The Zanzibar archipelago, comprising Pemba, Mafia and Unguja (better known simply as Zanzibar), is strongly affected by the tides, which can make some beaches unsuitable for swimming at certain times of day. This phenomenon is especially pronounced on Unguja Island, where the sea can retreat as much as a hundred metres from its high-water mark, making swimming virtually impossible at low tide. These tides also bring in large quantities of seaweed. Every day, women and children from the neighbouring villages come to harvest it for export, a lively, colourful scene in which exotic dress and faces lit by the equatorial sun stand out against the vast backdrop of the Indian Ocean.
The sand, often made up of tiny shell fragments and coral debris, can be sharp underfoot. It's therefore advisable to bring suitable sandals, especially for low-tide walks out to the lagoon. Sea urchins, increasingly common in Zanzibar, make this precaution all the more worthwhile.
But the tide has its advantages too. The sea constantly reveals shifting shades of blue, azure and turquoise, offering a spectacular marine landscape, particularly along the East Coast, a favourite among divers. This region boasts an impressive diversity of underwater scenery — drop-offs, coral reefs, multicoloured lagoons — and is home to a varied and fascinating array of marine life: turtles, barracudas, reef sharks, yellowfin tuna, dolphins and a multitude of colourful fish, delighting novice divers and seasoned enthusiasts alike.
