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| Homepage >> Destinations >> Africa >> Tanzania >> Mafia Island |
SCUBA DIVING HOLIDAYS ON MAFIA ISLAND, TANZANIA
To protect an internationally significant ecosystem, the Mafia Island Marine Park (the first in Tanzania) was opened in July 1995. The project is backed by the WWF which contributes human and financial resources for its development and maintenance. The village is equipped with a diving centre awarding international PADI certificates.
The archipelago consists of a number of very large islands and small uninhabited coral atolls. Due to its position alongside the reef, the island is the meeting place of large oceanic fish and the several varieties of fish living in the Indian Ocean coral reefs. There are over 400 species of fish in the park. The Park is a paradise for both expert divers as well as those wishing to snorkel or sail in the native local boats from island to island
The Mafia archipelago forms part of the coral reef protecting the coast of Tanzania. It is situated about 130 km south of Dar es-Salaam and about 25 km from the mainland, looking towards the huge Rufiji river delta which shaped the island and influenced its ecosystem by supplying nutritional substances which are at the base of a complex food-chain.
On land, the rich variety of vegetation is dominated by large palm groves. In some areas you will find baobab trees dotting the typical African savannah. The mangroves play an extremely important role by preventing coastal erosion. There are also fruit trees in many areas, mainly mango and cashew trees .
The archipelago's wildlife is extremely varied: monkeys, small antelopes, wild pigs, lemurs, as well as a small colony of dwarf hippopotamuses. There are countless types of birds, varying from season to season according to the migration flows. Falcons and fish eagles build their nests on both the small and larger islands.
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POLE - POLE RESORT, MAFIA ISLAND
Situated in the untended area of Mafia Island, the resort is the Archipelago's main base. It is set in a shady, breezy spot facing a deep blue sea overlooking the islands of Chole, Juani and Jibondo.
Owned and operated by a young Italian couple, Pole Pole Bungalow Resort is a new kind of luxury travel experience that combines the principles of ecotourism, a small resort which is one of the most pristine and exotic environments in the world.
Massimo and Katia have spent the last few years designing and building the resort. The ten roomy bungalows with wide verandas overlooking the sea are built entirely in wood and raised on stilts to ensure the maximum comfort for the guests. Each bungalow covers 60 sq m with personalized fixtures and finishing. The floors are made of hard woods (afrormosia, one of the rarest and valued tropical woods), furniture’s are made mahogany and the door and window frames of doussi.The beds have wooden slats and high quality spring mattresses. All linens are imported from Italy. Bathrooms have double washbasins, king-size showers, bidets and toilets. The restaurant offer a choice from the Italian-Swahili options overlooking the beach.
The Dive Centre offers great diving for advanced and novice divers in safety under professional
Instruction (PA D I). The snorkelling on the shallow reefs surrounding the many islands in and around Chole Bay is a great attraction for non-divers and divers alike. Trained diving assistants handle all equipment, help divers and check their equipment, so that you are free to enjoy the dives and all other activities during each day. Courses are taught in English.
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MAFIA LODGE, MAFIA ISLAND
The Mafia Island Lodge stands amidst tall palms on a sandy beach in Chole Bay, in the heart of the marine park near Utende village on South coast of Mafia.
40 comfortable rooms are set among the coconut palms with their own veranda overlooking the bay. They are all self-contained with air conditioning. Twin and double beds are available. Among the 40 rooms there are 2 suites with a large living room. Hot and cold water is available 24 hours a day. The main lodge has a relaxing atmosphere with a large open restaurant, bar with pool table and lounge area. Board games, table tennis and volleyball are also available.
Other facilities include an internet café, gift shop, laundry service, telephone & fax, excursions, snorkelling, sailing and scuba diving.
The cuisine is continental with an emphasis on seafood. Snacks, sandwiches and bitings are also available.. A selection of alcoholic beverages, wines, beers, juices and sodas are available at the bar.
The fully equipped dive centre for beginners & experienced divers offers PADI and NAUI certifications. The best months for scuba diving are September to March & snorkelling can be done all year round in the sheltered, calm waters of Chole Bay. |
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THE DIVING AROUND MAFIA ISLAND
The most outstanding dive site in Mafia Island is Chole Bay. It is a vast circular bay where the depth goes from 5 to 27 metres. The continuous replacement of waters due to the tide offers an excellent environment, which has brilliantly defended itself from the calamity “El Nino”. Safe dives are possible throughout the whole year in this bay, which is like a natural harbour. However as Mafia is an equatorial zone, during the months of April and May the island is affected by the monsoon with heavy rains. During these two months, the resort and the dive centre are closed.
From June to September and sometimes in December and January, the monsoons produce particularly strong winds, which prevent divers from going out of the reef at almost all the Tanzanian and Zanzibar dive destinations. Thanks to Chole Bay and to the shield formed by the Archipelago, Mafia is a rare and perfect alternative for diving. Almost all Mafia's best diving is at depths of less than 30m so it is a sport diver's paradise. The Reefs of the archipelago offer a staggerly beautiful and varied display of marine life .The excellent condition and high diversity of the reefs stimulated the creation of Mafia Island Marine Park, Tanzania's first marine park. Examples of most kinds of tropical marine habitat occur here, inclu ding exposed fringing reefs, rock walls, soft coral and algae-dominated reefs. The diversity of animal and plant life is hard to match, with over 48 genera of coral and 400 species of fish. There are excellent examples of giant table coral, delicate sea fans, whip coral, and huge stands of blue-tipped stag horn coral. Large predatory fish and turtles are common and surprising unaffected by approaching divers.
Many reef creatures are nocturnal, avoiding daytime predators. As the light fades and the rich "Soup" of plankton rises from deeper water, the day time, and rock-like appearance of coral is transformed into a brilliance of colour as the polyps emerge from their stony cups to feed on the plankton. Night diving focuses the attention on the many small, delicate reef species usually missed during the day. A spectacular occurrence is the spawning behaviour of coral. Chole Wall and the Coral Gardens are an excellent night dive.
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OUR OPINION
Until only about 10 years ago the island of Mafia could be visited and dived by joining an organized expedition, with various problems due to electricity and water supplies and telecommunication difficulties. Things have now changed thanks to these small resorts which provide the traveller with a unique experience, at one with nature but with just the right level of creature comforts to make any stay a pleasant one.
The sea is interesting, especially for those who love to meet large pelagic fish, and the chance for a memorable encounter with enormous groupers, which are sometimes the size of a small car! |
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