Up close encounters with Africa's marine wildlife
The Indian Ocean off Africa's tropical coast has an incredible variety and quality of marine life. There are manta rays and whale sharks, five species of turtle, hundreds of fish species, dolphins, endless tropical coral reefs and even the occasional shy dugong.
Several of Expert Africa's team are keen divers, and we'll always be happy to advise from our personal experience to find where’s best for you.
Islands and archipelagos off Tanzania and Mozambique’s coast have a great mix of reef and deeper wall dives, as do the protected waters around some of the islands we offer in the Seychelles.
And for something completely different, the freshwater Lake Malawi has a rocky underwater environment which is home to perhaps 1000 species of brightly-coloured cichlid fish mostly found nowhere else on earth.
Our top diving and snorkelling holidays
Ask us about the best areas and lodges in Africa for diving and snorkelling adventures.
Black Pepper Beach Holiday
7 days • 1 location
DAR ES SALAAM AIRPORT TO DAR ES SALAAM AIRPORT
US$2,420 - US$3,980 per person
Fundu Lagoon
For diving off the coast of Tanzania, Fundu Lagoon offers plenty of choice. The Pemba Channel offers some extremely challenging drift dives and the chance to see the larger pelagic fish, while for gentler dives and snorkelling there are the reefs around Misali Island.
Lemon Grass Beach Holiday
6 days • 2 locations
DAR ES SALAAM AIRPORT TO DAR ES SALAAM AIRPORT
US$2,300 - US$3,020 per person
Pole Pole
Pole Pole offers fantastic diving in the Mafia Island Marine Park. This is some of the best diving on the East African coast. When we were last there, diving cost $40 for a single dive and $300 for a 10-dive package (plus $20 a day equipment-hire fee).
Chole Mjini
Scuba diving in Mafia Island Marine Park is superb, and if you come here between October and March you may get the chance to swim with whale sharks.
Benguerra Beach Holiday
6 days • 1 location
VILANCULOS AIRPORT TO VILANCULOS AIRPORT
US$6,280 - US$8,380 per person
Benguerra Lodge
Benguerra has a fully-equipped dive centre and NAUI dive courses are offered. The reefs are pristine and rich in a variety of fish and coral species; with a range of depths to suit beginner and experienced divers, and snorkellers too.
Azura Beach Holiday
6 days • 1 location
VILANCULOS AIRPORT TO VILANCULOS AIRPORT
US$5,250 - US$6,880 per person
Azura Benguerra
Azura has a PADI Dive Centre with new, top-of-the-range 'Scubapro' equipment. The reefs are rich in a variety of fish and coral species, and offer a range of depths and reef topography to suit both beginners and experienced divers, and snorkellers too.
Peacock Cichlid Safari
4 days • 1 location
LILONGWE AIRPORT TO LILONGWE AIRPORT
US$3,430 - US$4,480 per person
Kaya Mawa
Lake Malawi offers some of the best freshwater snorkeling and diving in the world. There are plenty of brightly-coloured and often endemic cichlid fish; the lake is always warm and the currents are usually moderate.
Anantara Beach Holiday
6 days • 1 location
VILANCULOS AIRPORT TO VILANCULOS AIRPORT
US$2,780 - US$6,000 per person
Anantara Bazaruto
The reefs around Bazaruto Island are in excellent condition - and this resort has its own dive centre
Jasmine Beach Holiday
7 days • 1 location
DAR ES SALAAM AIRPORT TO DAR ES SALAAM AIRPORT
US$3,380 - US$3,950 per person
Manta Resort
For diving and snorkelling in Zanzibar, Manta Resort on Pemba Island offers coral reefs and – for experienced divers only – waters with exhilarating currents. And in its new Underwater Room you have the underwater world around you, even while you’re sleeping!
Papaya Beach Holiday
7 days • 2 locations
DAR ES SALAAM AIRPORT TO DAR ES SALAAM AIRPORT
US$2,870 - US$4,370 per person
Matemwe Lodge
Guided snorkelling and diving trips can easily be arranged at this very well run and long-established east coast favourite. The beautiful coral gardens and reef sections around Mnemba Island are easily accessible from Matemwe Lodge.
Chumbe Island Lodge
Chumbe Island has some of the most pristine coral gardens in Tanzania and reef around the island has plenty of fish and coral. To help preserve them, scuba diving isn't allowed here, but guided snorkelling trips are a wonderful experience.
Turmeric Beach Holiday
7 days • 2 locations
DAR ES SALAAM AIRPORT TO DAR ES SALAAM AIRPORT
US$2,330 - US$3,750 per person
Matemwe Lodge
Guided snorkelling and diving trips can easily be arranged at this very well run and long-established east coast favourite. The beautiful coral gardens and reef sections around Mnemba Island are easily accessible from Matemwe Lodge.
Hyena Safari
11 days • 4 locations
VICTORIA FALLS AIRPORT TO LILONGWE AIRPORT
US$9,490 - US$11,910 per person
Kaya Mawa
Lake Malawi offers some of the best freshwater snorkeling and diving in the world. There are plenty of brightly-coloured and often endemic cichlid fish; the lake is always warm and the currents are usually moderate.
Best camps & lodges for Diving & snorkelling in Africa
Pole Pole
Pole Pole offers fantastic diving in the Mafia Island Marine Park. This is some of the best diving on the East African coast. When we were last there, diving cost $40 for a single dive and $300 for a 10-dive package (plus $20 a day equipment-hire fee).
Unguja Lodge
Unguja Lodge has a PADI dive center on-site. Snorkellers and divers will enjoy the colourful coral in the protected Menai Bay area, whilst more experienced divers can even head out to new dive sites, identified only by a GPS.
Chumbe Island Lodge
Chumbe Island has some of the most pristine coral gardens in Tanzania and reef around the island has plenty of fish and coral. To help preserve them, scuba diving isn't allowed here, but guided snorkelling trips are a wonderful experience.
Matemwe Lodge
Guided snorkelling and diving trips can easily be arranged at this very well run and long-established east coast favourite. The beautiful coral gardens and reef sections around Mnemba Island are easily accessible from Matemwe Lodge.
Fumba Beach Lodge
Fumba Beach Lodge operates a good PADI dive centre. Though the diving from Fumba is less spectacular than the best of the East Coast; the corals here are beautiful and in better condition. There aren’t as many fish, but it is a blissful experience.
Breezes Beach Club
Breezes Beach Club has the Rising Sun Dive Centre on site, where you can join one of the PADI scuba diving courses on offer. If you already have your certification you can head straight out on one of their organised dives to the nearby reefs.
Chole Mjini
Scuba diving in Mafia Island Marine Park is superb, and if you come here between October and March you may get the chance to swim with whale sharks.
Kaya Mawa
Lake Malawi offers some of the best freshwater snorkeling and diving in the world. There are plenty of brightly-coloured and often endemic cichlid fish; the lake is always warm and the currents are usually moderate.
Azura Benguerra
Azura has a PADI Dive Centre with new, top-of-the-range 'Scubapro' equipment. The reefs are rich in a variety of fish and coral species, and offer a range of depths and reef topography to suit both beginners and experienced divers, and snorkellers too.
Baraza Resort & Spa
Located on Zanzibar's south east coast, Baraza is close to some fantastic dive sites. Walk along the beach to the PADI dive centre at Breezes Beach Club, novices can learn to dive while more experienced divers can explore the outer reefs.
Bazaruto Lodge
Bazaruto Island’s reefs are rich in a variety of fish and coral species; those around the northern end of Bazaruto Island are close and offer excellent diving and snorkelling. The NAUI Dive Centre offers sites at a range of depths and with varied reef topography.
Manta Resort
For diving and snorkelling in Zanzibar, Manta Resort on Pemba Island offers coral reefs and – for experienced divers only – waters with exhilarating currents. And in its new Underwater Room you have the underwater world around you, even while you’re sleeping!
Butiama Beach
From November to March, Butiama offers good opportunities to swim with whale sharks. It is also a short drive from the protected reefs of the Mafia Marine Park on the east side of the island.
Kinasi Lodge
Within the Mafia Island Marine Park – Kinasi offers great diving and snorkelling. Snorkelling trips inside Chole Bay usually cost $25, and take you out to a quiet and sheltered reef with an abundance of coral and fish. Diving can either be inside or outside the bay.
Mnemba Island Lodge
Mnemba Island is surrounded by some of Zanzibar's best coral reefs, making it a great location for diving and snorkelling in Tanzania. Guests at Mnemba Island Lodge have immediate access to this spectacular reef – just a step off the shore.
Anantara Bazaruto
The reefs around Bazaruto Island are in excellent condition - and this resort has its own dive centre
Ibo Island Lodge
Northern Mozambique has areas of pristine corals – and good snorkelling is possible from the light house, and also from the sandbank's beach. The diving in this area can also be very good, although there isn't currently any commercial diving operation here.
Fundu Lagoon
For diving off the coast of Tanzania, Fundu Lagoon offers plenty of choice. The Pemba Channel offers some extremely challenging drift dives and the chance to see the larger pelagic fish, while for gentler dives and snorkelling there are the reefs around Misali Island.
Sunshine Marine Lodge
Sunshine Marine Lodge is in a great location to explore the Mnemba Atoll. Whether it’s your first time diving or you’re very experienced, the brand new dive centre with their state of the art equipment will be able to accommodate you.
Nuarro Mozambique
There is good shore diving in Nanatha Bay in front of Nuarro Lodge, with four dives over lovely reefs. Then there are three sites by boat within the bay and three just outside. Divers will find lovely corals and lots of juvenile fish, though sharks are less in evidence.
Benguerra Lodge
Benguerra has a fully-equipped dive centre and NAUI dive courses are offered. The reefs are pristine and rich in a variety of fish and coral species; with a range of depths to suit beginner and experienced divers, and snorkellers too.
Ibo Dhow Safari
Northern Mozambique has areas of pristine corals – and good snorkelling is possible from several hot spots on the safari. The diving in this area can also be very good, although there isn't currently any commercial diving operation here.
Zawadi
Zawadi sits on a low cliff above a pretty cove next to the Indian Ocean, an idyllic spot for a beach holiday on Zanzibar. Enjoy relaxing on the beach, swimming (regardless of the tide) in the turquoise waters and snorkelling at the nearby lagoon.
North Island
With clear water, a variety of fish and experienced dive masters, North Island’s luxurious private villas make a superb base for diving and snorkelling holidays in the Seychelles. Guided scuba dives start from the well-equipped Dive and Activity Centre.
Shamba Kilole
Shamba Kilole has its own motorised sailing dhow, set-up for diving, and equally good if you just want to get to some choice snorkelling spots. Marco, the co-owner of the lodge, has been diving the waters off Mafia for decades and knows them inside out.
Diving and snorkelling holidays in Africa
Browse trip ideas by country.
Malawi
As a body of fresh water, Lake Malawi has a high alkalinity and exceedingly high proportion of ...
Mozambique
From clownfish and angelfish, over rays and sharks, to whales and dugongs - they can all be found ...
Seychelles
Set in the heart of the sparkling blue Indian Ocean, the Seychelles offers perfect conditions for ...
Tanzania
Offshore from Tanzania's coast and islands are some first-class sites for snorkelling and diving ...
Zanzibar
The Zanzibar archipelago is surrounded by coral reefs, hidden in the sparkling blue waters of the ...
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