Zanzibar Reef Snorkel and Dive

[Duri]

Hey guys

I been meaning to post here about this... I was in Zanzibar in April 2016... amazing marine life.

Went on 2 dives and snorkeling, must say it was so amazing and beautiful...huge reef like a cliff 20-30m down... saw many different fish. barracuda, octopus, seahorse, stingrays, clowns, tangs, you name it and things i never seen before...

BUT there is always a but...

There seem to be no protection over the marine life there, really saddens me.

On one of the dives there was a huge cages like a trawler type netted cages on top the reef (looked like one of those traps you use to bait crayfish etc).

The snorkeling was the worse... the boats that take you there on a daily basis to the islands just drop their anchor on top of the reefs... that was like stabbing me in my heart... there is no regard for it. There are at least 30 boats that go that way every day! imagine the damage.

but the reef was huge as well... plate coral so huge like king size beds or larger and some dead due to anchor drops... there are so many gaps to drop anchors but they just stop and throw in...

and the fishing industry is huge there they catch to sell at markets octopus, stingrays, barracuda and so much more... no law to limit this.

But all in all great experience and lucky to see such beautiful reefs

 

[RiaanP]

the boat captains knows what the people want to see, but do not care if they destroy it in the process.

 

[Adrian B]

Sadly its the same story for most of East Africa. Even the Protected area are seldom protected - they just on paper.

Got a friend who divers and surfs Indo, Bali, Java etc often, says its even worse that side.

 

[r0ckf1re]

Same in Mauritius. The Snorekel experience was sad. Just saw a few white fish, not sure what they were. Looked like bonefish. No coral. This was on the cruise to Isle Cerf.

Seychelles was amazing, that's cos it was in st Anne's marine park park which is protected.

 

[oliver]

Same proplem in the gulf some areas very much protected and patrolled if caught entering without a permit you get a hefty fine,but the so called marine parks what a joke.In Oman its much better the law is enforced much better they know what the tourist trade is worth.IF one goes up the Red Sea there hardly is any damage to the reefs and marine life is plenty.

 

[Adrian B]

Been lucky enough to visit Moz, Tanzania, Kenya, Madagascar, Senegal and Maldives - only place that made me go wow was the Maldives- Coral there and the state of the reefs is truly something. Believe the Red Sea is jaw dropping as well.

Sadly most of it is a sad reminder of what humans can do.

 

[oliver]

The Red sea is but the gulf of Aqaba in the northern end around Eilat/Aqaba is destroyed.On the coast of Sinai/ Egypt mostly pristine.Saudi Arabia as well no one goes there and those that do are far between.Sudan amassing reefs and fish life.Dived in most of the Red sea from Port Suez to the coast of Yemen and in Eilat/Aqaba.

 

[r0ckf1re]

Very fortunate @oliver