Mnemba Island is surrounded by an oval reef measuring several miles in diameter, and which is called by some (mistakenly) Mnemba Atoll. Most tour guides will drop you off in the area near the island, famous for its sea beds.

The depth of the water is the same in all the reef area (6-16ft/2-4m). You will find yourself above a reef of varying quality (some areas are wonderfully preserved, while others seem damaged by the area’s high visitor numbers). The reef is protected and fishing is forbidden, so the density of fish here is higher than in many other places in Zanzibar. In turn you will come across shoals of dozens of Moorish idols, snappers, clownfish in their anemones and a host of other species. On the sea bed, look our for blue starfish, red-knobbed starfish or the fearsome crown-of-thorns starfish, a poisonous, coral-eating species. Green turtles can occasionally be seen at this spot, since they go to the island’s beaches to lay their eggs at certain times of year.