Mikindani

Diving in Mikindani

Snorkelling and diving is conducted outside of Mikindani Bay and inside the Mnazi Bay-Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park. Normally dives are twice a day although a third dive or a night dive can be arranged. Diving in the marine park incurs a $10 per day entry fee. Training is provided for all PADI SCUBA courses up to instructor level

MIKINDANI DIVING PHOTO GALLERY

Some of the dives

   1. Outer Reef and Big Blue - Steep drop offs with large schools of pelagics. Whale sharks and manta's regularly seen. Extensive spur and groove system literally covered in reef fish and abundant marine life
   2. Channels Reefs - Forests of giant seafans in deeper water, spectacular cliffs of 'photogenic' foliose and plate coral with large coral promontories in the shallows
   3. Pinnacles - Extending to the depths (150m), architecturally impressive columns and walls that make the descent feel like skydiving.
   4. Coral gardens - Amazing variety of patch reefs of different character including staghorn dominated and mixed coral gardens teeming with fish life.

Other activities include:
- Walks (mangroves, intertidal reef-flats)
- Whale watching (Aug to Nov)

Mnazi Bay-Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park

Mnazi Bay-Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park was gazetted in 2000 having been identified as an area of high biodiversity value at both a national and international level.

The marine park covers approximately 200sqkm of sea and estuary and 400sqkm of land area. The large land area ensures that the 10 villages and 5 sub-villages that have traditionally depended on the marine resources of the park are included within the park and are an integral part of management decision making and other park activities such as the establishment of sustainable resource regimes and alternative income generating activities.

Some of the best diving in Tanzania is found within the marine park and includes spectacular outer reef drop offs,extensive spur and groove formations, channel and patch reefs. Over 400 species of fish have so far been identified and more species of coral (>258) than anywhere else on the East African Coast. Intertidal reef flats teaming with life and the pristine white sands of Ruvula beach complete this tropical paradise.