Get ready for an adventure that combines diving and safari with our exciting tours through Africa. At JENMAN African Safaris, we’re thrilled to share these unique and memorable diving safaris with you as your go-to partner for incredible African adventures. Our itineraries merge the thrill of diving with the excitement of the African bush. Each dive site offers an amazing variety of marine life, ensuring both seasoned divers and beginners find excitement and discovery.
But the adventure doesn’t end beneath the waves. Our diving safaris include game drives and safari expeditions, providing opportunities to encounter the “Big Five” and a wide range of other African wildlife. Imagine observing elephants, lions, giraffes, and a spectrum of birdlife in their natural habitats, adding a magical touch to your diving adventure. You can relax knowing that your diving safari will unfold smoothly under the guidance of our experienced guides and diving experts. Our team will provide insights on each dive site, handle all logistics, and share their deep knowledge of Africa’s wildlife, history, and culture, enriching your overall journey. Once you’ve selected your preferred location for your diving safari tour, allow us to help tailor a customized itinerary with plenty of time for both safari adventures and relaxation.
We’ll assist you in securing the best accommodations near prime diving sites and wildlife reserves, ensuring your comfort and convenience throughout your trip. We can make reservations on your behalf, considering your budget, preferred amenities, and proximity to diving and safari locations. We’ll also provide you with a detailed packing checklist that includes essentials for both underwater adventures and wildlife safaris.
Sales Consultant & Diving Specialist
I am 100% proudly South African, and growing up on the lush east coast of KwaZulu-Natal, I developed a profound love for both the ocean and wildlife from an early age. After finishing school in 1987, I pursued my passion for scuba diving in the years that followed and became a NAUI Divemaster in 1994. Weekend diving was just not enough though, so I took a position as Divemaster in Sodwana Bay, which in those days, was a very remote part of northern Zululand, renowned for its world-class coral reefs and proximity to Big 5 Game Reserves.
At the end of 1995, I got engaged to a wonderful NAUI Dive instructor from Zimbabwe, who was working in Ponta Malongane, Mozambique. Rod eventually joined me in Sodwana, we married and then expanded our horizons by becoming PADI Open Water Instructors together and working in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. There, we immersed themselves in the spectacular diving of the Red Sea while working at local PADI Dive Centres.
In September 1997, we decided to journey overland back to South Africa from Egypt, traveling through Africa and experiencing its diverse cultures and landscapes. Upon returning, we managed a large dive resort in Sodwana Bay, where I continued my passion for diving and underwater photography, while raising a family.
In 2007, we moved to Cape Town, where I took on a sales and marketing role as our boys needed to go to school by then. I joined Jenman African Safaris in 2010, focusing on marketing and liaising with travel agents. In the years that followed, I was able to travel extensively and dive in some amazing locations. In 2017, the call of the ocean became too strong, and we decided to head back to the dive resort industry, working not only in South Africa, but also in Fiji. It was a wonderful experience, but I couldn’t help but be drawn back to Jenman Safaris to combine my love for diving with the African bush. I now work remotely from Northern Zululand, planning and coordinating diving adventures for our clients and happy to share my extensive expertise in the field. “Work is not work when you love what you do!”
Contact Debby directly at debby@jenmansafaris.com to start planning your dream diving safari.
Managing Director
As a youngster growing up in Hout Bay in the Western Cape, the ocean was visible from my doorstep. My father had a boatyard, and I spent many hours on the beach with my siblings—exploring the dunes, the mountains, and everything underwater. I started diving in the Atlantic Ocean and the multiple wrecks found along the coastline. I qualified with SAUU as well as NAUI in the 1980s, and as a teenager, I went diving as often as possible. Diving was in my blood and has remained one of my true passions.
In 1993, after extensive travel through Africa, I went abroad and qualified as a PADI Dive Master in Thailand on Ko Tao Island. I continued travelling and diving throughout Malaysia, Indonesia, and then in Australia. On returning to South Africa, I started a dive charter business called Aqua Adventures, based in Hout Bay just outside Cape Town, taking locals and tourists to all our local dive sites off the Cape Peninsula. This was my start in tourism, combining my love of travel with my love of diving. Bringing these experiences together and sharing my knowledge with guests has opened up worlds of possibilities and has developed into a very satisfying career.
Diving along the entire South African coast—from Sodwana Bay to the tip of the continent—are my favourite spots. Whenever I have travelled, I have gone out of my way to dive in as many global destinations as possible. Some of my favourite dives have been in the Cayman Islands, Mozambique, and Madagascar. One of the wonderful aspects of scuba diving is that it can be done in most coastal places in the world, and every area is unique and fascinating.