The Best Time for Snorkeling in Zanzibar & Few FAQ

Plenty of professional scuba divers consider Zanzibar as the world’s best destination for enjoying marine life and for its underwater environs.

Zanzibar has two rain seasons in a year,

• Long rains; Late March to May.
• Short rains/ light rains; November to December.

The best time for snorkeling is during the long dry season; June, July, August, September, and October. Also from late December to early March. There is so much marine life to see here and coastal reefs that are home to some unique animals.

If you have chosen Zanzibar for your scuba diving and snorkeling adventures, make sure you bring an awesome camera to capture images of shrimp, pipefish, lungfish as well as larger animals such as dolphins and sharks. Speaking of large marine animals, why not head out to Leven Bank where you will treat yourself to sights such as the Barracuda and even spot some moray eels?

And if that is not big enough for you, the humpback whales and sperm whales pass through these waters around September and October making these months among the best time of year to visit Zanzibar for scuba diving and snorkeling.

All through December up until the month of April is a perfect time to spot the manta rays as well as the largest shark of all, the whale shark.

Then there’s Nyange reef Reef Stone Town where you can capture some spectacular shots. But these are far from the only places for scuba diving in Zanzibar. Check out Kizimkazi and Hunga along the south coast and Kichafi and Haji along the east coast.

When you want to go out diving in the beautiful coastal waters of Zanzibar, there are a few things you must know. It very much comes down to the tides, water visibility, and the winds.

There are two major winds that you need to be aware of and these are Kaskazi or the northern winds which come in from November till March and the southern winds also known as Kusi which come in during the months of August and July.

The calmest seasons happen between the Monsoons and there are two of them. Since there are rains during April and May, these are not the best times for scuba diving or snorkeling. You want to find seasons that are warm and when the weather is calm. These are from mid-November all through to January and the second from June to August. If you were to avoid the rains, you would still find ideal conditions for diving from June all through to March. Mnemba Island is a perfect destination for snorkeling and is easily reachable by boat; a journey that should take 1 hour. Granted it is a private island but it is still possible to snorkel around its shores.

Other excellent spots include Tumbatu island, Prison Island which you can easily access by boat from Unguja and features huge giant tortoises is always a great choice, Chumbe island has 90% of all the coral in East Africa and is definitely a must see.

Few FAQ

• Is It Safe To Do Snorkeling In Zanzibar?

Yes, water is perfect for both beginner and experienced snorkelers, extremely safe! No shark attacks reportedly. You only need to make sure you can swim and if you can’t please snorkel with a life jacket. 

• How to Get the Best Price Snorkeling In Zanzibar?

The tourism industry has grown in recent years. This is because of the expansion of global based travel agents, which gives simplicity for travelers to book their tours and activities online. But, these Travel agents operate on a commission based. That’s why prices found on their website are always higher than local companies like us. So the best way to get the best price snorkeling in Zanzibar is by booking snorkeling tours with the local companies, and this is why we are here!

• Why Should You Do Snorkeling In Zanzibar?

Snorkeling is regarded as among the best experiences in the world during the holiday. Actually, snorkeling is a great way to have fun in the ocean without going too much deeper like diving.  Also, Snorkeling has a lot of health benefits for snorkelers too; improves breathing, Body Fitness, Mental Health, and so on. The average sea temperatures in Zanzibar is friendly for swimmers, snorkelers, and divers too. The sea in Zanzibar islands is warm enough, it ranges from 25 °C (77 °F) in August to 29 °C (84 °F) between December and April.

During snorkeling, it is advised that you should stay hydrated. And most Zanzibar snorkeling tours include pure drinking water and watermelon to make sure you stay hydrated.

• Can You Do Snorkeling In Zanzibar At Night Time?

Currently, there is no place where you can do snorkeling at night time, but if you have enough budget, you can book a stay in under water room at Manta Resort in Pemba; the price of the stay per night for a couple is $1500

• Is It Possible To Snorkel With a Camera In Zanzibar?

Yes, you can go snorkeling with your camera, it is okay and permissible. In order for you to get a better memory of your vacation to Zanzibar, We recommend you come with your camera, it will be amazing!