Scuba Diving in Nungwi

Are you staying in the North of the island or are looking for something different than Mnemba Atoll? There is great diving in Nungwi and Kendwa, close to the shore as well as around Tumbatu Island, which offers the best coral in the North of Zanzibar.

Hunga

Hunga reef starts at about 15 m and is a mix of hard and soft coral, surrounded by hundreds of tropical fish. While drifting along the reef, keep an eye out for colourful nudibranchs and crocodile fish in the sand. You might also spot marbled groupers and lobsters hiding between the corals. Towards the Southern tip, look out for leaf fish hiding amongst a huge school of glass fish.

Shanes Reef

You should definitely visit Shanes Reef when diving in Nungwi. It starts at around 12 m and slopes down to 30 m. With a keen eye, you will be able to find octopuses, mantis shrimps, leaf fish and scorpion fish. Stay shallow between 10 – 16 m or explore the deeper part, where frog fish and seahorses can be seen. Back at the reef, cuttlefish, crocodile fish, and if you’re lucky, the weedy scorpion fish, are all waiting to be found.

Tumbatu Island

Tumbatu Island has the healthiest coral garden (both hard and soft corals) in Zanzibar’s North. Currents here are rare, so you can take your time to explore every cave and crevice, looking for moray eels and octopuses.
Tumbatu is also home to the biggest seahorses you have ever seen.
Between the coral blocks you will also find nudibranchs and ribbon eels while small porcupine fish are hiding on the sandy bottom.