Diving off tropical Pemba is among the most spectacular to be found in East Africa. It is characterized by dramatic clear, blue water drop-offs along with pristine shallow reefs. Hard and soft coral gardens are alive with schools of pelagic marine life, mantas, turtles and coral fish. You also will have the opportunity to explore several truly native island villages, virtually untouched by modern civilization.
Some of the diving sites include:
FUNDU GAP AREA
This is a narrow channel, which links a tidal lagoon to the sea. Nutrients from the lagoon provide food for the marine life in the tidal channel and the seaward reefs. One of the dive sites is Manta Point (max 25m), a pinnacle off the main reef which attracts a large variety of fish life e.g. anthias, surgeonfish, blue fin and big eye really, shoals of black snapper, Napoleon wrasse and flute fish. The top of the pinnacle is covered in anemones with associated anemone fish.
MISALI ISLAND AREA
A beautiful, uninhabited desert island with an extensive reef system, which is a marine reserve. One of the sites is on the North Reef (25m). This is a drift dive along a vertical wall covered in tubastrae corals and reef fish. Pelagic fish like giant trevally and barracuda are often seen.
RAS MIUNGANI
The southern tip of Pemba Island, which juts out into the main ocean current flowing north along the African coast. This site is visited as a day trip. The two dive sites are Emerald Reef (20m), which is a coral ridge with prolific reef fish life and the wreck of SS Paraportiani (15m), a steam freighter that ran aground in rough weather on Emerald Reef and now lies west of the reef. The propeller, stern tube, boilers and holds are clearly visible.
MTANGANI and MCHENGAZI
The steep walls with a strong oceanic current are ideal for pelagic life and the diving here focuses on looking for pelagic fish. Sightings of hammerhead and reef sharks, trevally, tuna and barracuda are common. The diving depth is 30m, so a dive computer is essential.
