Lively reefs. Vibrant turquoise water. Secluded beach surface intervals.

WHAT WE DID

Scuba Diving with Afro Divers

We went diving four days in a row- two morning dives each day - and saw so much life and color on every dive! The marine life and hard corals are thriving here and are incredibly diverse!

Fun new critters for us were:
- nudibranchs (saw them on every dive)
- leaf fish
- frog fish
- electric ray
- mantis shrimp - one was even fully out and about collecting coral scraps!
Also saw huge schools of sardines shimmering in the sunlight, white-spotted and yellow boxfish, puffer, lionfish of all shapes and sizes (they are not invasive here!), morays (on one dive we saw three on one coral head!), titan triggerfish, shrimps, electric rays, scorpionfish, garden eels, clownfish, anemones, clams, christmas tree and flower worms, moorish idols, butterfly fish, regal angelfish, and so much more!

There are dive sites for all levels here. We completed our Nitrox certification, dove with others who had hundreds of dives, and one day a couple on the boat was just completing their open water diver certification.
New equipment, including X-wings (which we love!). Since we were limited on luggage, we only packed our mask/snorkel and borrowed everything else. I’m always cold so I dove with a 5mm long wetsuit and never was cold.
Very professional and safe on the boat. Dive briefings and verbalized the buddy check. At each site, one of the guides jumped in to check the current first. Only once did we go to another site because the current had shifted.

Every surface interval was on a stunning deserted beach with pancakes (crepes), fresh fruit, hot ginger tea, and water.

Other things to keep in mind:

Boat is a large raft. Backroll water entry. After the dive you hang onto the side, hand your gear to the captain and helper on the boat, and then you either launch yourself into the boat with the waves or get dragged in by others. It’s fun!
You may have to walk out to the boat in strong waves or if the tide is out dodging seaweed gardens, sticks and sea urchins. Either rent booties from them or make certain yours have a good thick sole.
They try to limit dive group size to 4, but we were a group of 6 one day. Usually there were 2 guides and 8-12 divers, as well as the Captain and a helper.
There is only one boat so you may be waiting on the boat for the other group to surface if you finish your dive first.
Usually back to the shop between 12 -2 PM. Always fresh juice, purified water, and peanut cocoa brittle waiting.

PEMBA ISLAND: Afro Divers