Staghorn Gardens
Chumbe Island Coral Park · Tanzania
The southern shallows of Chumbe Island shelter one of the most intact stands of branching Acropora coral in the western Indian Ocean, the staghorn and table forms spreading across a gently sloping terrace from 2 to 14 metres. The garden survived the 1998 coral bleaching event better than virtually any reef in the channel, partly due to its protected lagoon position. Juvenile fish use the staghorn thickets as nursery habitat, so the density of small reef fish is extraordinary — every coral head is its own micro-ecosystem.
Conditions
Depth
2 to 18 m
Good for beginners
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
Coral grouper
Last confirmed Nov 19, 2025 · 1 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Staghorn coral
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Longnose butterflyfish
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Gear