Water Sports
My Safari
Call a specialist to talk about Water Sports.
A number of excellent PADI Diving Centres exist on Zanzibar, providing scuba diving instruction and opportunities for every level of diver, from absolute beginner up to real expert. Full equipment and tank-filling facilities are provided.
Diving trips usually involve two dives per day, from around three hours to six, depending on where you are going and what you are doing. There is diving to suit every taste, from really deep dives at Leven Banks and the Big Wall, to shallow, but very beautiful dives at Tumbatu and Wattabomi.
For those who don’t dive there is a wealth of snorkelling opportunities around Zanzibar, with a wide range of beautiful coral reefs to explore. With the exception of the rainy seasons, between March and May, and again in November, conditions in the Indian Ocean are usually ideal – high visibility in warm, crystal-clear water.
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In addition to the previous two watersports it is also possible to indulge in kayaking, by means of one or two person modern sea kayaks, especially around the Northern Coast. This region is also eminently suitable for windsurfing, with modern such equipment readily available for hire. The wind blows onshore for a lot of the year and the tides mean you can start off in nice shallow water and move out into the deep when you feel ready. It is also possible to kite-surf.
You can also indulge in waterskiing here, using either conventional or mono skis, together with wake-boards, or even ringos. These are large inflatable rings which are pulled behind a boat two at a time at speeds of up to 30 mph, and bounce across the water while you try to hold on.
For the sailors out there we can arrange rental of a wide selection of boats including lasers and hobie cats. Sailing courses can also be booked.
Not a classic beach destination, Chumbe Island retains its coral reefs intact, offering outstanding snorkelling opportunities (although scuba diving is not allowed).
Mafia Island is an unspoilt destination noted in particular for the watersport activities and deep-sea fishing that it hosts.
With just one exclusive hotel, Mnemba Island is almost your own private retreat - and has been described as one of the world's top three most romantic beach locations.
Pemba Island remains a largely undeveloped agricultural destination, with voodoo healing and professional level watersports among its attractions.
As an alternative to travelling over to Zanzibar Island, why not consider a night or two on an equally idyllic mainland beach? And in Saadani you can also go on safari.
If it's a largely tourist-free beach location that you're after, just wanting relaxation, then the various resorts on Zanzibar's East Coast will give you this.
Zanzibar's Northern tip is where it's all happening - the watersports, the night life and the maximum density of other tourists. Depends what you are after - activity or quiet.
Very similar to Zanzibar's East Coast, it's Southern coastal stretch offers the opportunity to simply relax on a perfect beach, in reasonable solitude.
Many visitors seem to be unaware that Zanzibar's West Coast offers equally good beach and watersport facilities to other areas, together with much closer proximity to Stone Town and the airport.
