Mnemba Island Lodge - Zanzibar & Pemba

The team at Mnemba Island Lodge runs a tight ship, as you’d expect from a private island. This isn't your budget-friendly backpacker spot, so let's get that out of the way. If you’re looking for an exclusive, pampered dive experience, this is absolutely it. We love that they focus on small groups, often just two divers and a guide, which means you’re not jostling for space and your dive plan is tailored to you. Their house reef is genuinely lovely, a gentle slope often dotted with octopus peering from crevices and schools of fusiliers so thick they sometimes block the light. Our favourite time to dive there is early morning, before the day boats from Zanzibar arrive. But the real draw is the Mnemba Atoll itself. We’ve had some cracking encounters with green turtles munching on seagrass, and the wall dives on the outside of the atoll can be spectacular, with currents that sometimes bring in bigger pelagics. Keep an eye out for white-tip reef sharks cruising the deeper sections. Visibility is generally excellent, often 20-25 metres, and the water is bathwater warm. It's PADI-only for courses, which makes things straightforward. For a luxurious, uncrowded dive holiday where everything is taken care of, Mnemba Island Lodge is a proper treat.

Location: Zanzibar & Pemba, Tanzania, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates: -5.819937, 39.382440
Phone: +255 774 222 325
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.andbeyond.com
Certification Agencies: ["PADI"]
Courses: PADI Resort [padi:35750]
Address: Mnemba Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania (united Rep.)

Dive Sites Near Mnemba Island Lodge

Mnemba Island Lodge provides access to 15 dive sites in Zanzibar & Pemba.

Abbas reef (reef)
Abbas reef (reef)
ALMASI - 3m (wreck)
Anemona City (reef)
Anemona City (reef)
Aquarium (reef)
Aquarium (reef)
Aquarium (reef)
ATA - 0m (wreck)
Barracuda Point
Bawe Island - North (reef)
Bawe Island - North (reef)
Bawe South (cenote)
Bawe South (reef)
Cement wall (wall)

Other Dive Centres in Zanzibar & Pemba

Best Time to Dive in Zanzibar & Pemba

The warmest water temperatures in Zanzibar & Pemba occur in January, averaging 28.1°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 28.1°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 28.1°C (air: 27.5°C)
February: 28.1°C (air: 27.9°C)
March: 28.1°C (air: 27.7°C)
April: 28.1°C (air: 26.1°C)
May: 28.1°C (air: 26.1°C)
June: 28.1°C (air: 25.4°C)
July: 28.1°C (air: 24.8°C)
August: 28.1°C (air: 24.9°C)
September: 28.1°C (air: 25.4°C)
October: 28.1°C (air: 26.2°C)
November: 28.1°C (air: 26.7°C)
December: 28.1°C (air: 27.3°C)

Marine Life in Zanzibar & Pemba

Home to 331 recorded species including 266 reef fish, 14 sea snails & nudibranchs, 10 seagrass & algae, 8 hard corals, 8 sharks & rays, 7 sea cucumbers.

Notable Marine Life

thalassia (Thalassia hemprichii) - Seagrass & Algae
Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Species code: Tc (Thalassodendron ciliatum) - Seagrass & Algae
halodule (Halodule uninervis) - Seagrass & Algae
cymodocea (Cymodocea rotundata) - Seagrass & Algae
Humpbacked conch (Gibberulus gibberulus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
cowry (Monetaria moneta) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
cloth-of-gold cone snail (Conus textile) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
Golden-Yellow Cone (Conus flavidus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
Rock Cod (Cephalopholis boenak) - Reef Fish

Recommended Packing List for Zanzibar & Pemba

Based on average water temperature of 28.1°C.

Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°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