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Pemba Island, Tanzania

Pemba Afloat

This is a live aboard experience that is fixed in location. Smaller boats carry you to different dive sites. In our opinion, Pemba has some of the best scuba diving off the African coast.

The accommodation on the boat is VERY rustic. For those wanting to dive, but looking for a few more creature comforts, we suggest Fundu Lagoon.

 — Mango's view

Pemba Island is 30 miles north of Zanzibar and is famous for its spices and coconuts. Isolated from Arab and then European colonization, it has remained completely untouched and unspoiled by modern development.

Pemba Afloat runs a live aboard scuba diving operation on Pemba Island, near Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean. The Yacht Karibu and the yacht Sitra, sixty foot Ketches lying in Njao Lagoon, are a base from which to explore this Indian Ocean haven. Pemba Afloat is fully equipped with scuba diving gear.

Spectacular shore dives do not always necessitate a long, cumbersome swim, and the shallows afford superb snorkeling conditions. In shallower waters- mostly above 20 meters- the walls are densely covered in coral growths and formations of every description; below that, colorful sponges and huge gorgonian sea fans adorn the sides. Along the deeper waters of the Pemba channel, the lush coral gardens often stretch as far as the eye can see - underwater visibility sometimes reaches up to 60 m.

Pemba Afloat offers accommodation for 12 people. Food is all inclusive and a high standard. Obviously, fresh local seafood predominates, but there is plenty of fresh local produce for those of a more vegetarian nature.

There is a canoe, two ribs, a small sailing dinghy and a dhow for puttering about the creeks and bays or for picnics on the long white sandy beaches. The Ngezi forest, which is a protected indigenous forest, offers fascinating walks for botanist or bird watching enthusiasts. A visit to Mesali Island Marine Reserve is a day long trip that is an enhancement both visually and as an education.

Includes: All meals & actvities