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Unguja (Zanzibar) and Pemba are endowed with some of the best and most varied dive sites in the world with diving courses catering for the novice up to Dive Master standards. Steep wall dives, drift dives and world-class coral formations make this area a prime location for experienced deep-water divers. Diving from a boat in the clear blue ocean off Zanzibar is one of the most exhilarating holiday experiences in this part of East Africa. The visibility is usually very good, the water is warm and the marine life is diverse and innumerable: Swaying weeds and soft corals all seethe with minute organisms are food for the larger species, shoals of fish weave and dart around in kaleidoscopic ballets, and playful Octopus, Cuttlefish, Sea Urchins, and Sea Cucumbers can be seen at every point.
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There are many interesting reefs around the islands of Zanzibar, featuring shallow rocky areas that suddenly drop off into vertiginous crevasses, 40 meters deep. With steep walls covered in colorful sponges and Gorgonia, one may find such diverse life as Brittlestars, Langoustines, and Moray Eels. Some reefs are like undersea mountains, wreathed with seaweeds and corals, and teeming with colorful fish. Angel Fish and Clown fish glide like shadows through the sun dappled abyss, and schools of Barracuda flick their tails and slide off into the deep. Groupers can often be sighted here, as can Pipe Fish and Crocodile fish. Moray eels writhe in dark canyons between the Purple Gorgonia and Precious Red Corals, and Sea Horses hover on shimmering light above tall pinnacles. One may also be lucky enough to have close encounters with large schools of Hammerhead Sharks, Manta Rays and curious Dolphins.
Diving & Snorkeling Sites Around Stone Town Zanzibar
Pange Reef: Pange Reef is the first sand bank west of Zanzibar Town with a maximum depth 14 meters. An enormous variety of coral and tropical reef fish such as Clown Fish, Parrot Fish, Moorish Idols can be seen. After the sun goes down, guests can try a night dive where one may see cuttle fish, squid, crab and other night dwellers. Pange Reef is ideal for Open Water Diver Courses as it offers calm and shallow waters.
Bawe Island: Bawe Island has a reef stretching around it with a maximum depth of 18 meters. Here you will find beautiful corals like Acropora, Staghorn, Brain corals and a large variety of reef fish.
Zanzibar Dive Wrecks:
At 12 meters, The Great Northern, a British steel cable laying ship built in 1870 sank on New Years Eve in 1902. She has become a magnificent artificial reef after many years and is home to a number of Leaf Fish, Lionfish and Geometric moray's. Parts of the ship can still be identified and some relics may still be found though not taken. The Great Northern is an ideal wreck for the beginner diver as it is only 12 meters, and is also a snorkeling paradise. All levels can undertake this wreck dive.
At 30 meters lies a wreck of the Royal Navy Lighter. It is home to large schools of Rainbow Runners, Trevally, Sweepers, Yellow finned Goat Fish and sometimes Reef sharks. Advanced divers can undertake this wreck dive.
At 40 meters lies a Pontoon Steam Sand Dredger called The Penguin. This dive is for very experienced deep divers. Overall, this wreck is a fantastic dive because of the huge numbers of big Bluefin Trevally, Barracuda, big Stingrays, and Moray eels.
Murogo Reef: lies at a maximum depth of 24 meters. It has a sloping reef wall with a huge variety in coral and fish. Turtles are often seen on this dive, and this is usually a third dive site for the Open Water Diver course.
Nyange Reef: This reef is the largest of all reefs on the west coast and contains several dive sites, all of which are unique. A new species of coral have recently been identified on this reef and marine biologists believe it to be endemic to Nyange.
Boribo Reef: Boribo Reef is one of the best dive sites off Zanzibar. Huge Barrel Sponges, enormous Gorgonian fans, large Moray eel's, pelagic fish, and large lobsters are all features of this dive. In season, Whale sharks pass through this reef. The maximum depth is 30 meters. Boribu has an underwater reef unlike any other in Zanzibar with beautiful mountains of varying corals including the spectacular columna corals.
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