Country

Diving in Tanzania

5 dive destinations in Tanzania, up to 310 km apart. Water temperature across them runs 25–31 °C. All 5 are in season in Jan–Feb and Jul–Oct. 45 named dive sites have their own pages.

Mafia Island · photo brittonpaul83

Destinations: 5
Dive sites: 45
Water: 25–31°C
Most in season: Jan–Feb and Jul–Oct

RegionAfrica

Where are the dive destinations in Tanzania?

1Pemba IslandOct–Feb
2Mnemba AtollOct–Feb
3Paje & JambianiJun–Oct
4Kizimkazi & Menai BayDec–Mar
5Mafia IslandOct–Feb

Numbers match the table below. Land outline: Natural Earth (public domain).

How do they compare?

Conditions at each dive destination in Tanzania
#	Destination	Best months	Water	Visibility	Depth	Level	Access	Sites
1	Pemba IslandTidal gaps flush an 800 m channel past sheer coral walls	Oct–Feb	25–29°C	20–40 m	10–40 m	Advancedsites from beginner to advanced	Day boat, Liveaboard	11
2	Mnemba Atoll — ZanzibarAn atoll wall and easy coral slopes off Zanzibar's north-east corner	Oct–Feb	25–29°C	5–25 m	5–30 m	Beginnersites from intermediate to advanced	Day boat	6
3	Paje & JambianiOuter-reef drift walls and a seahorse lagoon on Zanzibar’s south-east coast	Jun–Oct	25–31°C	—	6–30 m	Intermediatesites from intermediate to advanced	Day boat	6
4	Kizimkazi & Menai BayCoral gardens and walls in a bay where humpback and bottlenose dolphins live.	Dec–Mar	25–30°C	—	10–35 m	Beginnersites from beginner to advanced	Day boat	6
5	Mafia IslandJuvenile whale sharks feed in shallow water off Mafia most of the year.	Oct–Feb	25–29°C	5–20 m	5–28 m	Intermediatesites from beginner to advanced	Day boat	16

When is the best time to dive Tanzania?

The most destinations are rated good or prime at the same time in Jan–Feb and Jul–Oct: 5 of 5. Each row is one destination's own season rating.

Season rating by month for each dive destination in Tanzania
Destination	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
1Pemba Island	Prime	Prime	Good	Off-season	Off-season	Fair	Good	Good	Good	Prime	Prime	Prime
2Mnemba Atoll	Prime	Prime	Good	Off-season	Off-season	Fair	Good	Good	Good	Prime	Prime	Prime
3Paje & Jambiani	Good	Good	Fair	Fair	Fair	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Fair	Fair
4Kizimkazi & Menai Bay	Prime	Prime	Prime	Fair	Fair	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Fair	Prime
5Mafia Island	Prime	Prime	Fair	Fair	Fair	Good	Good	Good	Good	Prime	Prime	Prime
Good or prime	5	5	3	0	0	3	5	5	5	5	3	4

Which destinations combine into one trip?

Destinations that fit within 200 km of each other end to end and share at least one month rated good or prime. Distances are straight lines between destinations, not travel routes.

154 km end to end

In season together: Jan–Feb and Jul–Oct