Diving in Zanzibar
Just wanted to post a short report about diving in Zanzibar. I have been travelling for work in Tanzania and have managed to make it twice to Zanzibar. I am only travelling with my computer, log book and c-card, so I also got to test rental gear.
First dives were on North East Coast. Went to Mnemba Atoll with One Ocean from Matemwe beach (http://www.zanzibaroneocean.com/). Equipment is brand new ScubaPro in top condition. 2 boat dives with full gear cost $95, and included a snack, but no water - bring plenty of your own! The guides are in fact instructors (as are all expacts working in Zanzibar), so that while they are very professional, they baby sit too much. Diving is fantastic, lots of micro to see, plus turtles rays and nice corals. Would definitely recommend going back
Got back a month later (last week) and found a place to stay on South East Coast in Paje (www.PajebyNight.net), Zanzibar: accommodation and lodging in bungalows) Place is amazing, very laid back, great hotel, fantastic people, great prices ($80 for a couple in a kingsize room). First day went diving with a dive center in Bwejuu beach Rising Sun (http://www.risingsun-zanzibar.com/). This center is in one of the most expensive hotels in Zanzibar, Breezes which costs $450 per person per night, and the prices show this. $200 for 2 boat dives with full gear - no water and no snack! The gear is new (Free Shark) but not comfortable. The diving was very good but nothing out of the ordinary. I will not go there again
Second and third days I dived with East Coast Divers (also called Paje Dive Center) www.PajeDiveCentre.com, Zanzibar - Tanzania 30 seconds walk from Paje By Night. The center is run by a Swedish lady, Lisa. Lisa is living the dream, started diving 3 years ago and this year quit her job in Microsoft to run the dive center, and her enthusiasm and love of diving shows. First day was just the two of us and we did two amazing one hour wall drift dives on the outside of the reef. The second day there were 4 other divers, and we dove in the Paje lagoon, saw about 20 blue spotted stingrays at Stingray City and some amazing corals. Second dive was outside the reef and we saw plenty of tuna, barracuda and trigger fish. Cost for 2 days of 2 tank boat diving with full gear was $180. Price includes all the fruit you can eat and all the water you need. The gear is well used but in good condition
Next month I will try to get to Pemba and Mafia.
Jerome Fink PADI DM 983293
Just wanted to post a short report about diving in Zanzibar. I have been travelling for work in Tanzania and have managed to make it twice to Zanzibar. I am only travelling with my computer, log book and c-card, so I also got to test rental gear.
First dives were on North East Coast. Went to Mnemba Atoll with One Ocean from Matemwe beach (http://www.zanzibaroneocean.com/). Equipment is brand new ScubaPro in top condition. 2 boat dives with full gear cost $95, and included a snack, but no water - bring plenty of your own! The guides are in fact instructors (as are all expacts working in Zanzibar), so that while they are very professional, they baby sit too much. Diving is fantastic, lots of micro to see, plus turtles rays and nice corals. Would definitely recommend going back
Got back a month later (last week) and found a place to stay on South East Coast in Paje (www.PajebyNight.net), Zanzibar: accommodation and lodging in bungalows) Place is amazing, very laid back, great hotel, fantastic people, great prices ($80 for a couple in a kingsize room). First day went diving with a dive center in Bwejuu beach Rising Sun (http://www.risingsun-zanzibar.com/). This center is in one of the most expensive hotels in Zanzibar, Breezes which costs $450 per person per night, and the prices show this. $200 for 2 boat dives with full gear - no water and no snack! The gear is new (Free Shark) but not comfortable. The diving was very good but nothing out of the ordinary. I will not go there again
Second and third days I dived with East Coast Divers (also called Paje Dive Center) www.PajeDiveCentre.com, Zanzibar - Tanzania 30 seconds walk from Paje By Night. The center is run by a Swedish lady, Lisa. Lisa is living the dream, started diving 3 years ago and this year quit her job in Microsoft to run the dive center, and her enthusiasm and love of diving shows. First day was just the two of us and we did two amazing one hour wall drift dives on the outside of the reef. The second day there were 4 other divers, and we dove in the Paje lagoon, saw about 20 blue spotted stingrays at Stingray City and some amazing corals. Second dive was outside the reef and we saw plenty of tuna, barracuda and trigger fish. Cost for 2 days of 2 tank boat diving with full gear was $180. Price includes all the fruit you can eat and all the water you need. The gear is well used but in good condition
Next month I will try to get to Pemba and Mafia.
Jerome Fink PADI DM 983293
