
| Feb | 06:29 | 18:47 | 12h 18m |
| Mar | 06:28 | 18:37 | 12h 9m |
| Apr | 06:24 | 18:23 | 11h 58m |
| May | 06:25 | 18:15 | 11h 50m |
| JunShortest | 06:31 | 18:17 | 11h 46m |
| Jul | 06:35 | 18:23 | 11h 48m |
| AugNow | 06:31 | 18:25 | 11h 55m |
| Sep | 06:17 | 18:21 | 12h 4m |
| Oct | 06:02 | 18:16 | 12h 14m |
| Nov | 05:56 | 18:20 | 12h 23m |
| DecLongest | 06:04 | 18:33 | 12h 28m |
Times are approximate local times based on longitude. Actual times may vary slightly depending on the exact timezone observed in Zanzibar & Pemba.
Where to Stay near Zanzibar & Pemba
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Marine Protected Areas near Zanzibar & Pemba
33 protected areas near Zanzibar & Pemba - please respect local regulations when diving
Pemba Channel Conservation Area
Menai Bay
Dar es Salaam
Misali Island
Forest Reserve Name Unknown (TZA) (Mangrove) No.18
Mangroves (Mikindani)
Forest Reserve Name Unknown (TZA) (Mangrove) No.19
Forest Reserve Name Unknown (TZA) (Mangrove) No.10
Mangrove
Mangrove
Maziwe Island
Mangrove
Showing 12 largest of 33
Getting to Zanzibar & Pemba
Zanzibar
Dar es Salaam
Mombasa
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