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Diving & snorkelling in Zanzibar
Diving & snorkelling in Zanzibar
Diving & snorkelling in Zanzibar
Diving & snorkelling in Zanzibar
Diving & snorkelling in Zanzibar

Diving & snorkelling in Zanzibar

Best hotels and lodges for diving and snorkelling in Zanzibar

The Zanzibar archipelago is surrounded by coral reefs, hidden in the sparkling blue waters of the Indian Ocean. Many are very beautiful, and so great places for snorkelling and diving - but here we aim to highlight the best.

Top of our list must be the huge reef around Mnemba Island, which is vast and dwarfs the island by comparison. (Just zoom out from the satellite view of Mnemba to see what we mean!) As well as the top-end Mnemba Island Lodge itself, most of the lodges in north and north-east Zanzibar will do many of their dives here, so it's not a quiet reef.

Very different, but equally very attractive, are the quite and relatively undiscovered reefs of the Menai Bay Conservation Area - off southwest Zanzibar. These are fairly untouched as there's been little development, and currently there are just a few small lodges here - notably Fumba and Unguja, mentioned below.

Finally, no list would be complete without the tiny Chumbe Island which, thanks for historical protection, has some of the best coral gardens in the world. The only way to visit this is via Chumbe Island Lodge - and to preserve the reefs, only snorkelling is allowed, guided by one of the lodge team.


Matemwe Lodge

Guided snorkelling and diving trips can easily be arranged at this very well run and long-established east coast favourite. The beautiful coral gardens and reef sections around Mnemba Island are easily accessible from Matemwe Lodge.

Chumbe Island Lodge

Chumbe Island has some of the most pristine coral gardens in Tanzania and reef around the island has plenty of fish and coral. To help preserve them, scuba diving isn't allowed here, but guided snorkelling trips are a wonderful experience.


Matemwe Lodge

Guided snorkelling and diving trips can easily be arranged at this very well run and long-established east coast favourite. The beautiful coral gardens and reef sections around Mnemba Island are easily accessible from Matemwe Lodge.

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