Buccaneer Diving Paje Base

Buccaneer Paje is a vibey dive centre based at Paje Beach Apartments & Hotel and partnered with the ever popular Ocean Restaurant. We rarely see other divers on our pristine reefs and spend lots of time exploring the many kilometres of untouched drop offs and pinnacles.

Buccaneer Diving has been teaching and leading diving on the East African Coast for over thirty years and as a PADI Instructor Development Diving Centre we have taught many of the amazing PADI Diving Instructors and Divemaster's teaching and earning a living throughout the whole Swahili Coast. We are hugely proud of our hand picked team of Tanzanian, Kenyan and International Instructors educated in house who make sure that you have a blast diving safely in the magical waters of South East Zanzibar.

What better way to introduce you to our team than in their own words below.

Meet the Team

Wycliffe Mainye

Head Honcho

My name is Wycliffe Mainye. I am a PADI Staff Instructor and Kenyan by Nationality. Aside from my diving education I also hold an Msc in Strategic Management-Nairobi University & a
BSc in Human Resources- Makerere University.

I enjoy diving but I love the business of diving the most. As a leader nothing drives me the more than happy customers.. 🤔

Riana Albertyn

Manager and PADI IDC Staff Instructor

Originally from Cape Town, South Africa, I’m the manager here at Buccaneer Diving and can usually be found at my desk in Paje — although I’d much rather be underwater!
Teaching has always been one of my favourite parts of diving. There’s nothing more rewarding than helping someone become comfortable breathing underwater and then watching them discover a whole new world for the first time.
When I’m diving for myself, you’ll usually find me searching the reef for leaf fish or stopping to watch one of my favourites — the wonderfully quirky cowfish.

Naim Abdi (Didi)

PADI IDC Staff Instructor

My name is Naim Abdi, although everyone knows me as Didi. I’m a Kenyan PADI IDC Staff Instructor and I love sharing the underwater world with new divers.
For me, one of the best parts of the job is teaching someone to dive and seeing their confidence grow from their first breaths underwater to becoming a certified diver.
When I’m not teaching, you’ll probably find me searching the reef for nudibranchs — the smaller and more colourful, the better!

Amy Phillips

PADI Course Director

My name is Amy, I’m from Kenya and I’m a PADI Staff Instructor here at Buccaneer Diving.
The ocean has always been a huge part of my life. Whether I’m diving, surfing, kitesurfing or just spending time in the water, that’s where you’ll usually find me!
I love sharing that passion with other people — from helping someone take their first breaths underwater to developing their skills and confidence as a diver. I especially enjoy training divers at a professional level and working with young divers, helping the next generation build their confidence, skills and love for the ocean.

Nahodha B Usama (Beka)

PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor

My name is Nahodha B Usama, but everyone knows me as Beka — or sometimes Jack Sparrow! I’m a Tanzanian PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor and love teaching, certifying new divers and, most importantly, making sure we have plenty of fun along the way.
For me, diving should be about enjoying yourself while discovering the incredible underwater world around Zanzibar.
My favourite find underwater is the seahorse — although spotting one is never quite as easy as it sounds!

Arnold Charo

PADI IDC Staff instructor

Bernald Ramadhani (Ben)

PADI Divemaster, Assistant boat driver and Jack of all trades

My name is Bernald Ramadhani, but everyone calls me Ben. I’m Tanzanian, a PADI Divemaster and one of Buccaneer’s assistant captains.
I love taking guests diving and showing them the incredible marine life around Zanzibar. For me, the most important thing is making sure everyone feels safe, relaxed and has a great time in the water.
Whether I’m guiding a dive or helping out on the boat, I’m happiest when our guests are enjoying the ocean!

Husni Haroub

PADI Divemaster

Yusuf Makame