Kate in Africa
Registered
Hello everyone,
I completed my PADI open water course last month at White Sands, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. My boyfriend and I decided that since we are based here for 6 months, we should make the most of being able to dive at the weekends. I had a few problems on the course (I got seasick, I panicked when I had to take my mask off and breathed in loads of water etc etc!) So I had a few reservations about diving.
Then this weekend, we went to Mafia Island. We did 2 dives and they were both incredible! We dived Milimani and Kinasi wall/coral garden. The viz was minimum 20m, there were no currents, and the variety of fish was breathtaking! We saw everything from lion and leaf fish, to electric ray, moray eels, huge grouper, napoleon wrasse, box fish and lobster. I had an absolutely fantastic day and didn't want the dives to end.
Now I have a dilemma - my best friend and her boyfriend are coming to visit in November. She is a PADI advanced diver and he is keen to finish his advanced course while on holiday here. We have time in their itinerary to visit one island - either Pemba or Mafia, for diving. They are keen to visit Pemba as they have heard how good the diving is. However, having spoken to a lot of people in Mafia this weekend, they were all pretty sure that Mafia has the edge over Pemba. I want to make sure that we go to wherever is best, as they are only here once, whereas I can go any time.
So I wondered if anyone had any opinions on this? The bonus with Mafia is that in November, we might have a good chance of seeing the whalesharks too, but obviously if on Pemba, the diving is superior, then I want them to go there! How do Mafia and Pemba compare? Are they on a par or is one particularly good? Also if there are any particular sites that are must-dives, then I would like to know those. I've been told that Kinasi pass and Juani reef are the best on Mafia, but I don't know anything about Pemba.
Anyway, I would be grateful if someone could tell me if one island is much better than the other, or if they are on a par? I know I loved Mafia, but then I have nothing to really compare it to!
Thanks!
I completed my PADI open water course last month at White Sands, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. My boyfriend and I decided that since we are based here for 6 months, we should make the most of being able to dive at the weekends. I had a few problems on the course (I got seasick, I panicked when I had to take my mask off and breathed in loads of water etc etc!) So I had a few reservations about diving.
Then this weekend, we went to Mafia Island. We did 2 dives and they were both incredible! We dived Milimani and Kinasi wall/coral garden. The viz was minimum 20m, there were no currents, and the variety of fish was breathtaking! We saw everything from lion and leaf fish, to electric ray, moray eels, huge grouper, napoleon wrasse, box fish and lobster. I had an absolutely fantastic day and didn't want the dives to end.
Now I have a dilemma - my best friend and her boyfriend are coming to visit in November. She is a PADI advanced diver and he is keen to finish his advanced course while on holiday here. We have time in their itinerary to visit one island - either Pemba or Mafia, for diving. They are keen to visit Pemba as they have heard how good the diving is. However, having spoken to a lot of people in Mafia this weekend, they were all pretty sure that Mafia has the edge over Pemba. I want to make sure that we go to wherever is best, as they are only here once, whereas I can go any time.
So I wondered if anyone had any opinions on this? The bonus with Mafia is that in November, we might have a good chance of seeing the whalesharks too, but obviously if on Pemba, the diving is superior, then I want them to go there! How do Mafia and Pemba compare? Are they on a par or is one particularly good? Also if there are any particular sites that are must-dives, then I would like to know those. I've been told that Kinasi pass and Juani reef are the best on Mafia, but I don't know anything about Pemba.
Anyway, I would be grateful if someone could tell me if one island is much better than the other, or if they are on a par? I know I loved Mafia, but then I have nothing to really compare it to!
Thanks!