Pemba is the second largest island of the Spice Archipelago, named  Al-khudra, "the Green Island"  by the Arabic mariners in reverence of the profusion of lush fertility they encountered after their journey south along the arid coastline. Delighted by their welcome, these same mariners founded a city at Ras Mkumbuu, possibly the oldest permanent settlement south of Lamu. Pemba rises from the Indian Ocean on its own granite pedestal, a continental landmass in itself, topped with verdant hillscapes that tumble through clove plantations to the signatory, pristine white beaches. The reefs and channels make for East Africa's finest diving and highly rated game fishing, whilst the Pembans themselves embody the coastal Swahili in their dignity of manner and refinement of welcome.

Pemba can be reached by air either from Unguja (Zanzibar Island) or from the mainland cities of Dar es Salaam or Tanga. Local air charter companies run daily flights most days of the week. The airport is named after Abedi Amani Karume, the first African President of the Peoples’ Republic of Zanzibar, who went on to become the Vice President of Tanzania after Tanganyika and Zanzibar were united in 1964. The airlines that fly to Pemba include Zanair, Tropical Air and Coastal Aviation, apart from some chartered flights.

The journey, by ship between Zanzibar and Pemba can take between 3 and 6 hours depending on the company used. The only mainland city to travel to Pemba by sea is Dar es Salaam with a service running 3 times a week via Zanzibar. Nearly all passenger ships coming into Pemba arrive at the town of Mkoani, on the southwestern end of Pemba Island. Very few ships or dhows actually make use Chake Chake as point of destination or departure as the old harbour is silted up and only canoes can actually gain entrance!

The island offers an incredible mix of thrilling drift dives, marine walls and large reserves of pelagic life. Pristine reefs and dramatic vertical coral cliffs of more than 800 metres are the defining feature of many dive sites along the west coast. Coral gardens, sponges and sea fans cover these marine cliffs, which often stretch as far as the eye can see and host a fascinating array of colourful reef fish.