Summary
The plains and jungles of Africa are synonymous with exotic wildlife, but what many people don’t realize is that there’s just as much life to be found at the continent’s coasts. With the exception of Egypt’s world-famous Red Sea dive sites, Africa is relatively uncharted territory for scuba divers – and yet, it is home to some of the most spectacular dive destinations on the planet. From the cold waters of South Africa’s Western Cape province to the crystalline coral gardens of island nations like Mauritius and Seychelles, Africa is a scuba diving paradise.
Egypt
Address:
Sharm Al Sheikh – Raas Mohammed, Second Sharm Al Shiekh, South Sinai Governorate 8750001, Egypt
Phone: +20 69 3660668
Perched on the shores of the tropical Red Sea, Egypt is a scuba diving Mecca. The country’s most obvious attraction is its superb conditions, with average water temperatures of around 79°F/26°C and visibility that often exceeds 130 feet (40 meters). The marine life is astounding, with over 1,100 fish species, nearly a fifth of which are endemic. Egypt’s underwater highlights include the pristine reefs of Ras Mohammed National Park, the oldest national park in the country, and the WWII wreck of the merchant vessel S.S. Thistlegorm. The northern Red Sea is littered with historic wrecks, while the southern reefs of Brothers, Daedalus, and Elphinstone are famous for encounters with the elusive oceanic whitetip shark. The Red Sea is also a great place to spot scalloped hammerheads and pods of friendly spinner dolphins.
Sudan
Address:
Sanganeb Reef, Sudan
Sudan may not have Egypt’s infrastructure, but for advanced divers in the know, it offers off-the-beaten-path Red Sea diving with fewer crowds and healthier corals than its northern counterpart. Mainly a liveaboard destination, most charters leave from Port Sudan. It’s also possible to hop on a liveaboard at Port Ghalib in Egypt and travel across the border by boat. Sudanese diving is all about bucket list megafauna. Sanganeb Atoll Marine Park is famous for its schooling scalloped hammerheads and resident pods of common, bottlenose, and spinner dolphins, while Dungonab Bay supports an important dugong population. Additional highlights include the wreck of the Umbria, an Italian freighter intentionally sunk during WWII, and Conshelf II, the underwater habitat built by Jacques Cousteau in the 1960s.
Tanzania
Address:
Pemba Island, Tanzania
Tanzania caters to a range of scuba diving interests and experience levels. The spice island of Zanzibar is perfect for new divers, offering warm water, good visibility, and numerous dive centers providing entry-level courses at competitive prices. Further north, strong currents and extreme tides make Leven Bank suitable for experienced divers only; yet, huge shoals of pelagic fish provide ample rewards for those willing to make the journey. Additionally, Pemba Island is renowned for its high-quality reefs, with hard and soft corals supporting an incredible diversity of marine life. Between October and March, those seeking the world’s largest fish can find them at Mafia Island, a seasonal whale shark aggregation site. Inland, Lake Tanganyika is a freshwater paradise boasting excellent visibility, no current, and over 280 species of cichlids.
South Africa
Address:
Aliwal Shoal, South Africa
Unofficially known as the shark diving capital of the world, South Africa specializes in high-adrenaline dive sites. Aliwal Shoal in KwaZulu-Natal is one of the few places globally where divers can encounter tiger sharks, bull sharks, and oceanic blacktips without the protection of a cage; while the Shoal’s reefs serve as a breeding ground for sandtiger sharks in winter. Further south, Protea Banks boasts strong currents and swirling schools of hammerhead sharks during summer; while Gansbaai, Simonstown, and Mossel Bay all offer excellent opportunities for cage diving with great white sharks. Wreck divers will find plenty of sunken ships off Durban, while those seeking a more laid-back option will find it in the sleepy dive town of Sodwana Bay, known for its colorful reefs and abundant tropical fish.
Madagascar
Address:
Nosy Be, Madagascar
Africa’s Indian Ocean islands are hard to beat for offshore diving. Madagascar stands out as the location of the world’s third-largest coral reef system, extending for 185 miles (300 kilometers) along its southwest coast, providing a home for approximately 6,000 marine species. The marine life showcases a high level of endemism, meaning it cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Diving hotspots include the exclusive resort island of Nosy Be, frequented between October and December by the majestic whale shark and the graceful manta ray. Additionally, stunning reefs and excellent whale-watching opportunities near the east coast island of Île Sainte-Marie enhance its appeal.
Mozambique
Address:
Tofo Beach, Mozambique
From the South African border to the northern archipelagos, Mozambique is often regarded as the unsung hero of African diving. Ponta do Ouro in the south is famous for its resident pods of friendly bottlenose dolphins and the exhilarating Pinnacles dive site, arguably the best place in Africa to swim with bull sharks. Further north, the dive sites at laid-back Tofo Beach are defined by their fascinating topography and healthy coral cover. Tofo is one of the few places where it is possible to see whale sharks and manta rays year-round, especially between October and March. The idyllic Bazaruto Archipelago is a protected area and one of Africa’s best destinations for sightings of the vulnerable dugong. In the north, the exclusive resorts of the Quirimbas Archipelago offer unparalleled wall diving and plenty of macro marine critters.
Mauritius
Address:
Gunner’s Quoin, Mauritius
Situated approximately 1,200 miles (2,000 kilometers) east of the African mainland, Mauritius is the main island of the Republic of Mauritius archipelago. Here, divers can expect clear waters, abundant coral, and colorful marine life, along with an astonishing diversity of different dive conditions. On the inside of the barrier reef circling the island, shallow lagoon dive sites provide optimal conditions for beginner divers. Conversely, more experienced divers will find an exciting underwater landscape of steep walls, caves, and caverns. North coast dive sites like Coin de Mire and Flat Islands are well-known for their plunging drop-offs that attract large schools of pelagic fish and sharks. On the west coast, dive sites such as Cathedral and Boulders are famous for their photogenic topography. Furthermore, Mauritius is home to over 20 diveable wrecks.
Seychelles
An Indian Ocean nation comprising 115 individual islands, the Seychelles is a paradise destination known for its white sands and swaying palms. Although some divers have been deterred by the aftermath of large-scale coral bleaching in the late 1990s and early 2000s, most of Seychelles’ dive sites have shown impressive recovery. With only a handful of five-star dive resorts on the main islands of Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue, the dive sites are usually uncrowded. Most focus on granite boulders located close to shore, creating easy, laid-back diving conditions. However, exceptions like Brissare Rock (on Mahé’s north coast) and South Marianne (off Praslin Island) feature stronger currents, promising good pelagic action with abundant Napoleon wrasse, schooling gamefish, eagle rays, and reef sharks. Notably, between July and October, the Seychelles is an excellent spot for observing migrating whale sharks and manta rays.
