Renco - Zanzibar & Pemba

St. Pierre, just north of Praslin, is one of those sites we always come back to when we need a relaxed, easy dive. It’s shallow, only ever dropping to about 12 meters, making it perfect for beginners finding their fins or for anyone wanting to take it slow. The visibility hovers around 11 meters, which is decent enough to really enjoy the details. We love the eastern side especially, where you can poke around a small cave system. It’s not a deep penetration, more like an overhang with a few swim-throughs, but it's often home to a couple of whitetip reef sharks just chilling. Keep an eye out for the smaller stuff too, like the High Hat Triplefin hiding in the crevices or the vibrant Sunburst Butterflyfish flitting past the staghorn corals. We've seen loggerhead turtles here before, cruising through the thalassia seagrass beds. It’s a gentle drift, usually, allowing plenty of time to really observe the Black-headed Leatherjackets and Spottail Coris going about their day. Come early in the morning for the quietest conditions and often the best light filtering through the water.

Location: Zanzibar & Pemba, Tanzania, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates: -5.744300, 39.288700
Type: cave

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)

Nearest Dive Centres to Renco

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 Renco

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