Best Diving

Explore the best dive sites in Zanzibar (Unguja) around the island’s north coast

Zanzibar North

Its wealth of coral reefs and sea life make Zanzibar a premier diving destination. These sites around the north coast of the island are among the most famous in the Zanzibar archipelago. 

Our base at Nungwi Beach is the central starting point for your excursions to the best diving sites in Zanzibar. From here ocean lovers have a choice to visit the amazing spots in the marine reserve of Mnemba Island, Tumbatu Island, Nungwi Reef and Leven Bank

Take a look at our diving map below and be inspired by our presentation of the most popular reefs (level, depth, type, reef, sea life).

The best dive sites in Zanzibar are situated around the island’s north coast. Dive map of premier dive location Zanzibar showing top 22 best spots for scuba diving in Zanzibar North, including Mnemba (Kichwani, Wattabomie, Big Wall, Small Wall, Aquarium), Tumbatu (Mwana Wa Mwana, Ras Misikitini, Three Turtles), Nungwi (Shane´s Reef, Kichafi, Mbwangawa, Hunga Reef, Nankivell Rock) and Leven Bank.

Excursions

We offer daily scuba diving excursions from Nungwi to the best sites in Zanzibar Island.

The approach takes 5­-45 minutes from our diving centre.

Our excursions start at 8:00 AM and return around 1:00 PM.

Send us your enquiry by email to
info@fundiverszanzibar.com

Dive site

Tumbatu

The Tumbatu Island marine reserve is home to the most beautiful coral gardens of Zanzibar.

Situated to the northwest of Zanzibar, Tumbatu is well known for sightings of seahorses, turtles and a variety of macro marine life. Most of all, the diversity of healthy soft and hard coral species make the dive sites around Tumbatu Island a truly vibrant experience.

Dive site

Mwana Wa Mwana

Mwana Wa Mwana is a brilliant dive site for snorkelers, beginner and qualified divers, situated to the northwest of Tumbatu Island in Zanzibar.

Depth

3-12 meters, 12-18 meters

Type

Coral garden

Reef

The reef is a terraced coral garden starting shallow at a depth of 3 meters. It gradually decents to a depth of 12 meters. Followed by a sandy bottom which slopes down to a depth of 18 meters.

Common Sea Life Sightings

Frogfish, leaf scorpionfish, mantis shripms, nudibranchs, sea turtles, octopuses, cuttlefish, stingrays, seahorses, schools of colorful reef fish and many more.

Dive site

Ras Misikitini

Ras Misikitini is an impressive dive site for snorkelers, beginner and qualified divers, situated to the northwest of Tumbatu Island in Zanzibar.

Depth

5-12 meters, 12-20 meters

Type

Small wall

Reef

The reef is a small coral wall which drops down from 5 to 12 meters. Its bottom holding some coral bommies gently slopes down to a depth of 20 meters.

Common Sea Life Sightings

Mantis shripms, leaf scorpionfish, nudibranchs, frogfish, sea turtles, stingrays, scorpionfish, spottwing flying gunnards, schools of colorful reef fish and many more.

Dive site

Three Turtles

Three Turtles is a vibrant dive site for snorkelers, beginner and qualified divers, situated to the west of Tumbatu Island in Zanzibar.

Depth

3-16 meters

Type

Small wall

Reef

The reef is a small coral wall which drops down from 3 to 12 meters, followed by a little slope decending to 16 meters. Most of all the eyecatching colors of the corals at a depth of around 5 meters make a vibrant experience for both the snorkelers and divers.

Common Sea Life Sightings

Octopuses, stingrays, sea turtles, scorpionfish, schools of colorful reef fish and many more.

Dive site

Shane´s Reef

Shane´s Reef is a unique dive site for beginner and qualified divers, situated to the northwest of Zanzibar.

Depth

10-20 meters

Type

Coral reef

Reef

The reef is composed of coral and sandy bottom patches. It starts at a depth of 10 meters and gently descends to 14 meters, followed by a gradual slope down to a depth of 20 meters. Shane´s reef is home to a large variety of macro marine life and extraordinary sea creatures.

Common Sea Life Sightings

Crocodile fish, weedy scorpionfish, frog fish, seahorses, mantis shripms, black-blotched porcupinefish, leaf scorpionfish, spottwing flying gunnards and many more.

Dive site

Kichafi

Level

Kichafi is an amazing dive site for both the experienced and inexperienced divers, situated to the northeast of Zanzibar.

Depth

10-16 meters

Type

Coral reef

Reef

The reef consist of hard and soft corals and is fringed by incredible, colorful cabbage or plate coral formations. During early morning or late afternoon dives you may spot the occasional cobias, mackerels or big stingrays.

Common Sea Life Sightings

Spadefish, parrotfish, groupers, stonefish, napoleon wrasses, schools of colorful reef fish and many more.

Dive site

Mbwangawa

Mbwangawa is a relaxing dive site for both the experienced and inexperienced divers, situated to the northeast of Zanzibar

Depth

7-18 meters

Type

Coral reef

Reef

The extensive reef combines hard and soft corals with two areas of plate coral formation. Starting at a depth of 7 meters, it gently slopes down to 18 meters. Mbwangawa is home to beautiful species of colorful reef fish. With a mild current you can enjoy a drift dive along this spot.

Common Sea Life Sightings

Groupers, stingrays, scorpionfish, guitarfish, stonefish, sea turtles and many more.

Dive site

Hunga Reef

Hunga Reef is a stunning dive site for qualified divers, situated to the northwest of Zanzibar.

Depth

10-17 meters

Type

Coral bommies

Reef

The circular reef is located in the open sea at a depth range of 10 to 17 meters. Special about Hunga are its great visibility and huge bommies covered with a variety of vibrant corals. Overhead many species of shoaling reef fish make a colorful mid-water experience.

Common Sea Life Sightings

Groupers, napoleon wrasses, snappers, crocodile fish, tuna, batfish, unicornfish, redtooth triggerfish, nudibranchs and many more. On rare occasion you may spot eagle rays.

Dive site

Nankivell Rock

Nankivell Rock is a sparkling dive site for qualified divers, situated to the northwest of Zanzibar

Depth

10-15 meters

Type

Coral bommies

Reef

The reef is located in the open sea at a depth range of 10 to 15 meters. It consists of a huge bommie surrounded by small ones, all covered with a variety of beautiful corals. Nankivell Rock is well known for its great visibility and many species of colorful reef fish shoaling. On occasion you may spot a huge grouper.

Common Sea Life Sightings

Groupers, napoleon wrasses, snappers, crocodile fish, tuna, batfish, unicornfish, redtooth triggerfish, nudibranchs and many more.

Morning excursion to Leven Bank during our best diving season from March to May

Leven Bank

Leven Bank is an exhilarating dive site for experienced advanced divers, situated to the north of Zanzibar.

Depth

14-30+ meters

Type

Undersea mountain

Reef

The extensive reef is an undersea mountain located in the open sea and one of Zanzibar´s best spots for a deep dive. Starting at a depth of 14 meters it gently slopes down to 30+ meters. Due to the current and depth this dive site is suitable for very skilled divers only. There is a variety of brightly glowing hard and soft corals on the reef. Overhead many species of shoaling tropical reef fish attract predators. Most of all the striking colors of both the corals and the reef fish together create a vibrant mid-water experience. This particular effect is enhanced by a great visibility.

Common Sea Life Sightings

Nudibranchs, octopuses, honeycomb moray eels, rainbow runners, barracudas, trevallys, tuna, kingfish and many more.

Mnemba Island

Tropical fish capital of Zanzibar

The world-reknowed marine reserve of Mnemba Island is considered the tropical fish capital and famous for the best diving in Zanzibar.

Situated to the northeast of Zanzibar, Mnemba is well known for encounters with pods of dolphins, abundant sea life and great visibility. Mnemba’s spots Kichwani and Wattabomie are the first choice for your underwater adventure in Zanzibar.

Be inspired by our presentation of the most popular reefs (level, depth, type, reef, sea life).