Diving in Pemba Island
Plan your authentic Pemba Island scuba diving individually with local PADI Pros
Daily Diving Excursions
in Pemba Island
We offer two daily boat excursions to Pemba Island’s best dive sites, including Swiss Reef, Shimba Hills, Shimba Wall, Njao Gap, Fundo Gap, and many more.
What’s a Typical Dive Day Like?
Registration and gear fitting is done upon arrival at our dive center. For added convenience, you can schedule your appointment for 3:00 PM the day before (own arrival).
Our team loads your equipment onboard at our dive center beach.
Excursion and safety briefings are done before departure.
Most dive sites are a quick 5-20 minute boat ride away. Misali Island is approximately 60 minutes.
Surface intervals are on our shaded boat or, if the dive site allows, on a white sandy beach of Pemba. Enjoy seasonal fresh fruits and water.
Upon returning, we unload your gear and prepare it for storing.
Enjoy a shower, log your dives, and unwind at our beach-front restaurant.
Flexible Dive Schedules in Pemba Island
Our dive schedules are flexible with customer preferences. We typically offer 2 dives per day, with a third dive available upon request, weather and sea conditions permitting.
Morning Dives
8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Depending on weather and sea conditions, we may start our morning dives as early as 7:00 AM.
Afternoon Dives
1:30 PM – 4:30 PM (approx.)
Afternoon dives may be available, subject to weather, sea conditions, and diver availability. Please enquire with our team.
Night Dives
Night dives in Njao Gap are offered to advanced divers, weather and sea conditions permitting. Prior day diving skills will be assessed before confirming a night dive. Please consult with our team.
Pemba Island Diving
Personalised Dive Planning
Small Groups
Dive in small groups for a personalised experience with dedicated attention from our local PADI Pros.
Personalised Dive Plan
Our expert team will tailor your dive experience to your skill level and interests, considering weather and sea conditions. We’ll recommend the best dive sites and create a personalised dive plan for a safe and enjoyable underwater adventure.
Your Planning Options
Plan your dives via WhatsApp with our team or visit our dive center the day before, preferably around 3:00 PM. Please make an appointment.
Diving for all Experience Levels
Beginner Divers
Certified beginners can explore Pemba Island’s underwater world with confidence and at a relaxed pace, guided by our experienced PADI Pros.
Advanced Divers
For seasoned divers looking for challenges, Pemba offers a wealth of advanced dive sites. From steep walls to exhilarating drift dives and diverse reef systems, experienced divers can immerse themselves in unique, pristine underwater landscapes that showcase the best of Tanzania’s marine life.
Pemba Island Marine Life
Scuba Refresher Courses
Refresher Free of Charge!
Been landlocked too long?
Refresh your scuba skills with our complimentary scuba refresher course for certified divers to ease you back into the water.
Plan 20-30 minutes and book your appointment:
3:00 PM the day before your excursion
(own transfer)
7:30 AM morning before your excursion starts
(free transfer within Makangale)
PADI ReActivate
Scuba Refresher Program
ReActivate is the engaging, efficient way to refresh your dive knowledge and scuba skills. Quickly review familiar topics and focus on areas you need to refresh.
Prerequisite
PADI (Junior) Open Water Diver (or qualifying entry-level certification).
PADI eLearning
You will study in advance with PADI eLearning.
Practice Session
Upon arrival you will refresh your diving skills in a practical session with our PADI instructor and review any scuba skills you may have forgotten.
Certification
After completing the program receive a replacement certification card with a ReActivated date on it.
Price
ReActivate
Scuba Refresher Program
100 USD
Our price includes full gear rental free of charge, PADI eLearning and certification.
Quality Dive Gear Free of Charge
Dive Gear Rental
We provide high-quality branded dive gear from Scubapro and Mares free of charge.
Full gear rental includes: mask, fins, weights, BCD, regulator, wetsuit, reef shoes, and torch.
Regulators
Scubapro MK2 EVO, MK2
BCDs
ScubaPro X-One, Mares Rover
Wetsuits
Mares 3.5 mm long and short
Fins
Mares, Cressi
Masks
Mares, AquaLung, assorted brands
Snorkels
Mares, AquaLung, assorted brands
Reef Shoes
Torch
Pemba Island Dive Gear Gallery
Cylinders
We provide 12-liter aluminum cylinders compatible with both Yoke an DIN valve systems.
Dive Computers
Please bring your own dive computer to Pemba, as we do not rent them.
Our guides are equipped with dive computers to ensure safe and enjoyable dives.
We provide dive computers for our PADI course students during their training.
Bringing Your Own Dive Gear
We offer a free service to clean, dry, store, and load dive gear for customers who bring their own.
Ready to Book Diving in Pemba Island?
Pre-Booking
A pre-booking discount is available (excluded December to January) for reservations made at least one day in advance via email or WhatsApp. Contact us for availability.
Last Minute
Last-minute bookings (within 24 hours) are subject to availability. We frequently have last-minute openings for diving, snorkeling, or PADI courses starting as early as tomorrow morning or afternoon. Contact us for availability.
Customised
Craving an unforgettable aquatic adventure in Zanzibar or Pemba? We create personalized scuba diving excursions for individuals, families, and groups. Contact us to plan your dream dive adventure.
Dive & Stay
Discover your authentic Pemba Island dive holiday package from our locally-owned PADI Dive Resort
FAQ
When is the best time of the year to dive in Pemba?
Pemba offers fantastic diving year-round with warm Indian Ocean water temperatures consistently between 26°C and 29°C (79°F – 84°F). For the absolute best visibility—often exceeding 30 meters—and the calmest surface conditions, the dry seasons from July to October and December to March are highly recommended.
Is Pemba suitable for beginner divers, or is it only for advanced?
What type of marine life will I see diving the Pemba Channel?
The untouched reefs of Pemba support a massive diversity of life. Along the steep walls and underwater mountains, you can regularly spot large pelagic species such as giant trevally, dogtooth tuna, barracuda, and green sea turtles. On the reefs themselves, the healthy barrel sponges and gorgonian sea fans hide an incredible array of macro life, including colorful nudibranchs, leaf scorpionfish, and giant frogfish.
Are transfers included when on Pemba?
Yes, we offer free daily transfers from your accommodation in Makangale to our dive center.
How do deposits and final payments work?
To secure any booking at our Pemba base, a 50% down payment is required to confirm your spot, with the remaining balance due 7 days prior to arrival. We will send you a secure DPO online payment link to process this.
Can I rent a dive computer from you?
To ensure the highest safety standards, our PADI Divemasters are required to carry dive computers on every excursion. While we strongly recommend bringing your own device to track your personal dive profile, we do offer rentals for $10 USD per person, per day (subject to availability, no discounts apply). As these units are in high demand, we suggest contacting the dive center in advance via WhatsApp to reserve yours before you arrive.
Is the package cheaper if I bring my own dive gear?
No, our premium Scubapro and Mares gear is provided as a complimentary service, so dive rates remain the same regardless.
Can my partner and I share a single dive package?
No, our dive packages are priced per person, and the included dives cannot be shared or transferred between guests.