Diving in Zanzibar
Stone Town Wreck: The Penguin

In 1919 as a result of increased shipping through the harbor after the First World War, the Zanzibar Government decided to build a new dock capable of taking vessels alongside at all tides. Construction commenced in 1920 and it was soon evident that a dredger would be required. The Penguin was purchased for £20,000, from South Africa, and arrived on 27th of February 1922 when it began dredging in front of the wharf.

All went well until it was revealed that there were large numbers of rocks not of Zanzibar origin buried in the seabed. This caused a flurry of correspondence. It was determined the stones were used as ballast and dumped in the harbor by trading dhows in times gone by.

The dredger worked well pumping thousands of cubic yards of sand, until the dredge Master resigned and the pontoon came to a halt. The Crown Agents in London were asked to recruit a suitable replacement, with the condition that not only should he be familiar with steam machinery, but that he be of sober and steady habits and of strong physique. The dredging continued until it was noticed that the volume of material being pumped had fallen dramatically. The pumps were dismantled and found to be worn out and the parts sent to Bombay for overhaul. Some months later the Penguin returned to service.

By 1929 the dredger had completed the task and was laid up pending disposal. It was considered beyond economic repair and suggested the vessel be sold or sunk after the removal of the machinery. Three years later the dredger was still laid up and being considered for further work.

70 years later the Penguin was discovered lying in 120 feet of water some three miles off the Zanzibar shore, and initially defied attempts to identify it, being described as a crane barge or a small tug. A recent Zanzibar dive on the site by the author finally identified it as a steam powered dredger. The tell tale clues being the overboard discharge pipes and the twin compound engines connected to two delivery pumps with the main suction pipe lying on the sea bed alongside.

The large Scotch boiler is very prominent and this together with the two compound engines had led to the theory of a tug. Research in the Zanzibar Archives photographic collection showed the vessel with a large funnel, pumping material during the building of the main wharf back in the 1920s. How the dredger came to be in its present position is unclear. Was it scuttled or did it sink by accident? From its present position it would appear to have been sunk deliberately…Source: Kevin Patience.

The Penguin

Builders: William Simons, Renfrew, Glasgow, Scotland. 1905.
Length: 90 feet.
Beam: 25 feet.
Machinery: Twin 2 cyl. compound steam engines.
Position: West of Pange sand bank.

Readers that are trying to find more information about golf stretching exercise, then visit the link that is mentioned in this paragraph.

ZANZIBAR DIVING – LEARN & ENJOY YOUR DIVES

Zanzibar offers the best corals in East Africa, that’s a fact! Diving in Zanzibar is well-known for its amazing beaches and unspoiled village life in areas like Paje and Kendwa. The stretch reaching from Kizimkazi through Jambiani, Paje, Bwejuu, Dongwe to Michamvi, is often referred to as the secret coast of Zanzibar diving, where the real identity of the island is still preserved and untouched from mass tourism. Then this amazing stretch goes all the way to the north coast of Nungwi.

Stone Town Dive Site

Dive Site #1: Bawe

Bawe has a reef stretching around it with a maximum depth of 18m. Here you will find attractive corals like Acropora, Stag horn, Brain corals and a large variety of reef fish.

Dive Site #2: Wrecks

Wreck diving for all levels:

The Great Northern: At 12m the Great Northern (built 1870) sank on New Year’s Eve 1902, a British steel cable laying vessel. She has become a outstanding artificial reef after these many years and is home to a number of Leaf Fish, Lion Fish and Geometric Morays. Parts of the ship can still be identified and some leftovers may still be found though not taken. The Great Northern is an ideal wreck for the beginner diver as it is only 12m and is a snorkeler’s paradise.

The Royal Navy Lighter: At 30m a wreck of the Royal Navy Lighter. It is a habitat to large schools of Rainbow Runners, Trevally, Sweepers, Yellow Finned Goat Fish and sometimes Reef Sharks. For experienced Advanced Divers and above.

The Penguin: At 40m a Pontoon Steam and Dredger, The Penguin, was sunk. This dive is for experienced Deep Divers. A fantastic dive due to huge numbers of big Bluefin Trevally, Barracuda, large Stingrays, Morays and lots more.

Dive Site #3: Murogo

Maximum depth 24m. Murogo has a sloping reef wall with a huge variety in coral and fish. Turtle are usually seen on this dive, and this is usually our preferred third dive site for the Open Water Diver course. Only 25 minutes away from our dive shop in our traditional Zanzibar Dhow powered by a 100hp Volvo Penta.

Dive Site #4: Nyange

This reef is the largest of all reefs on the west coast and contains several diving sites, all of which are unique. A new species of coral has recently been identified on this reef and marine biologists believe it to be endemic to Nyange. We are the only dive shop to dive this reef on regular basis. The sites dived are called Turtles Den, Groupers Play Ground and Coral Bay.

Dive Site #5: Boribu

One of the best dive sites off Zanzibar. Our dive shop is the only dive operator in Stone Town able to transport divers to this pristine reef. Boribu is only 45 minutes by our fast custom made fiberglass boat. Huge Barrel Sponges, enormous Gorgonian fans, large Moray eels pelagic fish, large lobsters are all features of this dive. In season, Whale Sharks pass through. The maximum depth is 30m. Boribu has an underwater reef unlike any other in Zanzibar with beautiful mountains of varying corals including the spectacular columnar corals.

Dive Site #6: Pange

Pange reef is the first sand bank west of Zanzibar Town, maximum depth 14m. An enormous variety of coral and lots of tropical reef fish such as Clown Fish, Parrot Fish, Moorish Idol and many others. Pange is ideal for Open Water Diver courses, as it offers calm and shallow waters. After the sun goes down why not try a night dive, where you may see cattle fish, squid, crab and other night dwellers.

Mnemba Atoll Dive Sites

Dive Site #7: West Gardens

Depth to 12m. A good spot for snorkelers and novice diving.

Dive Site #8: Aquarium

Depth to 20m. There’s usually a slight current at this site. Patches of sandy bottoms occur quite close to the reef with Surgeonfish, Moorish Idols, Parrotfish, Groupers, large Hawksbill and Green Turtles along with White-tip Reef Sharks.

Dive Site #9: Wattabomi

Outstanding site for snorkelers and novice diving. Schools of small reef fish, Regal Angelfish, many Blue streak Cleaner Wrasse, Semicircle Angelfish, Moorish Idol, Moral Eels, Blue Spotted Rays, Lionfish and many more. Take your time looking for Flounders, Scorpion fish, Stonefish and Soles. These fish lie on their side buried in the sand, and are very well camouflaged. For most of the year you will be treated to the beautifully-patterned Striped Dolphin, but the Bottlenose, Spinner and common Dolphins also occur in the clear waters around Mnemba.

Dive Site #10: Kichwani

Deep, clear, drift dive from 20m to 40m depending on the divers experience. Many coral species including Mushroom, Moneycombe, Brain and Stag horn Coral to name just a few. Below 30m a vertical wall with many reef fish, Trumpet fish and large Napoleon Wrasse. Lucky people see Reef Sharks, Eagle and Manta Rays.

Dive Site #11: The Big Wall

Depth of 30m dropping off to 50m. You will descend down to 30m drifting along a vertical wall. On your silent drift along this wonderful wall you will be passed by different species of pelagic schools of Rainbow Runner, Blue fin Trevally and sometimes Common Dolphin fish. Along the edge of the wall you find some overhangs and small caves often filled with Lobsters.

Come and dive in Zanzibar for a dive of a lifetime!

Readers that are surfing for more info about the topic of golf stretching exercise, then make sure to check out the website which was quoted right in this paragraph.