Diving on the east coast of Zanzibar

Zanzibar scuba
diving features

MARINE LIFE:
Barracuda
Blue ribbon eels
Leaffish
Anemones and clownfish

EAST COAST ZANZIBAR TOP DIVE SITE:
Cave 20

DESTINATION OVERVIEW
Tanzania's Zanzibar is better known for it's World Heritage capital Stone Town than it is for scuba diving yet there are reefs right around this sizeable island. Divers in search of peace head to the holiday resort region east of the Jozani Forest and near the village of Paje. As this area is only easily accessible to those staying nearby, it’s unlikely you will meet any other divers apart from your buddies.

The tides recede daily across the fringing reef – as they do right around Zanzibar – so dives are arranged to work around that, often with access across the coastal lagoon made by driving along to a deeper bay before boarding a dhoni.

Underwater, the terrain is a flat shelf leading to about 15-18 metres, then there is a sudden drop over a short wall. This leads down to another flat reef at 25 metres, which again descends almost imperceptibly until it suddenly crashes from a sharp ridge to about 50 metres. Beyond that. it's adrenaline rush sites for advanced divers only.

The marine life is curious: at first glance the flat shelving reef appears to be almost barren, then a sudden outcrop or cavern will be mobbed by all sorts of creatures from sweepers and anthias to morays. Deeper caves are rich with fish and it's not unusual to drop into the blue and be engulfed by huge schools of barracuda.

Seasons
windy in April-May
Visibility:
10 – 40 metres
Water temperature:
25 – 29º C.
Deco chambers:
Zanzibar

Flights to Nairobi or
Dar es Salaam then to Zanzibar
Dive operators and accommodation options
There are only handful of hotels in this area and just one dive centre - Rising Sun, see below

PROS AND CONS
Accommodation in this area is resort or beach-club style and although the resorts can get busy, the diving doesn't. It's unlikely you will meet any other dive boats or see other divers underwater. Advanced divers and novices are not mixed together either.

SCUBA DIVING
Conditions are mostly easy but the sites may seem a bit repetitive at first as the terrain varies so little. However, there is a wealth of small creatures hiding out on the reefs and a few exciting big blue encounters.

OPINION
Although not the most challenging diving we have ever done, we enjoyed these dives as we felt they were like doing a daily treasure hunt. The very deep dives are just that and although the divemasters tout stories of wonders seen, it's far more fun to stay up in the shallower depths and go hunting. We dived with Rising Sun Diving Centre at Breezes Beach Club, which is owned and well-managed by a very sociable Brit. Lots of fun.