Diving & Snorkelling
The Indian Ocean, off Africa's east coast, offers wonderful diving and snorkelling due to it's rich and diverse marine life.
Divers and snokellers are exhilirated with the opportunity to see whales sharks, manta rays, turtles and hundreds of different species of fish amongst the finest hard and soft coral reefs.
Safari and Beach has a team of keen divers who have visited the different regions and can help you to choose between the different locations, lodges and dive operators.
Diving in Zanzibar
The beautiful island of Zanzibar is surrounded by incredible fringing reefs, walls and coral gardens.
The most popular area of the island to dive is the north east of the island in the Mnemba Atoll which offers diving conditions to suit all levels of divers with shallow easy diving inside the reef and more advanced wall dives available on the outer wall. S&B preferred lodges for this area of Zanzibar are:
Mnemba Island - private island right on the reef
Matemwe Bungalows - small, luxury beach lodge
Matemwe Beach - stylish guesthouse
Other areas of the island that guarantee uncrowded diving and incredible marine life with big walls and beautiful coral gardens are based in the south.
Unguja Lodge - small quiet luxury hideaway with excellent dive operation
Fumba Beach - great diving in the Menai Bay Conservation Area
Diving in Pemba Island
The rarely dived waters around Pemba island are some of the richest and most exciting within the Indian Ocean. Walls of pristine coral stretching for mile upon mile are home to a vast range of marine life with some of the most exhilirating drift diving in East Africa. Whilst the area is better suited to experienced divers there are areas of calm water which are perfect for beginners. S&B preferred lodge for diving in Pemba:
Fundu Lagoon - relaxed "bare foot luxury" and superb diving
Diving in Mafia island
Mafia Island and its surrounding bays offers some incredible dive locations. The area around Chole Bay is superb and because most of the dive sites are inside the protected area the visibility and marine life is outstanding with a mix of visiting pelagic fish, manta rays and turtles. This is also the place to visit if you want to dive and see whale sharks.
Chole Mjini - unique and magical lodge. managers are excellent divers with fantastic knowledge of the marine live
Diving in Mozambique
Mozambique is the perfect destination for divers who want to encounter big pelagics such as Whale Sharks, Manta Rays, Turtles, Sharks and Dolphins as well as over 1000 different species of tropical fish. Humpback whales can be seen and heard in the mating season, June till September.
Both Bazaruto and Quirimba Archipelago have wonderful beach lodges that offer diving and snorkelling on the many pristine reefs.
Vamizi Island - the most stunning island with amazing diving and snorkeling close to shore
Benguerra Lodge - lovely atmosphere and style. stunning beach
Diving in Seychelles
Seychelles does offer some excellent diving amongst its alluring tropical islands although much of the coral has sadly been bleached. Almost all of the hotels and resorts offer diving and snorkelling.
North Island - ultimate all-inclusive luxury island
Diving in Malawi
For something completely different the freshwater at Lake Malawi can offer a range of diving and snorkeling as good as any freshwater option in the world. We really enjoyed the chance to snorkel on the lake during a recent visit to Cape Maclear.
Pumulani Lodge - stylish and beautiful location overlooking Lake Malawi
