Dive sites in Tanzania
Browse by region, city or dive type to find suitable locations for your experience level.
Regions
All dive sites
Chole Bay
Kilindoni · Mafia Island · Tanzania
A sheltered bay within Mafia Island Marine Park offering pristine coral walls, whale shark encounters, and over 400 fish species far from tourist crowds.
Mafia Chole Wall
Kilindoni · Mafia Island · Tanzania
A pristine coral wall in the Mafia Island Marine Park where nutrient-rich channel currents support exceptional soft coral growth, large groupers, and seasonal whale shark encounters.
Mafia Island Whale Sharks
Kilindoni · Mafia Island · Tanzania
The waters off Mafia Island's western coast host East Africa's most reliable whale shark aggregation from October to March, with juvenile and sub-adult sharks feeding in shallow plankton-rich channels.
Mnemba Atoll
Matemwe · Zanzibar · Tanzania
A pristine marine conservation area off northeast Zanzibar hosting 600 reef fish species, playful dolphins, and green turtles in crystal-clear tropical waters.
Mnemba Outside Reef
Nungwi · Zanzibar · Tanzania
The exposed outer wall of Mnemba Atoll dropping into deep oceanic water where green turtles, dolphins, and pelagic visitors patrol a dramatic coral wall swept by Indian Ocean currents.
Pemba Island
Chake Chake · Zanzibar Archipelago · Tanzania
A remote and virtually undived island north of Zanzibar featuring dramatic drop-offs, pristine coral walls plunging into the Pemba Channel, and pelagic encounters in the nutrient-rich waters of East Africa's deep channel.
Dive centers in Tanzania
Rising Sun Dive Center
Jambiani · Zanzibar · Tanzania
Uncrowded southeast Zanzibar diving with a personal approach.
Mafia Island Diving
Mafia Island · Pwani · Tanzania
Mafia Island Marine Park dive centre — Tanzania's most pristine reef diving with whale sharks October-March.
Spanish Dancer Divers
Matemwe · Zanzibar · Tanzania
Closest dive center to Mnemba Atoll with SSI Diamond status.
Big Blu Diving
Nungwi · Zanzibar · Tanzania
Well-established Nungwi dive center with PADI and SSI courses.
Scuba Do Zanzibar
Nungwi · Zanzibar · Tanzania
Nungwi-based dive center with Mnemba Atoll and whale shark trips.
Peponi Divers
Paje · Zanzibar · Tanzania
Small personalized SSI center on Paje beach, southeast Zanzibar.
Swahili Divers
Pemba Island · Pemba · Tanzania
Pemba Island's premier dive center with dramatic walls and pelagics.
One Ocean - The Zanzibar Dive Centre
Stone Town · Zanzibar · Tanzania
PADI 5-Star centre in Stone Town offering diving around Zanzibar with turtles, dolphins, and coral gardens.
One Ocean Dive Centre - Stone Town
Zanzibar 0000 · Zanzibar · Tanzania
DiveTime Zanzibar Dive Center
Kizimkazi Mkunguni · Zanzibar · Tanzania
Fun Divers Zanzibar
Nungwi · Zanzibar · Tanzania
Zanziocean Dive Centre
Pwani Mchangani 0000 · Zanzibar · Tanzania
Dive Point Zanzibar
Zanzibar · Tanzania
Buccaneer Diving
C/o Arabian Nights Hotel · Zanzibar · Tanzania
Kibwana Divers Zanzibar
Matemwe · Zanzibar · Tanzania
Scubafish Dive Center
Matemwe · Zanzibar · Tanzania
DiveTime Zanzibar - Jambiani
Blue Reef · Zanzibar · Tanzania
One Ocean Dive Centre - Matemwe
Matemwe 0000 · Zanzibar · Tanzania
Wimbi Diving Zanzibar
Pingwe · Zanzibar · Tanzania
Diving Paradise Zanzibar
Kendwa 73107 · Zanzibar · Tanzania
Lulu Dive Center
Nungwi · Zanzibar · Tanzania
Zanzibar underwater explorers
Tanzania TZ · Zanzibar · Tanzania
Dive Point Zanzibar
Nungwi 0000 · Zanzibar · Tanzania
Pemba Dive Center
Makangale 75209 · Pemba · Tanzania
Fun Divers Zanzibar
Pemba · Pemba · Tanzania
Afro Divers Lodge
Miperani · Pemba · Tanzania
BIG BLU MAFIA ISLAND DIVE CENTRE
Utende 61701 · Mafia Island · Tanzania
Dive Planet Mafia Island
Utende 61701 · Mafia Island · Tanzania
Diving in Tanzania
Dive sites in Tanzania include reef, wall, open-water locations across Mafia Island, Zanzibar, Zanzibar Archipelago. Each location includes depth, conditions and environment type to help you plan safely.
Use the region and city navigation above to narrow your search, or explore individual site pages for detailed conditions, entry type, skill requirements and nearby alternatives.
FAQ
When is the best time to swim with whale sharks at Mafia Island?
Whale sharks can be found around Mafia Island year-round, but the peak season runs from October to February, when large aggregations of filter-feeding whale sharks gather to feed on plankton blooms. During peak season, sightings are almost guaranteed. The experience involves snorkelling rather than diving, as the sharks feed near the surface.
How do you get to Mafia Island?
Mafia Island is reached by daily scheduled flights from Dar es Salaam, taking approximately 30 minutes. There are also less reliable ferry services. The island is located 160 kilometres south of Zanzibar and offers a much quieter, more authentic diving experience. Accommodation ranges from budget guesthouses to eco-lodges.
What dive sites are in Chole Bay?
Chole Bay contains approximately 28 documented dive sites. The most famous is Kinasi Pass, a channel dive at 26 metres where currents attract pelagic species. Chole Wall is an 800-metre coral wall reaching 15 metres. Other popular sites include Chole Reef at 16 metres and Mange Reef on the bay's outer edge. The bay's topography ranges from coral gardens to sand flats and mangrove areas.
How do I reach Mafia Island?
Mafia Island is reached by small aircraft from Dar es Salaam with daily flights taking approximately 30 minutes. There is also a ferry service from Nyamisati on the mainland, though this is less reliable and takes several hours. Once on Mafia, dive operators are based in the Chole Bay area on the western coast and provide boat transfers to all dive sites. The island has limited tourism infrastructure compared to Zanzibar, which is part of its charm but means booking accommodation and diving in advance is recommended.
When are whale sharks present around Mafia?
Whale sharks visit the waters around Mafia Island primarily between October and February, with peak sightings in November and December. They are attracted by plankton concentrations in the channel between Mafia and the mainland. Encounters typically occur on the surface during dedicated whale shark snorkelling trips rather than on scuba dives, as the sharks feed near the surface. Some dive operators offer combined trips visiting Chole Wall for diving and then searching for whale sharks on the surface.