Diving in Pemba Island
Experience authentic scuba diving in Pemba Island – tailored to you by local PADI Pros
Welcome to your gateway for unforgettable underwater adventures in the legendary Pemba Channel. Discover pristine coral walls, vibrant marine life, and thrilling drift dives with our locally-owned PADI Dive Resort, nestled on the secluded northwest coast of Pemba Island, Tanzania.
Dive Sites
A Typical Dive Day &
Boat Excursions
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 in the Pemba Channel 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 beachfront resort.
Morning Dives
8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
(May depart at 7:00 AM depending on local tides)
Afternoon Dives
1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
(Subject to sea conditions
and diver availability)
Night Dives
For advanced divers only
(Subject to sea conditions and diver availability – prior day skill assessment required)
Personalised Diving
Small Groups
Dive in small groups for a personalised experience with dedicated attention from our local PADI Pros.
Tailored Dive Plans
Our expert team tailors every dive to match your skill level, interests, and current sea conditions, ensuring a safe and memorable underwater adventure at the best sites.
Plan your pre-booked dives via WhatsApp with our team or visit our dive center the day before, preferably around 3:00 PM – Please make an appointment.
Beginner & Advanced Divers
Certified beginners can explore Pemba Island’s underwater world with confidence and at a relaxed pace, guided by our experienced PADI Pros.
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.
Scuba Refresher Course
Already booked your dives? Claim your complimentary scuba refresher course to brush up on your skills before your first descent. Book your 20-30 minutes appointment:
3:00 PM
The day before your excursion
(own transfer)
7:30 AM
Morning before your excursion
(free transfer within Makangale)
Dive Gear Rental
Enjoy complimentary high-quality dive gear from Scubapro and Mares during your dives with us.
Our full and complimentary 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
Cylinders
We provide 12-liter aluminum cylinders compatible with both Yoke an DIN valve systems.
Dive Computers
Bringing Your Own Dive Gear
We offer a free service to clean, dry, store, and load dive gear for customers who bring their own.
Pemba Dive & Stay
Pemba Island, situated north of Unguja, offers exceptional, uncrowded scuba diving in pristine underwater landscapes. The reefs along the northwest coast are considered the secret dive gem of the Zanzibar Archipelago.
Fun Divers Zanzibar offers a relaxing getaway on Pemba’s northwest coast. Discover your authentic dive holiday with our locally-owned PADI Dive Resort, just a short boat ride from premier spots like Swiss Reef, Shimba Wall, and Njao Gap.
Book Your Pemba Diving Adventure
Early Bird
Last Minute
Book within 24 hours for trips or PADI courses starting as early as tomorrow (no discount applies).
Customised
We tailor dive trips for individuals, families, and groups. Share your plans for an offer.
Frequently asked questions about diving in Pemba Island
When is the best time to dive in Pemba?
Pemba offers fantastic diving year-round with warm Indian Ocean water temperatures consistently between 25°C and 29°C. For the absolute best visibility – often exceeding 30 meters – and the calmest surface conditions, the dry periods spanning August to October and January through mid‑March are highly recommended.
What marine life will I see in 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. Please refer to our Pemba Reef Guide > for detailed reef profiles, depths & marine life.
Is Pemba suitable for beginner divers?
Are transfers included on Pemba?
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. Please refer to our General Terms & Conditions Page: Booking Policy >
What is your cancellation policy?
Can I rent a dive computer on-site?
To ensure the highest safety standards, our PADI guides 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 limited devices are in high demand, we suggest contacting the dive center in advance via WhatsApp to reserve yours before you arrive.