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MapSpeciesParksDiving
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  2. Diving and snorkelling
  4. Tanzania
  5. Mafia Island (whale shark)

Mafia Island (whale shark)

Pelagic/Reef
Depth: 5–25 mLevel: Open WaterOctober-March
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An island less known than Zanzibar but with better reefs and reliable whale shark aggregations.

Depth

5–25 m

Recommended level

Open Water

Average visibility

15 m

Location

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Mafia Island (whale shark): 56 documented species

Ecosystem

ReefLarge pelagics

Similar dive sites

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Same country: Tanzania

Same country: Tanzania

Same country: Tanzania

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Water temperature

27 °C

Current

Weak to moderate

Access

Boat

Best season

October-March

Route duration

2–3 days

Recommended certification

Open Water

Approx. price

55 USD / dive

Plan your dive

Best season
October-March
Route duration
2–3 days
Approx. price
55 USD / dive
See location

Same type of dive: Reef, Large pelagics

Tanzania · Indian Ocean
See on the interactive map→
Giant ClamCritically Endangered

Giant Clam

Tridacna gigas

Giant AnemoneNot Evaluated

Giant Anemone

Stichodactyla gigantea

Disc AnemoneNot Evaluated

Disc Anemone

Discosoma nummiforme

Ritteri AnemoneNot Evaluated

Ritteri Anemone

Heteractis magnifica

Spotted Garden EelLeast Concern

Spotted Garden Eel

Heteroconger hassi

Harlequin Snake EelLeast Concern

Harlequin Snake Eel

Myrichthys colubrinus

Warty SlugNot Evaluated

Warty Slug

Onchidium verruculatum

Great BarracudaLeast Concern

Great Barracuda

Sphyraena barracuda

Scarlet Cleaner ShrimpNot Evaluated

Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp

Lysmata amboinensis

Peacock Mantis ShrimpNot Evaluated

Peacock Mantis Shrimp

Odontodactylus scyllarus

Brown-line PaperbubbleNot Evaluated

Brown-line Paperbubble

Hydatina physis

Geography ConeLeast Concern

Geography Cone

Conus geographus

See all 56 species found here
Atoll reef

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Tanzania

Up to 30 m · Open Water

Dolphins · green turtles

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Coral reef

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Tanzania

Up to 25 m · Open Water

Dolphins · turtles

See dive site
Private coral reserve

Chumbe Island

Tanzania

Up to 20 m · Open Water

Napoleon wrasse · green turtles

See dive site
CountryTanzania
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