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Tanzania

© iStock/narvikk

Explore Tanzania

Tanzania offers a diving experience that's as diverse and vibrant as its culture and landscapes. Nestled along the East African coast, Tanzania boasts some of the most pristine dive sites in the Indian Ocean. From the enchanting coral reefs of Zanzibar to the dramatic drop-offs of Pemba Island, divers are treated to underwater spectacles teeming with life. The warm, clear waters provide excellent visibility, revealing an array of marine life including graceful manta rays, playful dolphins, and the elusive whale shark, making every dive an unforgettable adventure. Dive enthusiasts can explore the intricate reef systems, swim along vertical walls adorned with colorful corals, and marvel at the historic shipwrecks that now serve as thriving marine habitats. Whether you prefer the ease of shore diving, the convenience of boat dives, or the immersive experience of liveaboards, Tanzania caters to all preferences and skill levels. Seasonal migrations bring surprises like the humpback whales, adding an extra layer of excitement to the diving season from August to September. Beyond the underwater wonders, Tanzania is a country rich in natural beauty and cultural diversity. Divers often extend their stays to explore the Great Lakes or embark on safaris in the country's renowned national parks. With Swahili as the official language and English widely spoken, communication is easy, making Tanzania a welcoming and accessible destination for divers from around the globe. This perfect blend of marine and terrestrial attractions ensures that diving in Tanzania is a multi-faceted journey of discovery.

Power Plug Type
D, G
Payment Method
VISA, MC, AMEX, Cir, Plus
Tipping
0-10% / Restaurant Staff / Service charges are typically added to restaurant bills, eliminating the need to tip.
Currency
TZS
Dial Code
+255
Electricity
230V / 50Hz
Time
UTC+3

Places to explore

Courses and Events

Dive Centers

Dive Sites

Top Wildlife Sightings in Tanzania

Tanzania's coastal waters, particularly around the Zanzibar Archipelago, are teeming with vibrant marine life. Divers can encounter a variety of reef fish, such as angelfish, parrotfish, and moray eels, thriving among the coral gardens. These species are commonly sighted year-round, providing a consistent spectacle of color and diversity. Notable seasonal highlights include the graceful manta rays, which are often spotted from November to March near Mafia Island. Whale sharks, the gentle giants of the sea, frequent the waters around Mafia Island from October to February. Additionally, green and hawksbill turtles can be encountered nesting on the beaches, with the best chances of sightings occurring between June and August. These seasonal activities enhance the diving experience, offering unique opportunities to observe some of the ocean's most majestic creatures.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Moray Eel

2.2k Sightings
J
184
F
255
M
159
A
55
M
77
J
108
J
171
A
269
S
235
O
286
N
214
D
167

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Octopus

703 Sightings
J
71
F
71
M
48
A
18
M
26
J
30
J
40
A
52
S
89
O
117
N
89
D
52

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

Wrasse

335 Sightings
J
9
F
68
M
21
A
6
M
11
J
13
J
10
A
59
S
34
O
49
N
41
D
14

Green Turtle

311 Sightings
J
25
F
53
M
24
A
11
M
15
J
12
J
18
A
32
S
36
O
19
N
30
D
36

Hawksbill Turtle

198 Sightings
J
15
F
23
M
12
A
5
M
6
J
10
J
10
A
17
S
21
O
17
N
25
D
37

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 27

Barracuda

160 Sightings
J
22
F
11
M
10
A
6
M
6
J
6
J
15
A
14
S
23
O
14
N
23
D
10

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 28

Clownfish

1.9k Sightings
J
159
F
243
M
117
A
46
M
60
J
82
J
143
A
226
S
235
O
246
N
219
D
137

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Angelfish

1.8k Sightings
J
142
F
203
M
103
A
43
M
70
J
80
J
122
A
212
S
215
O
241
N
204
D
147

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Butterfly Fish

1.7k Sightings
J
108
F
199
M
113
A
38
M
65
J
77
J
132
A
199
S
204
O
237
N
195
D
110

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

Lionfish

1.5k Sightings
J
121
F
176
M
99
A
29
M
52
J
67
J
120
A
187
S
215
O
203
N
151
D
110

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

1.3k Sightings
J
91
F
186
M
71
A
20
M
36
J
46
J
76
A
166
S
166
O
180
N
156
D
85

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Trumpetfish

1.2k Sightings
J
66
F
159
M
75
A
19
M
37
J
57
J
80
A
160
S
184
O
179
N
110
D
76

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pufferfish

1.1k Sightings
J
92
F
135
M
85
A
27
M
30
J
51
J
86
A
119
S
152
O
160
N
112
D
78

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 8

Bannerfish

1.1k Sightings
J
82
F
151
M
59
A
24
M
27
J
43
J
68
A
123
S
174
O
152
N
108
D
78

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Triggerfish

1.1k Sightings
J
70
F
137
M
66
A
23
M
24
J
45
J
59
A
113
S
157
O
163
N
135
D
75

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Grouper/Basslets

1.1k Sightings
J
91
F
141
M
77
A
30
M
35
J
58
J
87
A
113
S
110
O
137
N
99
D
86

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Stingrays

891 Sightings
J
86
F
112
M
57
A
30
M
38
J
38
J
80
A
81
S
92
O
105
N
72
D
100

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

Surgeonfish

873 Sightings
J
68
F
111
M
64
A
22
M
28
J
36
J
45
A
90
S
117
O
140
N
109
D
43

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3000

Nudibranch

841 Sightings
J
87
F
119
M
64
A
24
M
15
J
31
J
22
A
76
S
104
O
137
N
94
D
68

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Scorpionfish

800 Sightings
J
55
F
140
M
61
A
13
M
32
J
38
J
32
A
82
S
99
O
114
N
82
D
52

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Boxfish

784 Sightings
J
38
F
82
M
47
A
8
M
20
J
12
J
41
A
97
S
134
O
133
N
118
D
54

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

655 Sightings
J
58
F
84
M
48
A
8
M
22
J
15
J
31
A
84
S
91
O
98
N
86
D
30

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

574 Sightings
J
35
F
79
M
48
A
11
M
12
J
21
J
25
A
68
S
83
O
98
N
70
D
24

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Soldierfish

554 Sightings
J
36
F
86
M
37
A
3
M
10
J
8
J
21
A
68
S
81
O
105
N
64
D
35

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Stonefish

457 Sightings
J
7
F
61
M
41
A
14
M
19
J
18
J
34
A
46
S
64
O
97
N
41
D
15

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Damselfish

409 Sightings
J
34
F
59
M
14
A
12
M
18
J
7
J
9
A
47
S
51
O
79
N
60
D
19

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3400

Shrimp

377 Sightings
J
33
F
33
M
21
A
8
M
3
J
13
J
13
A
50
S
62
O
70
N
24
D
47

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 50

Frogfish

304 Sightings
J
39
F
33
M
20
A
5
M
16
J
16
J
9
A
48
S
32
O
44
N
25
D
17

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

291 Sightings
J
14
F
62
M
33
A
8
M
13
J
10
J
15
A
31
S
25
O
38
N
23
D
19

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Sand Eel

264 Sightings
J
6
F
12
M
20
A
8
M
10
J
4
J
26
A
40
S
47
O
41
N
25
D
25

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pipefish

258 Sightings
J
25
F
38
M
9
A
7
M
5
J
6
J
2
A
18
S
55
O
49
N
23
D
21

Leaf Scorpionfish

251 Sightings
J
14
F
23
M
12
A
2
M
11
J
8
J
5
A
23
S
58
O
58
N
19
D
18

Common Seahorse

230 Sightings
J
31
F
22
M
22
A
8
M
4
J
8
J
13
A
18
S
19
O
31
N
26
D
28

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Squirrelfish

216 Sightings
J
15
F
36
M
10
A
4
M
8
J
3
J
3
A
29
S
25
O
45
N
30
D
8

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 20

Porcupinefish

176 Sightings
J
10
F
16
M
11
A
5
M
11
J
6
J
4
A
12
S
40
O
30
N
20
D
11

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Cornetfish

161 Sightings
J
16
F
16
M
10
A
6
M
3
J
2
J
6
A
17
S
14
O
26
N
36
D
9

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Snake Eel

148 Sightings
J
9
F
23
M
12
A
1
M
16
J
9
J
24
A
4
S
15
O
17
N
9
D
9

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Jackfish

147 Sightings
J
12
F
14
M
15
A
6
M
10
J
12
J
13
A
13
S
14
O
16
N
13
D
9

Whitetip Reef Shark

141 Sightings
J
3
F
11
M
4
A
1
M
3
J
2
J
4
A
15
S
18
O
32
N
33
D
15

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 55

Lobster

137 Sightings
J
8
F
10
M
8
A
1
M
4
J
6
J
8
A
22
S
12
O
18
N
15
D
25

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 120

Flounder

125 Sightings
J
8
F
7
M
11
A
4
M
6
J
7
J
13
A
10
S
31
O
9
N
9
D
10

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 120

Cuttlefish

121 Sightings
J
8
F
12
M
18
A
5
M
2
J
4
J
1
A
2
S
17
O
19
N
17
D
16

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Spiny Lobster

113 Sightings
J
6
F
6
M
7
A
2
M
0
J
5
J
1
A
12
S
22
O
32
N
15
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 15

Garfish

111 Sightings
J
9
F
6
M
12
A
2
M
7
J
3
J
6
A
13
S
8
O
27
N
13
D
5