Zanzibar diving: beginner course, discover dive or dive day
Zanzibar diving starts from two bases on Unguja: Matemwe on the northeast coast and Kizimkazi in the south. They lead to different waters, because the protected zone around Mnemba and Menai Bay in the southwest are separate dive areas, not one route.
Four options cover the range. Prices are per person and date from November 2026: $120 for a dive day for certified divers, $180 for a discover dive in Menai Bay, $200 for a one day beginner course and $350 for a full day with two dives and hotel transfers.
Our picks: Zanzibar diving
Take the discover dive for a first try with the marine park fee included, and the dive day if you already hold a certification. The full day adds hotel transfers.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Full-day scuba diving with hotel transfers
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- PADI-certified instructors
- Two dives and equipment
The marine conservation fee is part of the price.
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One day beginner diving course with PADI instructor
- PADI instructor and equipment
- Boat and open water dives
- Light lunch and fruit
No certification needed. The $10 entrance fee is paid extra.
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Discover scuba diving in Menai Bay
- Instructor or dive master
- Scuba gear
- Marine park fee included
A boat takes you into the Menai Bay Conservation Area for the dive.
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Dive day with two scuba dives for certified divers
- Dive equipment
- Divemaster
- Light lunch, fruit and water
A diving certification is required. The Mnemba fee of $10 is paid extra.
Check availability →Diving in Zanzibar
Pick a beginner course, a discover dive or a dive day for certified divers, with current prices and availability.
Beginner course and discover dive
The $200 beginner course is led by a PADI instructor and needs no certification. It starts at the yellow dive center building in Matemwe, and hotel pickup comes with the matching option. Equipment, the boat, a light lunch, fruit and water are included, and a $10 entrance fee is extra.
The course is closed to non-swimmers, pregnant guests and people with back, heart, breathing or mobility problems, epilepsy, diabetes or a tendency to seasickness.
The $180 discover dive leaves from Kizimkazi Mkunguni by boat for the Menai Bay Conservation Area. An instructor or dive master, scuba gear, fruit snacks, water and the marine park fee are included. It costs $20 less than the course, and $30 less once the course's $10 entrance fee is added.
Dive days for certified divers
The certification is mandatory, so bring your card. Equipment, a divemaster, a light lunch, fruit and water are included, and a $10 Mnemba fee is extra. The listing also offers options of up to five days.
The $350 full day runs four to eight hours and includes hotel pickup and drop-off, PADI-certified instructors, equipment, two dives, snacks and drinks on the boat and the marine conservation fee. Lunch is not included. That is $230 more than the Matemwe dive day, and it buys the transfers, instructor-led dives and the fee in one price.
Season, sea and fitness
Dive operators on the island recommend March and October to November. April and May are rainy and windy, June to September brings the southern Kusi wind, and December to February the northern Kaskazi, when the boat ride in December and January can be bumpy. Local dive centers ask for at least basic swimming ability and a medical questionnaire.
Zanzibar diving: practical questions
How much does diving in Zanzibar cost?
The four options run from $120 to $350 per person as of November 2026. The Matemwe dive day is $120, the discover dive $180, the beginner course $200 and the full day with transfers $350. The course carries a $10 entrance fee and the Matemwe dive day a $10 Mnemba fee on top.
Can I dive without a certification?
Yes. The $200 course needs no certification and is taught by a PADI instructor, and the $180 discover dive is led by an instructor or dive master. The $120 dive day requires a certification.
Which option includes hotel pickup?
The $350 full day includes hotel pickup and drop-off. The beginner course offers it with the matching option.
When should I dive in Zanzibar?
Operators recommend March and October to November. December and January can bring bumpy boat rides under the northern Kaskazi wind, and April and May are rainy and windy.