The 8 best diving and snorkeling spots in Zanzibar

Need a good bowl of air... compressed? Come and discover the best diving and snorkeling spots in Zanzibar, the incredible pearl of Tanzania.

Zanzibar is a Tanzanian archipelago located off the coast of East Africa. This rosary of mysterious islands is renowned for its palaces, Indian temples, churches and mosques. But also and especially for its beautiful white sand beaches, its mirific lagoons and its sumptuous coral reefs!

What better to admire them than discover the best diving and snorkeling spots in Zanzibar? We will describe each of them to allow you to make your choice. All you have to do is put on your palms and adjust the elastic of your mask. Isn't she beautiful, life under water?

1. Leven Bank

Leven Bank is one of the best diving spots in Zanzibar, and more generally throughout East Africa. Imagine a mountain submerged by the ocean, between 12 and 55 metres Deep! Imagine a wide variety of corals, nudibranches, large murene, carangues and barracudas. Imagine humpback whales that, between August and September, can be seen off...

Leven Bank is all this, accessible from the beach of Nungwi , one of the main areas of departure of the archipelago for everything concerning water leisure. We advise, because of the currents sometimes caught, this spot to experienced divers . But what a show...

2. Wattabomi

In the surroundings of Mnemba's atoll star, Wattabomi promises sensational underwater landscapes between 6 and 30 metres . This dive spot in Zanzibar is suitable for beginner divers to confirmed , which will only have to choose the desired depth. It can be described as "moon" due to its large extent of sand punctuated with coral potatoes.

Wattabomi is ideal for drifting dives, when you let yourself be carried by the current by providing only a minimum of effort. The boat will be there to get you back with all of your group, no worries!

In the meantime, place at the contemplation of huge multicolored coral reefs containing large dolphins, folds, octopuses, carangues or fish-pierres. The more the current is toned, the better the visibility. A true profusion of life just a few meters from the surface!

3. Kichwani

Beginners or confirmed, no matter what: Kichwani diving spot is accessible to all and promises beautiful underwater sessions. Here, this lowly drifting dive runs along a 45° slope leading to 30 meters deep . Smooth corals, mackerel, nudibranches, white-tipped reef sharks have chosen home.

The followers of snorkeling are not left with beautiful water hikes along the shore. This site is distinguished by the large number of species that can be encountered near the surface. Some days, eels and spicy hatfish will swim near the beach with palmed humans. Moreover, we strongly advise them to enjoy this beautiful stretch of white sand, it is a true paradise on earth!

4. Big Wall

Big Wall bears its name: it is a dizzy wall plunging to 55 metres depth off Dongwe coast , east of Zanzibar. Reserved to confirmed divers , it houses a very diverse aquatic flora and a fauna of incomparable richness. The celebrities of the place: barracudas, merous, murene, vivaneaux...

This bypass diving is an opportunity to penetrate small underwater caves with soft and hard corals and sponges. If you're lucky, you'll see that this dive spot in Zanzibar is sometimes the dive spot Green turtles Giant. Impressive though fragile, their shell is 120 cm on average and the animal can weigh up to 140 kg!

5. Aquarium

He's got his name too. Starting from Stone Town, a picturesque Zanzibar capital located on the island of Unguja, this dive spot in Zanzibar is a safe value. He is located on the atoll of Mnemba and deploys a sloping coral wall between 10 and 25 metres .

Aquarium is accessible to beginner divers who will meet gobies, trompets, lionfish and lobsters. Slow visibility, exceptional visibility and underwater life: so many reasons to visit Mnemba. From April to September, the area (very quiet and preserved) is also the place of many sea turtles.

6. Chumbe Island (snorkeling)

Chumbe Island is an exceptional marine reserve known for its ecosystem. Needless to bring you bottles and a combination: masks, palms and tubas are enough. This paradise island is located just a few kilometers from the southwest coast, near Stone Town .

It includes a fully protected coral reef sanctuary between 1 and 3 metres depth. They contain more than 500 different species of reef fish. You will also have the opportunity to admire (but not touch, it’s forbidden) sponges and colored sea stars. Chumbe Island is one of the last virgin coral islands in Zanzibar: as such, its visit is clearly worth a visit.

7. Tumbatu Island (Snorkeling)

Tumbatu Island is a small haven of peace located off the northwest coast . This snorkeling spot in Zanzibar has great advantages: enjoying a low current, it will reassure beginners. In addition, the place is suitable for initiations to diving. Three different sites can be accessed: Shetani, Popabawa and Mwana all with flourishing coral reefs.

Tortues, firefish, octopuses, and murene are part between 3 and 12 metres depth. Murens? There are many kinds in Zanzibar: Peppered wallet, giant wallet, leopard wallet, blue ribbon... For the anecdote, know that it is one of the few species of fish that can swim... back.

8. Magic Reef

Again, he's wearing his name. The “magic reef” is an ideal place to learn from the scuba diving. Come on. 12 and 20 metres deep, your progression will allow you to share the place of residence of a beautiful animal diversity. Fish-pierres, lionfish, seaweeds, seahorses, firefish or turtles evolve in all tranquility in these turquoise waters of an incredible limpidity.

This diving spot in Zanzibar is usually ready for underwater photos. The current is little pronounced, making sure you capture beautiful images. Clic!