African Scuba Diving Destinations: 10 Diving Spots Worth the Journey
- habiibamtmintern
- Apr 22
- 10 min read
Updated: Apr 25
10 African Scuba Diving Destinations That Will Blow Your Mind
Are you ready to add an African destination for your next dream Beach & diving Holiday? When people think of Africa, they typically envision wide savannahs, roaming wildlife, and magnificent landscapes. Beyond its dry plains and legendary safaris, there is a completely new kind of adventure beneath the seas. With a coastline spanning 16,000 kilometres, Africa is home to some of the world's most spectacular and diverse undersea wonders, but its marine treasures remain a well-kept secret.
From crystal-clear seas teeming with bright coral reefs to fascinating shipwrecks steeped in history, Africa's diving locations provide experiences to surpass any land-based trip. Whether you want to glide alongside gorgeous manta rays in Tanzania, explore the depths of Egypt's famous Blue Hole, or swim through South Africa's kelp forests, each dive in Africa has a distinct tale.
For adventurous travellers looking to go beyond the ordinary, Africa's underwater realm invites them to explore a hidden marine world, have adventures, and discover a world that is just as thrilling as the landscapes above.
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Table of Contents:
Manta Resort, Tanzania - [Skip Details]
Dahab, Egypt - [Skip Details]
Seychelles - [Skip Details]
Mombasa Marine Park & Reserve, Kenya - [Skip Details]
Malindi Marine Park, Kenya - [Skip Details]
Lake Malawi, Malawi - [Skip Details]
Benguerra Island, Mozambique - [Skip Details]
Port Elizabeth, South Africa - [Skip Details]
Mnemba Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania - [Skip Details]
Cape Town, South Africa - [Skip Details]
Frequently Asked Questions - [Skip to Details]
Your Next Underwater Adventure Awaits - [Skip to Details]
1. The Manta Resort, Tanzania
Hidden down in Tanzania's Pemba Island's blue seas, the Manta Resort is the number 1 on our African Scuba Diving Destination. It is also a wonderful location for divers looking for peace as much as adventure. Gliding easily across the glistening, clean seas, this unspoiled marine sanctuary presents the rare opportunity to dive alongside magnificent manta rays and mild whale sharks.
Every dive feels like an underwater safari with its colourful coral reefs brimming with marine life. The resort's famous underwater room provides the dreamlike sensation of sleeping under the waves, surrounded by the captivating glow of the ocean at night, for guests wishing to extend their experience.
Ideal visiting times are October through March.
Among the marine highlights are whale sharks, manta rays, Napoleon wrasse, and hawksbill turtles. The Manta Resort on Pemba Island is a must-see for divers yearning for an unspoiled and unique underwater encounter.
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2. Dahab, Egypt
Nestled on Egypt's Red Sea coast, Dahab is a diver's paradise combining some of the most breathtaking underwater scenes worldwide with a laid-back, bohemian vibe. Although many visit the renowned Blue Hole, Dahab's magic goes well beyond this famed dive spot. It definitely deserves to be the number 2 on our African Scuba Diving Destination
Dahab presents a range of world-class dive sites fit for both novice and experienced divers, from the spectacular rock formations of Canyon to the vibrant marine life at Lighthouse Reef and the calm serenity of Eel Garden.
For those wishing to explore under the waves free from the throngs of bigger Red Sea resorts, the town's cool-out atmosphere and friendly dive community make it the ideal location.
Book your next Dahab Activities on GetYourGuide
Best Dive destinations:
Lighthouse Reef, Blue Hole, Canyon, Eel Garden.
Dahab is a top trip on any diver's bucket list for those looking for exciting dives, glistening clean waters, and a laid-back vibe.
3. Seychelles
Dream destination for divers looking for varied marine environments, glistening clean waters, and amazing underwater settings, the Seychelles archipelago is scattered over the Indian Ocean. With 115 islands to discover, the area presents a range of diving locations, ranging from rich coral gardens bursting with life to spectacular granite rock formations.
Underneath its first appearance, Seychelles is a haven for marine life. Divers may find elegant eagle ray, gliding white-tip reef sharks, and even the venerable humphed parrotfish. Giant tortoises also call the islands home, providing a somewhat unusual underwater and on-land experience.
Marine highlights: includes giant tortoises, white-tip reef sharks, eagle rays, and humphead parrotfish.
Seychelles provides the ideal underwater trip for anybody wishing to mix breathtaking beaches, rich marine life, and amazing dives.
SHOP OUR SEYCHELLES FAVOURITE SWIMWEAR ESSENTIALS
4. Mombasa Marine Park & Reserve, Kenya
Mombasa Marine Park & Reserve is a refuge for snorkelers, divers, and marine conservationists, both right off Kenya's coast. One of Kenya's top diving locations, this protected marine area boasts vibrant coral reefs, seagrass beds, and a wealth of marine life.
While seeing sea turtles, schools of tropical fish, and even dolphins flowing over the warm seas, divers can tour vivid coral gardens. The park's tranquil and clear conditions make it an easy and satisfying dive site regardless of your level of experience.
Beyond only its natural beauty, Mombasa Marine Park leads the way in coral regeneration projects, therefore safeguarding this underwater paradise for next generations.
Ideal months to visit are November through March.
Reservation Note: Projects aimed at active coral restoration help marine life.
Mombasa Marine Park is a must-see for everyone wishing to support sustainable tourism and enjoy Kenya's varied aquatic life.
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5. Malindi Marine Park, Kenya
Long a refuge for marine life, Malindi Marine Park & Reserve is Kenya's first marine park. Top diving for those looking for abundant marine life and immaculate underwater scenery is this protected area, home to some of the most well-preserved coral gardens in the nation.
Divers can swim among marine turtles in Turtle Bay, drift along Barracuda Channel, or explore the vibrantly coloured North Reef. Beginning and seasoned divers will find great diving conditions in the park's cool, pleasant waves.
Apart from its scenic appeal, Malindi Marine Park is very important for marine protection since it guarantees the survival of its varied ecosystems and colourful reefs.
Key Dive Sites:
Turtle Bay
Coral Garde
North Reef,
Barracuda Channel
Malindi Marine Park is an unmissable place for anyone wishing to enjoy Kenya's marine beauties in an ecologically sensitive environment.
6. Lake Malawi, Malawi
Although Africa is well-known for its amazing underwater adventures, Lake Malawi presents a quite different kind of experience. Being among the biggest and deepest freshwater lakes worldwide, its glistening cleanliness offers unmatched clarity, which makes it a preferred target for freshwater diving.
With more than 1,000 species of vibrant cichlids—many of which are absent from other Earthly habitats—Lake Malawi's biodiversity is among that of any coral reef.
Recreational divers and underwater photographers ready to capture the lake's rich marine life will find it ideal with its tranquil waters and thriving ecosystems.
Endemic species are lake salmon, African catfish, and cichlids.
Lake Malawi presents a remarkable journey for divers looking for a different, freshwater experience among the most biodiverse lakes in Africa.
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7. Benguerra Island, Mozambique
Benguerra Island, tucked away in the Bazaruto Archipelago of Mozambique, is an ideal location for divers looking for warm seas, vibrant coral reefs, and unusual underwater encounters. One of the few sites worldwide where you may see dugongs, the elusive marine mammals sometimes likened to manatees, is this protected sea park.
Beyond dugongs, the island's glistening clean seas abound in vibrant reef fish, turtles, manta rays, and even whale sharks. From novices to advanced explorers, Benguerra is ideal for divers of all skill levels because of calm circumstances, great visibility, and choice of dive locations.
Ideal diving conditions:
Visibility: 15 to 40 metres.
Water Temperature: 22–29°C
Experience Level: All stages
Benguerra Island presents an amazing diving experience among one of Africa's most beautiful archipelagos for those wishing to sink into an unspoiled sea paradise.
SHOP OUR BENGUERRA ISLAND FAVOURITE SWIMWEAR ESSENTIALS
8. Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Port Elizabeth, which lies on Eastern Cape of South Africa, is a diver's dream combining deep-sea reefs, kelp forests, and shipwrecks. The diversity of underwater environments makes this a very special diving location whether your trip is through towering kelp, investigating sunken ships, or drifting beside huge schools of fish.
The Sardine Run, a yearly migration between May and July whereby millions of sardines draw dolphins, sharks, whales, and seagulls, therefore providing a once-in- a-lifetime diving experience, is among the most exciting spectacles in Port Elizabeth.
Best Dive Sites:
St. Croix Island
Bell Buoy
Roman Wall
Riy Banks
Port Elizabeth provides an amazing underwater experience for divers looking for adventure, biodiversity, and the opportunity to observe one of the most spectacular natural phenomena of the ocean.
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9. Mnemba Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Mnemba Island, a private paradise providing some of the most immaculate reefs and varied marine ecosystems in the Indian Ocean just off the coast of Zanzibar, is being designated a marine reserve. Its glistening clean seas offer great clarity, which makes it perfect for novice and experienced divers.
Wall dives, drift dives, and night diving experiences—where divers may come across colourful reef fish, turtles, dolphins, and even reef sharks—have made Mnemba well-known as their Top underwater photography destination for the island's unspoiled reefs and vivid marine life, capturing the beauty of this remote dive paradise.
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Ideal for:
Wall diving
Drift diving
Night diving
Underwater photography
Mnemba Island provides a world-class diving experience for anyone wishing to enjoy Zanzibar's underwater enchantment in a private and peaceful environment.
10. Cape Town, South Africa
Some of the most varied and exciting diving adventures available worldwide find their home on Cape Town's rocky shore. From kelp forest excursions and historic shipwreck dives to adrenaline-pushing great white shark cage diving, the special intersection of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans produces a rich underwater life.
Diving in Cape Town entails swimming with playful Cape fur seals, navigating dark, swaying kelp forests, and diving below to investigate sunken warships buried in history. Shark cage diving off Gansbaai offers thrill-seekers an amazing up-close encounter with great white sharks.
FIND YOUR FLIGHT DEAL TO CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
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Alternatively, contact us directly for the best deal for your Flight & Accommodation package.
Must-Do Signature Experiences:
Kelp forest diving
Seal encounters
Shark cage diving
Shipwreck exploration
For divers looking for a mix of adventure, history, and marine biodiversity, Cape Town delivers an unparalleled underwater experience at the edge of the African continent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When is the best time to dive in Africa?
A: It depends on the location. East Africa, including Kenya and Tanzania, is best between October and March. South Africa’s peak diving season runs from April to September.
Do I need to be an experienced diver?
A: Many locations cater to all skill levels, from beginners to advanced divers. Always check specific dive site requirements.
Q: What certification do I need?
A: Most sites require Open Water Certification, though some advanced dive locations, such as Dahab’s Blue Hole, may require additional certifications.
Q: How to Get Travel Insurance and International Health Coverage
I would always recommend getting travel insurance as soon as you book your holiday. My favourite travel insurance is Safety Wing if you travel.
To ensure peace of mind while travelling or living abroad, we recommend getting health insurance. SafetyWing's Essential plan covers travel and medical emergencies with options for adventure sports and electronics theft. Their Complete plan offers comprehensive health coverage with routine healthcare, mental health support, and maternity, anywhere in the world, including in your home country, on top of all Essential benefits.
Your Next Underwater Adventure Awaits
Africa offers some of the most unique and diverse diving experiences in the world. Whether exploring tropical reefs, freshwater lakes, or rugged coastlines, there is an adventure for every level of diver.
Book your next scuba adventure with Melanin Travels Magic and discover Africa’s incredible underwater world.
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