Sunshine Marine Lodge is a gorgeous property nestled on the seafront at the north of Zanzibar Island. The lush gardens and tropical planting make for a peaceful and private retreat and it's easy to loose an hour wondering through the grounds.

The resort sits on a small cliff overlooking the ocean where the restaurant and infinity pool are in prime position with the best sea views. The rooms are spacious and tastefully decorated with traditional Tanzanian touches, but with all the modern amenities (air con, fans, tea/coffee faculties, international charging points, WiFi).

The resort restaurant serves a western-style menu but with local influences and the menu changes every day. Breakfasts were delicious, and accompanied by a buffet selection of pastries, fresh juice, and fruits.

The on site dive center is called Dive Point Zanzibar - I was very impressed with how well-organised they were and how well-managed the center seemed. They run 2-tank dives and courses each day using their own boats, and they also organise trips up to Nungwi in the north. The dive boats are spacious and fully shaded, with refreshments and snacks between dives.

I would highly recommend staying at Sunshine Marine Lodge, whether to relax or make use of the excellent dive facilities.

Paje Beach Apartments gives you an authentic Zanzibar experience while still offering the western comforts we are used to. The resorts laid-back beachy vibe and seafront location make it the perfect spot to kick back and enjoy local life. Located in the heart of Paje town, guests can wander along the beach past the neighbouring resorts or walk through the windy streets behind to explore some of the local seafood restaurants.

The rooms are newly renovated and very spacious, with large en suite bathrooms, air con, refreshments, and a small terrace. The rooms are arranged around the small pool which is behind the bar and beachfront restaurant.

We ate at the restaurant several times, and enjoyed a local Swahili-themed meal, as well as a delicious crab dinner. Breakfasts offered a wide range of buffet pastries, cereals, fruits and meats, as well as eggs cooked to order.

The resort has an in-house dive center (Buccaneer Divers) that is well--run and used by several of the neighbouring hotels.

Buccaneer Diving is located in the grounds of Paje Beach Resort and is a well-organised and busy shop that is also used by guests from neighbouring resorts. They have a dedicated pool for training and several dive boats to offer 2-tank dives each day.

The center itself has a washing area and a dedicated staff member for equipment washing, as well as rental equipment and a briefing area. Guests walk down the beach to the dive boats which are small wooden panga-style boats with a full shade. Entry is via a backward roll into the water, and you can take your equipment off on the surface before boarding after the dive. The surface interval was on the boat and we were given refreshments and water.

One thing to note is that the dive time shifts each day on a 2-week schedule due to the big tidal variation in Zanzibar. This means that your 2-tank dive could start as early as 6am or as late as 2pm. It also means that there is no house reef or snorkeling area at the front of the resort.

We dived in a group of 4 with one guide who was pleasant but didn't point out too many things. The diving is comparable to easy Caribbean diving, gently sloping reefs and good coral and rock cover with a nice range of interesting small to medium-sized fish life. Dive times are limited to 43 minutes so that both dives can be fitted in around the tides.

I would recommend diving with Buccaneer Divers - they were safe, organised, and a pleasure to interact with.