• Scuba Diving
    Scuba Diving

Scuba Diving in Mafia Island Marine Park

Mafia Island is home to the oldest and largest marine protected area in Tanzania. Dive its reefs with our partner Mafia Island Diving, in small groups and at every level, from first-time divers to the experienced.

Reefs for every level

All of Mafia’s reefs are less than 30 metres deep, and most dives are between 10 and 18 metres, which makes it a good place for divers of every level. The reefs hold everything from the smallest nudibranch, a brightly coloured sea slug, to the giant grouper, one of the largest reef fish in the ocean.

Diving with Mafia Island Diving

We arrange all diving with our partner Mafia Island Diving, a premium dive centre where you’re looked after from the moment you arrive and dive with top-quality, well-kept equipment. Their boat picks you up straight from Chole Mjini, so you never need to travel to the dive centre. They offer the full range of PADI courses, with no more than four divers per guide. Our managers plan the next day’s activities with you each evening.

Dive with The Ropes of Hope

To dive the coral nursery and help restore the reef yourself, see Coral Gardening with The Ropes of Hope. Not diving? The reefs of Chole Bay are just as good for snorkelling.

 See prices for this and all our activities (PDF)

Shoals of orange anthias swim over a coral reef with anemones and sponges in clear blue water, Mafia Island Marine Park A scuba diver glides over a colourful reef of hard and table corals in clear blue water, Mafia Island Marine Park A lionfish with long striped spines hovers over the reef in the Mafia Island Marine Park, Tanzania A diver in a wetsuit sits on the edge of a wooden dhow, clearing their ears before a dive, with turquoise water behind A large soft coral grows from a reef wall, with scuba divers and small fish in the deep blue water below Two scuba divers ascend together under a red surface marker buoy, with bubbles rising through the blue water

Details

Start Location: Pick-up from Chole Mjini

Highlights

  • Run by our partner, Mafia Island Diving
  • Tanzania’s oldest and largest marine protected area
  • All reefs under 30 metres, most dives at 10 to 18 metres
  • From nudibranchs to giant groupers
  • No more than four divers per guide
  • The full range of PADI courses