Zanzibar Scuba Diving Snorkeling Day Tour

Our Zanzibar 1 full-day scuba diving and snorkeling tour is primarily focused on the coral reefs around Mnemba Atoll, Tumbatu Island, and the Menai Bay Conservation Area.

Departing from Nungwi or Stone Town, these tours include boat trips, professional guides, opportunities to spot vibrant marine life (turtles and dolphins), and seafood lunches.

1 Full-Day Scuba Diving and Snorkeling Tour Details

Top Location: Mnemba Atoll is the premier site, offering pristine coral gardens, steep walls, and high chances of seeing Green turtles and bottlenose dolphins.  

Our tour usually starts around 0730 Hours – 0800 Hours with hotel pickup, followed by a boat (dhow or speedboat) ride to the reefs. Two, often separate, dive or snorkel spots are visited, with a break for lunch (often on a sandbank)

1 Full-Day Scuba Diving and Snorkeling Tour Activities

Snorkeling: Available for all skill levels, featuring guided reef tours to spot clownfish, moray eels, and stingrays
Best Time: While diving is year-round, October to March provides warmer waters and sightings of migratory whale sharks
What’s Included: Often includes equipment (mask, fins, snorkel), boat fees, snacks, tropical fruits, and a specialized seafood lunch
Scuba Diving: PADI-certified instructors lead dives for beginners (discover scuba) and experienced divers (wall, wreck, and reef dives)

 1 Full-Day Scuba Diving and Snorkeling Tour Mnemba Atoll Itinerary (0730 Hours – 1600 Hours)

0730 – 0830 Hours: Pickup and Transfer: Hotel pickup from Stone Town or nearby areas, traveling to the northern beaches (Nungwi/Kendwa)
0900 Hours : Departure: Boat departure from Nungwi on a traditional dhow or speedboat towards Mnemba Atoll
1000 – 1200 Hours: First Dive/ Snorkel Session: Arrival at the first Mnemba reef site (e.g., Kichwani or Wattabomi) to view coral gardens, green turtles, and tropical fish
1200 – 1300 Hours: Surface Interval & Lunch: Relaxation on the boat or a sandbank, featuring a fresh lunch (often seafood/vegetarian options), fruits, and spiced tea
1300 – 1400 Hours: Second Dive/ Snorkel Session: Exploring a second, different reef spot for more marine life
1400 – 1530 Hours: Return Journey: Leisurely sail back to the beach, often with opportunities to see dolphins
1600 Hours: Arrival: Return to the dive center/ hotel

✓ Marine Life: High chances of seeing bottlenose dolphins, green turtles, moray eels, and diverse tropical fish species
✓ Sandbank Relaxation: Many tours stop at a sandbank (sometimes near Mnemba or Nakupenda) for swimming and photos
✓ Diving & Snorkeling: Qualified instructors guide dives at various depths, from shallow, vibrant coral reefs (Kichwani) to deeper sites with potential for sighting white-tip sharks
✓ Seasonality: Whale shark sightings are common on Mafia Island tours from November to March, while humpback whales may be seen near Zanzibar between July and November 

Important Information

✓ Group Sizes: Smaller, intimate groups are common, often led by PADI instructors
✓Alternatives: For a closer, half-day experience, tours departing from Muyuni Beach offer faster access to the reef
✓ Equipment: Snorkeling gear and diving equipment are usually included, though it is recommended to check before booking

Zanzibar Scuba Diving Snorkeling Day Tour in Zanzibar takes place at Nungwi fishing village – the perfect Scuba Diving destination, with plenty to excite professionals and beginners alike. Ras Nungwi village lies 60 kilometres from the Zanzibar airport and ‘Old Stone Town.

Here, marine life is abundant with Good visibility (20 – 60 metres) and a year-round average water temperature of 27 degrees Celsius, ensuring that you enjoy your Zanzibar Scuba diving experience.

We offer the best diving in East Africa for small groups of experienced divers. The day before, we will confirm the shuttle bus pickup time with you for the next day.

The drive from Stone Town to Ras Nungwi is scenic and takes about 1.5 hours. On arrival, we will start by filling in the forms, trying out the equipment, and checking the certification cards.

Depending on the tides, we will leave by boat (30 minutes) or by bus (30 minutes bumpy ride) when it is low tide. We keep groups as small as possible, and your qualifications determine which group you are placed in.

All groups dive with a PADI instructor or Dive Master, who will give a thorough and informative dive briefing before each dive.

We do a maximum 1-hour dive, a 1-hour surface interval, and then the 2nd dive, also a maximum of 1 hour. In the surface interval, we will have some Zanzibar snacks, fruits, and spice tea, and we relax on the boat.

The first day, we will choose an easy dive (depending on your certification and your last dive). What you can expect to see is Green turtles, Moray eels, Giant trevallies, stingrays, frogfish, white-tip sharks, lion fish, and, of course, the Bottlenose Dolphins.

If you are lucky, you can swim with them between dives, but there is a strict no-touching and no-chasing policy. We will return to the dive centre, depending on the tides, by bus or boat trip.

At the dive centre, we will log the dives, check the fish books, and our drivers will return the guests to the Hotel.

Zanzibar Scuba Diving Snorkeling Day Tour Rates Include:

✓ Lunch
✓ Professional English-speaking guides & Snacks, fruits, and spice tea on the boat

Notes

* A surcharge for all trips to Mnemba Atoll
* All prices include a light lunch and mineral water
* The transfer from Stone Town to Nungwi is not included. We arrange for transport on request
* African Spice Safaris organizes day trips to the dolphin coast in Kizimkazi, south of Zanzibar, on request
* We have divers and snorkelers on our boat. If there is a diver and the partner is not a diver, he/ she can join us for an ultimate snorkel trip with our professional and English-speaking snorkel guides!

Zanzibar Scuba Diving Snorkeling Day Tour Rates Do Not Include:

* Drinks
* Tips or gratuity
* Travelers Insurance
* Communication charges
* Minimum of 1 person required
* Visas, international airfares, and airport taxes; meals
* Sightseeing not included in the package; optional activities
* Personal expenses such as transfers to/ from the airport (supplement airport transfer cost applies for tours starting from the airport)

Depth: As always, depths vary by location. Most diving is well within recreational limits

Skill Level: Beginners through advanced divers will find something incredible in Tanzania

Scuba Gear: It’s always a good idea to bring as much of your dive gear as possible, but equipment hire is also available

Visibility: Running from good to excellent across Tanzania’s Indian Ocean sites, visibility can reach 30 metres/100 feet.

Currents: The currents vary by location but range from virtually nonexistent to strong at dive sites off Zanzibar and Pemba.

Water Temperature: Being close to the equator means water temperatures are consistently about 27º C/80º F. Courtesy Unguja Divers

Featured Creatures: Myriad Indian Ocean reef fish, ribbon eels, fire dartfish, chevron barracuda, yellowfin tuna, and giant groupers in Pemba.

Length of Stay: Although it depends on your time and budget, you’ll want to spend enough time here to add incredible land excursions to your dive vacation.

Dive Season: Generally speaking, September through March is the best time to dive in East Africa because the winds and dive conditions are at their best. You can almost always experience great diving at Zanzibar and Pemba’s sheltered sites, while Tanzania sees heavy rains in April and May

Weather: Since it’s just below the equator, the only discernible seasons are dry and wet. The tropical climate in the major dive areas means you’ll rarely see temperatures drop below 20º C/68º F and easily soar to 35-38º C/95-100ºF in Dar-es-Salaam

Transportation: Domestic airlines, trains, and buses are the best ways to get around Tanzania. Driving is generally discouraged due to the poor road conditions and other hazards

Mobile: +254-721-242-711
WhatsApp: +254-721-242-711
Reservations: +254 718-179-967
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://africanspicesafaris.com