Leven bank - Zanzibar & Pemba
Leven Bank is a serious dive for experienced divers, often with strong currents that sweep across the top. We're talking big pelagics here – tuna, barracuda, and occasionally schooling hammerheads if you're lucky and the conditions are right. It’s a site where you drift, watch the show, and enjoy the ride. Not one for beginners, but thrilling for those who know how to handle themselves in moving water.
- Location
- Zanzibar & Pemba, Tanzania, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- -5.630233, 39.305916
Marine Protected Area: Maziwe Island
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)
Nearby 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)
Nearest Dive Centres to Leven bank
- Awesome Ocean Diving Center - ["PADI"]
- Bawe Diving Center
- Bluewavediving-Zanzibar - ["PADI"]
- Buccaneer Diving - ["PADI"]
- Cool Zanzibar Water Sports - ["PADI"]
- Dive Horizons Zanzibar
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 Species
- 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
- Brown Frillfin (Bathygobius fuscus) - Reef Fish
- Long-beaked Dolphin (Stenella longirostris) - Whales & Dolphins
- Cigar wrasse (Cheilio inermis) - Reef Fish
- Species code: Hs (Halophila stipulacea) - Seagrass & Algae
- Sand-dusted Cone (Conus arenatus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Pronghorn Spiny Lobster (Panulirus penicillatus) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Grouper (Epinephelus areolatus) - Reef Fish
- Coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae)
- Sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) - Seagrass & Algae
- Pufferfish (Arothron hispidus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Leven bank
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