Course overview

The PADI Wreck Diver specialty teaches you to explore sunken ships safely and is perfectly suited to Zanzibar, where historic wrecks lie off Stone Town. You learn survey, mapping and penetration techniques on sites such as the shallow British cable-laying ship resting in 4-12m and the deeper, purposefully sunk Royal Navy lighter around 30m.

What you’ll learn

• Plan and conduct wreck dives using maps and dive planning
• Survey and create a basic map of a wreck
• Navigate around a wreck safely and avoid hazards
• Use guidelines and reels for limited, light-zone penetration
• Manage specialised wreck-diving equipment and silt-out risk
• Apply local wreck history and conservation awareness

Prerequisites

• Minimum age 15
• PADI Adventure Diver or Advanced Open Water (Deep recommended for deeper wrecks)
• Comfortable with buoyancy and navigation skills
• Diver medical clearance signed by a physician

What's included · What's not

Probability of sightings · month-by-month

What you're likely to see each month, based on historic operator logs.

Day-by-day itinerary

1. Day1
   Survey & exploration

   Theory plus two dives on the shallow Stone Town cable-ship wreck, practising survey and mapping.
2. Day2
   Mapping & penetration

   Two more dives applying line-handling and, where suitable, light-zone penetration on a deeper wreck to certify.

Verified through iDive

Every partner school in the iDive network is vetted on safety, instructor credentials, equipment standards and student feedback. Talk to a iDive dive pro on WhatsApp for current availability and reviews specific to Zanzibar.

Frequently asked questions