Reef Coral Diving Fish Duration

The information below is supplied by Ras Nungwi:
LOCAL DIVE SITES

EAST COAST - 5 to 15 minutes travel time

HAJI - Depth 10m/33ft - 17m/56ft
Just outside the reef in front of Ras Nungwi Beach Hotel, this dive site is suitable for all experience levels. A submerged coral ridge attracts an abundance of marine life and sports a vast array of hard coral formations. There are numerous Crocodile fish and pretty Nudibranchs to be found here also.

KICHAFI - Depth 12m/36ft - 18m/60ft
Alongside Haji is another reef formation of healthy hard and soft corals. Lettuce-leaf and plate corals here are particularly plentiful and provide great hiding places for marine creatures. If you have a keen eye you can spot Scorpion, Stone and Leaf fish here. There is also a resident Frogfish!

MBWANGAWA - Depth 12m/36ft - 18m/60ft
Further along our house reef is another coral bommie. Numerous hard and soft corals create hiding places for large animals such as Potato Groupers and smaller resident Moray Eels. Green Turtles often visit the area for feeding amongst the coral heads

CHAKATUNI - Depth 12m/40ft
A raised area of hard corals in the open sea. This haven attracts a wide variety of marine creatures. Turtles, Stingrays, Octopus and Moray Eels can all be found between the hard coral plates. As this site is quite exposed it is best dived on a slack tide.

EAST COAST - 20 to 45 minutes travel time

MUSHROOM - Depth 12m/40ft - 18m/60ft
At the edge of the reef, three large coral bommies draw in host of fishes and marine dwellers. Wide varieties of Angelfish and Sweetlips can be seen here as well as Yellow Snappers in their shoals.

MISOLI - Depth 12m/36ft - 18m/60ft
A large coral bank which can be circumnavigated during the dive. Moray's, Crocodile fish, Schools of Pick Handle and Yellow Tail Barracuda, Guitar Fish and much more. Dolphins are usually seen in this area on the surface due to the prolific number of fish.

LEON'S WALL - Depth 18m/60ft - 30m/100ft
This site marks the edge of the inner reef. Leon's Wall is a vertical drop covered in a plethora of soft corals and encrusting sponges. Lionfish, schools of snapper, and the elusive Leaf fish can all be seen here along the wall. In the deeper sections of the drop off there are some small caves.

KOMBE & KOMBE RAS - Depth 7m/20ft - 40m/120ft
From shallow to deep this steeply sloping wall offers divers a horde of aquatic species. Vibrant soft coral covers the slope and schools of reef fish gather on the reefs edge. Remoras looking for a new host often accompany divers! Lobster and Mantis Shrimp can be discovered in holes along the wall while Reef Sharks are more common at the bottom of the slope.

WEST COAST- 30 minutes travel time

HOUSE REEF - depth 5m/15ft - 8m/24ft
Situated at the corner of the fringing reef, this is an excellent site for divers with less experience. Large coral structures reach up from the sandy bottom to within a few metres of the surface. Hollows and archways allow many types of fish and critters to seek shelter amongst the hard and soft corals.

HUNGA - Depth 12m/36ft - 18m/60ft
Situated away from the fringing reefs this group of large coral bommies offer shelter to schooling fish such as Barracuda, Trevally and Jacks. Amongst the sand between the coral heads you can find Blue Spotted Fantail Ray and also Cuttlefish! This site can only be dived on certain tides.

KENDWA CORAL GARDENS - Depth 3m/12ft - 8m/25ft
This sheltered bay is a natural nursery for juvenile marine life. Shallow waters make this an ideal site for the new diver. A ridge of hard corals extends across the bay. Lionfish, Moray Eels, Pipefish and colourful Nudibranch are usually observed when diving here.

MNEMBA ATOLL - 1 TO 1 1/5 hours travel time

MNEMBA CORAL GARDEN - Depth 6m/18ft
Great for beginner divers and a shallow repetitive dive. The corals here almost reach the surface and harbour a myriad of marine creatures. For those of you with a keen eye, there are two resident giant Frogfish as well as Snake Eels and young Octopus!

WATTABOMI - Depth 12m/40ft to 22m/75ft
Green Turtles abound! This dive features a sandy slope and fringing hard coral reef. Large Green Turtles come to rest here amongst the corals and as long as they are not approached too closely they seem quite indifferent to scuba divers. Also frequently seen here are Scorpion Fish, Octopus and many types of Moray Eels hiding in the holes along the reefs edge. Reef sharks have been spotted out in the blue and large Stingrays sometimes feed in the deeper waters. Suitable for all levels of diver.

THE DEEP DIVES - FOR EXPERIENCED DIVES ONLY

BIG WALL -Depth 14m/46ft to 40m+/130ft+
As the name suggests, this site forms the Northeastern edge of the Mnemba Atoll. The wall itself is almost a kilometre long and has many interesting features and visitors! At a depth of 30m/100ft there are small caves and hollows where smaller reef and oceanic fish can shelter from predators and currents. Tuna, Trevally and Reef Sharks hunt in the deeper sections along the bottom of the wall. Manta Rays and Hammerheads have both been spotted in the blue water. Whalesharks cruise the area in season! Large Turtles keep the Morays and Lobsters company on the reef shelf. Best dived on a slack tide due to the presence of ocean currents. Suitable for Advanced and experienced divers only.

LEVEN BANK - Depth 16m/50ft to 40m+/130ft+
Located out in the Pemba Channel, Leven Bank is a large ridge that rises up from the sea floor at 160m. Often swept by oceanic current, this site invites pelagic visitors to rest. Along the top of the ridge, huge Moray Eels are a dominant feature and in contrast, many small colourful Nudibranchs inhabit the same reef. Dolphins are usually seen playing in this area! Suitable for experienced divers only.

PADI Diving courses available

Discover Scuba Diving - a short introduction to scuba diving for those with no previous experience. The course is in three parts. Part one is a short, simple explanation of the diving techniques and equipment. Part two consists of an in water practice of the techniques and part three is a shallow dive around the reef led by an experienced instructor.
Course duration: half a day

Scuba Diver - A short course that increases you knowledge of diving and extends your experience. This qualification allows you to dive with a PADI Professional but certification will count towards your Open Water course. It includes three dives and three class sessions.
Course duration: two days

Open Water Course - a comprehensive learn-to-dive course covering all aspects of recreational scuba diving. The course consists of theory lessons on shore, shallow practice sessions in the water and four actual dives around Matemwe's reef. This certificate enables you to dive with any other qualified diver.
Course duration: five days.

Advanced Open Water - a more advanced course, after the open water course, which extends a divers knowledge and experience of diving under different conditions. The course includes one deep dive and a navigation dive plus three other dives of your choice.
Course duration: three days.

Rescue Diver - the next course after the advanced course will teach you how to take care of the other divers and how to handle an emergency diving situation.
Course duration: 3 days

Divemaster - you become a professionnal dive guide. The course consists of full range of theory lessons covering all aspects of recreational scuba diving with some under water experience, assisting and instructor with courses. A minimun of 60 dives is a requirement.
Course duration: 45 days

Underwater Naturalist - discover the secrets of the underwater world, learn about the different animals and plants commonly encountered by divers. The course explains the different types of life found on the reef and their interactions and gives the diver the chance to identify different forms of marine life on two open water dives.
Course duration: two days.

Reef Ecology - this unique course gives you a real insight into the workings of a reef. Wat are coral reefs? Why are they important? What problems do they face? All these questions and more will be answered on this unique course - presently only available at Matemwe Bungalows. This course is available with both diving and non-diving options.
Course duration: two days.

Fish Identification - learn to identify all those fish that you see while diving. Improve your knowledge of underwater wildlife and increase your diving pleasure. Two dives on the local reef leads you into the fish name game.
Course duration: two days.

Underwater Navigation - solve the mysteries of navigation with this exciting course. Learn to use a compass and natural features during three dives around the main dive sites. You never need to get lost again.
Course duration: two days.

Deep Diver - extend your depth safely. This course explains how to plan and conduct deeper dives, equipment considerations, decompression, computers and tables. An exciting and challenging course for the more experienced diver. Four dives to various depths around the area.
Course duration: three days.

Underwater Photographer - an interesting gentle introduction aimed at removing the mysteries of underwater photography and showing you how to take great pictures. Two dives enable you to shoot pictures in close up and/or wide angle.
Course duration: two days.

DPV Dive - Diving Propulsion Vehicle. A new way of diving to explore the unknown and unvisited. A truly 007 experience...
Course duration: one day

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