Mafia Island & Zanzibar Diving
Deep channels, vertiginous drop-offs and colourful coral make the Spice Islands a mecca for divers with a multitude of islands to choose from.
Scroll for more
Deep channels, vertiginous drop-offs and colourful coral make the Spice Islands a mecca for divers with a multitude of islands to choose from.
Scroll for more
The spice of the sea.
The diving off Zanzibar, Pemba, and Mafia Island is as exotic as the islands themselves. The waters are warm, clear, and brimming with marine life. Together, they offer some of East Africa’s most colourful and diverse diving. From shallow coral gardens for beginners to deep channels, wrecks and dramatic drop-offs for pros, there’s something for everyone in Zanzibar.
Pair your Tanzanian safari with a luxury island retreat, and dive into a world of reefs, wrecks, and whale sharks.
The Spice Island is the collective name for the Indian Ocean islands of Zanzibar, Pemba, and Mafia, once at the heart of the global spice trade. Famed for their fragrant cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pepper, these islands blend Swahili culture with a rich maritime history—and now offer some of the most colourful and diverse diving in East Africa.
Zanzibar is the best known island – a flat coral atoll surrounded by fringing coral reefs to the east.
Mafia Island Marine Park is one of the best-preserved coral ecosystems off the coast of East Africa:
Top Tip: Stay at Pole Pole or Kinasi Lodge for boutique luxury with direct access to Mafia's top dive sites.
Whale sharks migrate through Zanzibar’s waters in season from August to September (and from February to March). These harmless creatures are a magnificent sight, up to 14m in length with a 1.5m wide mouth.
See our Main Page on Luxury Diving Holidays around Africa for more destinations.
Only the best African travel advice, tidbits and tours. No nonsense.
