Is Nungwi the best diving in Zanzibar? Explained

Within a group of islands like the Zanzibar archipelago, you’d be hard-pressed to find one single fabulous dive spot. But there’s a common belief that Nungwi offers the best diving in Zanzibar. How true is this statement? In and around Nungwi are some of the most beautiful dive sites in Zanzibar. For example, Tumbatu and its soft and hard corals in a vibrant coral garden is a good place for beginners and for snorkelers. The reef goes from 3 meters to 12 meters and can be thrilling for the novice. Scorpion fish and moray eels keep you company as you dive here. Some of the best dives are in Nankiville and Hunga at a depth of 12 and 16 meters respectively. This is flat bottomed territory filled with huge circles of bommies in the most colourful of corals. Watch out for snappers, scorpion fish and barracuda here.

Leven Bank is often seen in best diving spot lists. It’s a sea mountain and has a slope that goes as deep as 55 meters and as low as 12. This site is not for everyone; the strong currents make it possible for only experienced divers to dive here. This is also a popular site for game fishing and you can be sure to spot kingfish and tuna, among many other marine lives here. People also come to see the humpback whales that are here from August through September.

It’s obvious that Nungwi has so much going for it. But is it the only place for fabulous diving? Luckily, the answer is no. There are very many places in Zanzibar where you can go diving.

Consider Mnemba Island. A mere 4.5 kilometres off the coast of Unguja the private island of Mnemba has coral reefs that are an actual marine reserve. No matter if you’re a novice or a veteran, you will be able to find a dive site that works the best for you. With visibility at somewhere between 10 to 30 metres, the conditions are idyllic for diving. The protection of the reefs is vital because it’s home to over 600 types of fish, the world’s biggest fish, the migratory whale shark, three different species of dolphin and a safe place for nesting green turtles during the season. Wattabomi and Big Wall are the dive sites best known here.

The southeast coastline of Zanzibar hides some lovely treasures. The Michamvi Peninsula is truly stunning! It has clean, white sands, barrier reefs to explore and a cooperative tide that stretches for hundreds of metres. The 10km-long Michamvi Peninsula is home to some great quality resorts, uber luxurious and comfortable. In the peninsula is the Oba-Oba lagoon, with its marine life and corals. What’s more, it’s shallow and therefore perfect for a beginner or for someone to retrain to get into scuba diving. If diving gets too much, you can always sail and kite surf. There are big waves here, from one metre to three and they are quite thrilling for seasoned surfers too. Paje and Dongwe are added attractions too.

Thus, we see that it’s not only Nungwi but pretty much most part of Zanzibar that holds many attractions for the diver.