Whether you dive for the thrill of swimming with the great sharks of the oceans or for the interest of observing the diverse and colorful life underwater, Africa has various world-renowned dive sites for every kind of diver.
Egypt
Egypt is home to one of the most ancient civilizations in the world. Apart from its majestic manmade pyramids and monuments, Egypt is also known for the Red Sea—one of the seven wonders of the underwater world.
Contrast to its barren deserts, the Red Sea is teeming with life. It has various dive sites from vast coral reefs with its extraordinary marine life to shipwrecks. The sites are friendly for beginner and advanced divers alike.
The Pharaoh’s Island, also known as the Coral Island, is home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the island’s citadel. Surrounding the island are coral reefs and dive sites rich in marine life, including endemic species such as the Picasso Trigger Fish and frogfish.
The Ras Mohammed National Park is Egypt’s first national park. It is said that the Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef are the best scuba spots in the area.
Mozambique
Mozambique is one of the top-of-mind dive destinations in Africa. With its plankton-rich waters, the elusive whale sharks and manta rays abound. Sightings of the great humpback whales are also a diver’s dream as they migrate back to the Antarctic.
For advanced divers, the Edge of Reason in Medjumbe Island is a famous dive site for its deep drop that goes to 850 meters. Pinnacles in Ponta do Ouro is known for hammerhead and Zambezi shark sightings. There are more or less 19 species of sharks in the area.
Tanzania
Tanzania, mostly a tourist destination because of its safaris, is also a diver’s favorite destination. Go on cave and drift dives in the Indian Ocean or a recreational dive in Lake Tanganyika.
With a visibility of 30 to 40 meters all year round, the waters of Pemba Island is undoubtedly a diver’s dream destination. Its untouched island and reefs are inhabited by colorful marine life and sharks. White tips, silver tips, and hammerheads roam its waters.
Mafia Island, also famous for its safaris, is home to the Mafia Island Marine Park, the country’s first marine national park. It includes a conservation area for endangered animals, such as dugongs and sea turtles.
Lake Tanganyika is divided among four countries, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Zambia; hence, it’s also known as the African Great Lake. It is said that this a perfect place to complete your altitude diver course as it is the second deepest freshwater lake in the world.
