Water Adventures.
PRIVATE ISLAND
Water Sports.
Explore the reefs around your island in a kayak, sailboat or on your stand-up paddle-board. Enjoy a power ride on one of our jet-skis or jet boards, go wake-boarding or explore the ocean depths with a sea bob. The choice is yours. We can also organise a sailing trip on a traditional Arab fishing dhow.
Swimming with Whale Sharks.
One of the most emotional and spectacular ocean wonders you can ever experience is being up close with a whale shark, which can grow to an astonishing 18 metres. These harmless, gentle giants – the largest fish in the world and categorised by the IUCN as vulnerable to extinction – are an incredible part of the Thanda Island experience, as they feed just south of the Island from October to March. We are privileged to be able to share these beautiful creatures up close with you: you can either swim with them or view them from our luxury adventure vessel, ably commandeered by our trusted captain.
Snorkelling.
We have a resident snorkelling guide on Thanda Island who can take you on various snorkelling adventures around our Island. All ages and novices can enjoy this. Marine turtles have frequently been sighted during snorkels, along with plenty of exciting marine species, including trumpet fish, threespot dascyllus, blue-spotted stingray, jewel damselfish, cleaner wrasse, goldbar wrasse, reef needlefish and cornetfish.
Scuba diving.
If you enjoy scuba diving at any level, or you would like to learn to scuba dive, we will arrange this for you with Mafia Island Diving, our accredited 5-star dive partner at Chole Bay on nearby Mafia Island. All dives are done from traditional Arab dhows in the Mafia Island Marine Park. The largest marine protected area in the Indian Ocean offers some of the most spectacular diving off the East African Coast, including an intriguing diversity of coral reefs, five species of turtles and 400 species of enchanting reef fish.
Big game fishing.
If you would like to do some big game fishing, our captain and fishing guide will lead your fishing expedition on Real Magic to seek out iconic catch-and-release species or bring home the catch of the day for our chefs to prepare for lunch or dinner at your private villa. Our guides are very passionate about all types of fishing and go out of their way to make sure you have the best possible experience. Children are also welcome to fish or learn how to fish. The fishing season is from September to March, with Sailfish from November to January.
Cruise the islands.
Cruise around Thanda Island and the surrounding islands in Thanda’s boat, beautifully appointed with a luxurious cabin, cocktail bar, dedicated waiter and a music system with a wide range of song choice. Sip on champagne and enjoy Island delicacies as you explore the magnificent marine reserves.
