Scubafish Dive Center Ltd

Scubafish is situated in Matemwe, positioned perfectly to access the celebrated Mnemba Atoll. This 15-square-kilometre marine area is renowned for its healthy coral reefs and crystalline waters, offering everything from gentle slopes to dramatic walls.

The centre operates with a focus on personalised diving, ensuring you aren't just another number in a large group. Whether you are looking to complete your first certification or are a seasoned diver seeking deeper walls, the proximity to the atoll provides a consistent variety of environments.

As a PADI 5 Star dive centre, Scubafish maintains high operational standards with a team of five instructors. They prioritise a low diver-to-guide ratio, with a maximum of four divers per guide, to ensure close supervision and a tailored experience for every buddy pair.

The team is multilingual, able to conduct dive briefings and instruction in English, French, Italian, and Swahili. This makes the centre a versatile choice for international divers looking for clear communication during their training or excursions.

Beyond instruction, the centre is involved in local conservation as a co-founder of the Under The Wave NGO. This commitment to the Matemwe marine environment is reflected in their professional approach to reef exploration.

Scubafish offers a comprehensive range of PADI courses for every stage of your diving career. Beginners can start with the Discover Scuba Diver programme or work through the Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver certifications.

For those looking to progress further, the centre provides training for Rescue Diver, Emergency First Responder, and Divemaster. They also offer specialised PADI courses including Peak Performance Buoyancy, Underwater Navigation, and the PADI Deep Diver Specialty.

The fleet includes traditional wooden dhows, such as the Caroline, which carries up to 18 people and is powered by twin 90HP Mercury Optimax engines. The Tamryn is another wooden dhow, accommodating up to 14 people and equipped with a 30HP Mercury engine. Both vessels offer a classic Zanzibari experience for your excursions.

For quicker access or different group dynamics, the Alice is an inflatable boat capable of carrying 8 divers or 10 snorkelers, powered by twin 90HP Optimax motors. The Safina serves as a 15HP tender to assist with operations. All boats are equipped with life jackets, life rings, and standard safety equipment, with snacks, fruit, and spice tea provided on board.

The centre provides full equipment hire, featuring high-quality kit including regulators from Scubapro and Cressi. All equipment is regularly maintained by a qualified technician to ensure reliability throughout your dives.

Air quality is a priority, with the centre holding a 'pure air' certificate from BAUER Compressors. This ensures you are breathing clean, well-filtered air from every cylinder. For those staying in the Matemwe or Kiwengwa areas, the centre provides free transfers to and from your hotel.

The reefs around Mnemba Atoll are teeming with life, ranging from large pelagics to delicate reef fish. You will frequently encounter Bottlenose dolphin (Delphinidae), green turtle (Chelonia mydas), and various sharks, including whitetip reef sharks (Triaenodon obesus). Larger fish such as Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), giant marbled groupers (Epinephelus itajara), and various jacks (Carangidae) are common sights along the walls and channels.

In the shallower reef flats and coral gardens, look for schools of colourful reef fish, including snappers (Lutjanus), fusiliers (Caesio), and butterflyfish (Chaetodon). You may also spot parrotfish, triggerfish (Balistidae), and various species of grouper (Epinephelus) sheltering in the structure.

For macro enthusiasts, the area is a treasure trove. The sandy patches and coral crevices host nudibranchs (Chromodoris willani), ghost pipefish (Solenostomidae), and various species of shrimp, including partner shrimps and anemone crabs. You can also find octopus (Octopus vulgaris), scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae), and many types of colorful reef fish hiding amongst the soft corals.

The seabed and rock formations are home to diverse invertebrates, including blue spotted stingrays (Hypanus americanus), torpedo rays, and various species of moray eel (Muraenidae). Spiny lobster (Palinuridae) and porcelain crabs are also frequently observed throughout the atoll.

Conditions at the dive sites vary, with currents ranging from light to very strong depending on the location. Sites such as Channel, Jackfish, and The Big Wall are subject to weather conditions and are only accessible when the sea is calm.

While most sites offer reliable diving, the specific topography of the atoll means that some wall and channel dives require more experienced handling of moving water.