The DIVER Travel Planner

AFRICA
Kenya/Tanzania
Marine life: The safari parks of Kenya and Tanzania are legendary, but under water too these countries offer more Òbig gameÓ, including white sharks, whale sharks and tiger sharks, manta and eagle rays, sailfish and marlin in the Pemba Channel. A series of fringing and atoll reefs provide hard and soft corals with attendant reef fish plus turtles, groupers and large wrasse, but there is evidence of damage to coral caused by El Ni–o.
Type of diving: Diving for beginners to advanced with depths from 6m to 35m. Shallow coral gardens, reefs, sloping banks, vertical drop-offs. Diving is by boat, and some of the best sites in the Pemba Channel are only accessible by live-aboard.
Major diving areas: Many sites along the coastal barrier reef and Pemba Channel including the Mtwapa drop-off, Bamburi Buoys and Coral Gardens off Bamburi, north of Mombasa; and Lighthouse, Mnemba Channel and Lala Salama off Zanzibar.
Cost: Moderate.
Seasons/climate: Coastal Kenya and Zanzibar are tropical but tempered by monsoon winds. Diving is possible year-round but the monsoon season brings rougher weather from May to October, particularly in May and June. Zanzibar sometimes experiences strong winds from December to February, which can make boat trips rough. Whale sharks and mantas might be seen at any time of the year, but especially between November and January.
What to wear: Out of the water - light tropical clothing. In the water - light to mediumweight wetsuit or Lycra suit.
Hazards: Normal reef hazards. Strong currents in the Pemba Channel.
Currency: Kenya - the shilling. £1=KSh100 approx. Zanzibar - the shilling. £1=TSh1000 approx, but US dollars are the preferred currency on the island.
Electricity supply: 220/240V.
Inoculations: Typhoid, polio, and hepatitis A recommended. Yellow fever compulsory. Malaria endemic.
Visa required: Yes.
Getting there: Charter flights operate to Mombasa, and scheduled services fly to Zanzibar. Flights take 9-12 hours.
Tipping: Generally 10 per cent, or a dollar bill or two.
Information: Kenya National Tourist Office (0171 355 3144). Website - www.jambokenya.com or www.3routes.com/scuba/ africa/keny/. Tanzania Tourist Board (00 2 55 51 111 245). Website - www.tanzania-web.com.
Tour operators include: Somak Holidays, Hayes and Jarvis, Aquatours, Divequest.

South Africa
Marine life: South Africa is renowned for its sharks, including great white, hammerhead, blacktip and raggedtooth, but it also has the world's most southerly coral reefs and others with soft coldwater corals, sponges and abundant fish. Large marine life includes seals, whales, dolphins, rays, turtles and occasional killer whales.
Type of diving: Mainly for experienced and advanced divers. Cage diving with great white sharks; reefs, wrecks and artificial reefs; tunnels, caves and rock formations. Most diving is from boats.
Major diving areas: Sodwana Bay north of Durban for its coral reefs, Aliwal Shoals near Durban for its reefs and wrecks, Mossel Bay for the great white experience, and the wrecks of Hout Bay and Smitswinkel Bay near Cape Town.
Cost: Expensive.
Seasons/climate: South Africa's climate is pleasantly warm for much of the year. Water temperature ranges from 20-27¡C. Atlantic Ocean sites are best dived in summer, from November to April. Intense inland rain can wash silt and mud over eastern reefs in February and March. Best visibility is in April and May. Raggedtooth sharks can be seen from mid-July to November and humpback whales from August to December, but best conditions are December to January.
What to wear: Out of the water - light clothing in summer, warmer clothes for winter and evenings. In the water - full 3mm or 5mm wetsuit.
Hazards: Some of South Africa's shark species have a reputation for being aggressive and there are several shark attacks on swimmers each year. Entry conditions and boat rides to some dives may also be rough and hazardous.
Currency: The rand. £1=R9.50 approx.
Electricity supply: 220/230V.
Inoculations: Typhoid and polio recommended. Malaria risk.
Visa required: No.
Getting there: Flights take just under 13 hours.
Tipping: Generally 10 per cent.
Information: South African Tourism Board (0181 944 8080). Website - www. satour.org.
Tour operators include: Hayes and Jarvis, Beachcomber, SARtravel.

Appeared in DIVER - June 1999