Patch Reef East
Chumbe Island Coral Park · Tanzania
On the sheltered eastern side of Chumbe, a series of coral bommies rise from a sandy bottom at 18 metres to within 3 metres of the surface, creating a labyrinth of canyons and overhangs. The bommies host the highest concentration of reef fish seen anywhere in the park, with schooling snappers and anthias filling every gap. Night dives here reveal an entirely different cast: Spanish dancer nudibranchs, octopus, and hunting moray eels replace the daytime reef community.
Conditions
Depth
3 to 22 m
Open water and up
Current
Usually still
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
18 to 30 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
22 to 30°C
5mm wetsuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| Vis (m) | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 10 |
| Current | Still | Still | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Still | Still | Still | Still | Still | Still | Still |
Your chances of seeing each animal
House Crow
Last confirmed Jul 1, 2026 · 36 records
Very likely
Most dives
Red-Knobbed Sea Star
Last confirmed Jul 7, 2026 · 22 records
Very likely
Most dives
Allard'S Anemonefish
Last confirmed Mar 29, 2026 · 23 records
Very likely
Most dives
Coconut Crab
Last confirmed Mar 31, 2026 · 15 records
Very likely
Most dives
Indian Peafowl
Last confirmed Jan 2, 2026 · 8 records
Very likely
Most dives
Spanish dancer nudibranch
Last confirmed Aug 13, 2025 · 1 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Octopus
Last confirmed Jun 17, 2026 · 4 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Bluespotted ribbontail ray
Last confirmed Jun 18, 2025 · 1 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Gear