| Africa |
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Any trip to Africa is best coupled with an inland safari. The diving off the coast of Kenya and Tanzania is hit and miss. Better diving is found around Pemba Island and off the cost of South Africa. Kenya Kenya Diving Center, Mombassa/The Crab/Safari Beach Hotel, April 1997, Marilyn Koukol, FPO AE. "Diving "The Crab" out of the Safari Beach Hotel located on Diani Beach was a nice diversion from Safaris to Tsavo. Visibility 20­30 feet, beginning of the rainy season. I liked the flathead/crocodile fish and the many leaf fish of various colors. water: 75­80 degrees. The staff was very helpful with my camera and the dive groups were small, three people per guide. We could stay down as long as we had air, were not in deco. Good for close­up photography because plankton in the water limited visibility; lots of small fish and nudibranchs. I would not go to Kenya just for the diving, but it is a wonderful addition to a Safari." Aqua Ventures,Watamu, October 1996, Sharon and Curtis Bok, Santa Monica, CA. "Aqua Ventures offers one tank dives 2­3/day. Excellent briefings, good boats, fun people, good sites in the national marine park. They pride themselves on instruction and safety and concern for the reefs. Lots of fish and creatures unique to East Africa or Western Indian Ocean. Reasonable prices. Good vis though waters can get rough. A couple of good hotels/ bungalows adjacent to dive shop. vis: 40­70 ft. water: 74­76 degrees." Tanzania Manta Reef Camp, October 1996, Edwin L. Granite, Wilmington, DE. "Accommodations: Poor. Large army style tents, lousy beds. Spartan & rustic would be understatements. No hot water for washing or showers! vis: 50­100 ft. water: 72­74 degrees (advertised as 82 degrees F). No reason to sightsee island, nothing to see! (Advertised otherwise). Nothing to do for nondiver. Long travel time to reach, must reach via Kenya Coast. Shimoni Reef Resort is departure point. Shimoni Reef Resort rustic! Saw no pelagics except squadron of 16 mantas, each 6­8 ft. Span. Never saw turtles or dolphins as advertised, nor sharks or cuda. Small outboard dive boat (not a "DHOW", as advertised, with showers etc.) Night dives not offered (advertised otherwise). Cold nights (advertised "warm year round"). No phones at camp, only radio transmitter, communications difficult, in Swahili language. . . . Good features: People at the camp were wonderful, kind, "bent over backwards" to help in any way. Chef cooked requests, manager and ancillary people great! Dive guide good.Typical Indo­Pacific fauna & fauna, reefs also might be ok for first time Indo­Pacific diving, but otherwise not worth the long, expensive trip! (made 5 dives, spent 2 nights. Left one day earlier than planned due to aspects described above.). Four out of five dives were drift dives due to currents. Need more than 3 mm wetsuit. Overall diving for beginners - don't go."
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