Tanzania

The diving face of Tanzania is the Zanzibar Archipelago: Pemba in the north, Unguja (commonly called Zanzibar) in the middle and Mafia in the south. The three are in the same ocean, but they are not the same dive. Water temperature moves between 25 and 29 degrees all year; the closeness to the equator keeps the season long.

The rains set the region's calendar. The long rains fall between March and May, and many centres slow down in those months; the short rains come in November and December. The most settled period for diving is from July to March. Humpback whales pass through the region on their migration route between August and October; whale sharks feed around Mafia Island between October and February. None of these encounters can be guaranteed — the season only increases the odds.

Pemba stands apart for its quiet, untouched-by-mass-tourism character. The tidal currents that form in the channels between the islands carry nutrient-rich water onto the reefs; steep walls that begin at around twelve metres and drop below fifty, together with channels, caves and coral gardens, are all found side by side. Sea turtles, Napoleon wrasse, schools of barracuda, rays and a dense reef-fish population are seen regularly. The Zanzibar side, meanwhile, adds Stone Town, the old slave market and spice tours to the diving; that is why our programmes here are built around diving and culture together, and are also open to companions who do not dive.