Zanzibar Dive Spots

Text and images By Adam Sokolski

My name is Adam Sokolski, and I would like to tell you about my favourite diving spots in Zanzibar. I am a diving instructor and underwater photographer specialising in macro photography. Over the last 15 years, I have done over 2000 dives in Zanzibar. The choice of dive sites below is my subjective selection based on what I like the most: lots of macro life, easy but exciting dives, and good places for underwater photography.

A Few Words of Introduction. Zanzibar, an island off the coast of Tanzania, is known not only for its beautiful beaches and rich cultural heritage but also for its fascinating underwater world that stretches beneath the surface of the water. The waters of Zanzibar are rich in colourful coral reefs, a variety of fish species, and abundant macro life.

Zanzibar offers many diving spots accessible to divers of all levels of experience. The best dive sites are in the north, around Nungwi, and in the northeast, near Mnemba Atoll, a protected area and the most renowned place for diving and snorkelling.

Tumbatu Island (Nungwi)
A long reef with beautiful, healthy, hard and soft corals. There is a lot of macro life: nudibranchs, shrimps, eels and crabs. The dives are shallow and easy. It is an excellent spot for underwater photographers. I found there, among many others, a beautiful Cyerce Nigra sea slug, something I thought was only possible in the Philippines. There are a few dive sites at Tumbatu Island but my favourite is MWANA WA MWANA.

Shanes Reef (Nungwi)
Pieces of reef scattered on the sandy bottom. The corals may not be the most beautiful, but the site contains fascinating creatures: Rhinopias, seahorses, frogfish, nudibranchs, octopuses, etc. It's a very cool spot for all divers. Occasionally, there may be a current that makes photography challenging.

Kichafi (Nungwi)
A beautiful reef with healthy hard and soft corals. There are moray eels and nudibranchs that pose beautifully for the photos. The reef consists of two 
parts: the first is an extensive section of plate coral, and after crossing over the sand, you reach the second part, a gently sloping reef. At the beginning of the second part, a large rock provides shelter for a school of glass fish, leaf fish and moray eels.

Kichwani (Mnemba Atoll)
A moderately steep reef with soft and hard corals. The place is, unfortunately, quite crowded, but it is my favourite Mnemba dive site for underwater photography. You can find a lot of macro life, like nudibranchs, moray eels, leaf fish, and shrimps, including Mantis Shrimps. Not long ago, we found a beautiful Bornella anguilla slug that looks a bit like a dragon.

Sandbanks (Mnemba Atoll)
Gently sloping reef with many soft and hard corals. Large schools of fish are often encountered—a pleasant and beautiful spot for relaxing dives. There is a big chance to find a giant frogfish.

SMALL WALL (MNEMBA ATOLL)
As the name suggests, it's a wall—neither too big nor too small. It is a good place for a deep dive as the wall goes down to about 30 meters. You can encounter big schools of fish, especially when there's a current. On the reef you can also find a lot of nudibranch, leaf fish and moray eels.

Whether you are a novice or an experienced diver, Zanzibar's underwater world offers something for everyone. From colourful coral gardens to encounters with fascinating marine life, the island invites divers to explore the magic beneath the surface and return with beautiful memories.