Leven Bank

Leven Bank is an offshore mound that rises from the sea floor about 15 kilometres (9 miles) north of Zanzibar Island. It takes a longer boat trip to reach than the closer sites. The tip of the mound comes within about 12 metres of the surface, the slopes run down from 14 metres, and most divers explore the walls down to about 30 metres. The walls are covered in corals that support a variety of reef species.

Because of its position the site is exposed to strong currents and can only be dived on certain tides, so it is generally for experienced divers. The deep water close by keeps the water clean and the visibility clear, and brings in pelagics. Dolphins, Napoleon wrasse, whitetip reef sharks and various rays are seen, along with tuna, barracuda and reef sharks. Moray eels and nudibranchs hide in the coral, and there are large schools of angelfish, triggerfish and pufferfish, with trevallies and rainbow runners in deeper water.

Between August and September there is a real chance of seeing humpback whales from the boat on the way out.