LIVEABOARD DIVING IN Nungwi
RECOMMENDED AIRPORT
Nungwi is a fishing village and a tourist attraction located at the northernmost tip of Unguja (Zanzibar Island), Tanzania. Zanzibar International Airport is located in 63 km from it.
The main beach at Nungwi is called Jambo Square. Nungwi is a perfect diving destination suitable for experienced and novice divers. There are many tropical fish that live in the coral gardens around Nungwi. The whale shark migrates twice a year, and humpback whales sometimes can be seen. Dolphins are permanent residents. One of the nesting zones for green and hawksbill turtles, both of which are endangered and decreasing in number, is an aquarium on the north coast of Nungwi near the lighthouse. A small aquarium has recently been created in the village. The aquarium raises small turtles that were found on the beach until they grow up to 10 months old. Then they are released into the sea, and this increases their chances of survival. The aquarium is a natural pond with seawater that seeps through the cliff at high tide. These sanctuaries are open to tourists and definitely worth a visit to see the turtles at close range and contribute to projects such as these which will help ensure that future generations of divers can also enjoy seeing turtles in the wild. There is also a python, monitor lizard, and tortoises that can be handled. The nearby Mnemba Atoll has been declared a marine conservation area, and offers a unique opportunity for both divers and snorkelers to experience the best of Zanzibar’s underwater world. Night dives can also be done there, and give a chance to see all kinds of life that isn't out during the day including octopi, Spanish dancers, and even cuttlefish. Nungwi has the widest range of dive sites and the best diving on Zanzibar, without any doubts. Two of the best dive sites are Hunga (depth of 16m/52ft) and Nankiville (depth of 12m/39ft). Both dive sites have a big circle of huge bommies. They lie next to each other on a flat bottom covered with a colorful variety of corals. Divers can encounter shoals of barracudas, snapper, sweetlips, unicornfish, Napoleon wrasses, grouper, crocodilefish, and scorpion stonefish.