Southern Tanzania - Mafia Island

Mafia is Tanzania's third big island  (the other being Zanzibar and Pemba) and is located some 80 nautical miles south of Zanzibar Island.

It is a relatively large island coverning km2.  Historically, Mafia used to be part of the Empire ruled by the Sultan of Oman from Zanzibar, and after independence in 1961 the island was annexed to Tanganyika.  Today it is administered by Mainland Tanzania and remains relatively remote and out of the main tourism circuits that have blossomed in the country over the past decade.  The main economy on the island remains trade, subsistence farming and fishing.  There are approximately 5 resorts located on the island that are mainly concentrated in one area, within the Marine Park.

The northern part of the island receives no visitors and offers some exceptional slope diving.  The reef starts at a depth of approximately 4 - 5 m and drops down to 40 m.  Prevailing currents are from south to north and allow for divers to drift along the beautiful coral covered slopes.  The northern point is an excellent area for turtle sightings and where we've experienced the biggest turtle concentrations in East Africa.

The southern part of the island is encompassed by a relatively well managed Marine Park. Chole Bay has a deep pass that offers some stunning diving with big groupers and reef fish.  The coral formations in Mafia's Marine Park are arguably the best in Tanzania, and with exception to those of the Quirimbas Archipelago, the best in East Africa.

Live aboard trips passing through Mafia Island will pass through the northern and southern parts of the island so as to cover all the best diving there is to be had in the area.  Once again, it is highly unlikely that you would dive with anyone else but those on the live aboard trip with you.  

At the moment, we are the only company in East Africa that is dedicated to offering live aboard diving to Mafia Island.  Contact us for more information on live aboard diving trips to Mafia Island.