Meet The Team

We are proud to have an amazing dream team of professionals. Many of them have been with us for more than a decade. We love every one of them, and our shop would not be the same without them! These are the people who make Spanish Dancer a great place to be.

David has been teaching diving since 2003. He arrived in Zanzibar many years ago, becoming the owner of Spanish Dancer Divers. Happy team and happy customers are his number one goals.

New gear, new boat or just improvements, he will obviously find something to invest in. David is also our webmaster. You might always find him busy, but he manages to take 4 months’ vacation a year to travel the world.

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As soon as he got his marine biology degree in Spain, Lalo decided to start a career in diving. Familiar with Zanzibar since he was a kid, he naturally joined Spanish Dancer Divers to enrol our divemaster internship.

Lalo was so enthusiastic and attentive with guests that we decided to hire him upon completing his course. He moved up to be a PADI instructor in 2018, and finally became a manager and part owner in 2020.

Passionate about sharks, he will always try to find one for you!

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Julio began his diving journey in 2006 in Tossa de Mar, and since then, he has fallen in love with the underwater world, always excited about his next dive! With his natural talent for organisation and years of experience as a diving instructor since 2011, you can trust that he will take great care of you.

In addition to being a diving instructor, Julio is also a boat captain and has excellent skills in dive gear maintenance, so you can be sure your equipment will always be in top condition.

On Saturdays, you’ll find him at Mangis Bar, competing in darts tournaments with the expat community after sunset!

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Susanne spent many years diving and managing in different parts of the world, before joining us in 2021.

Always smiling, she will make you enjoy your dives while keeping safety as her number one priority. You will find her often at the reception, making the best diving plan for your holidays!

When Susanne is around, you can be sure that everything runs smoothly, relaxed, and well organized.

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With Eva in our team since October 2024, we added some more woman power. Always smiling and in a good mood, excellent customer service comes natural for her.

She has been working as Divemaster in Thailand before becoming PADI instructor in 2023 in Greece. With her background in biology, she is passionate about the underwater world and likes to pass on her enthusiasm.

She is full of life and loves to chat with our divers also after working hours. Her students praise her safe, calm, and funny way of teaching.

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From the moment he arrived, Alvaro blended perfectly into Zanzibar life. Energetic and approachable, he makes sure everything is ready for a smooth and enjoyable dive.

He has taught in Honduras, Spain, and in the challenging environment of Komodo, known for its strong currents. His experience means you’re in safe and capable hands underwater.

Alvaro joined us in November 2025 and has been a great addition ever since.

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Mohammed has been working with Spanish Dancer since 2007 and became a Divemaster in 2013. He loves diving and is officially the slowest moving Divemaster we ever had (underwater, that is). This makes him perfect for any of you underwater photography enthusiasts.

If there is any special creature in the area, Mohamed will be the first one to find it.

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Coming from Mt. Kilimanjaro for a family visit in Zanzibar, Azizi fell in love with diving. Showing talent and enthusiasm during his Divemaster internship, he naturally became a part of the Spanish Dancer family.

Young and with endless energy, he will be the first one ready to go diving! Put some music on the boat and witness his incredible dancing skills during your surface interval.

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Native of Zanzibar, Abu used to work in a small shop next to the dive shop. He was fascinated and staring at divers every day, until he found the courage to come and ask us about diving.

Passionate about the ocean, he didn’t have any knowledge about diving when he joined Spanish Dancer Divers. He became a PADI divemaster in 2018, and will likely find amazing macro critters for you.

You can think he is shy, but put on some Zanzibar music, and you will witness some amazing dancing skills.

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Captain Haji has a natural GPS in his head. He can drop you off at any point on the reef, regardless of sea conditions.

Captain Haji has been a skipper with Spanish Dancer for almost two decades. He has a great knowledge of the tides, sea conditions and dive sites. For that reason, he is the first one we consult with if we are not sure about the dive plans.

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Halidi comes from a family of boat captains, so it was only natural for him to follow in their footsteps from a young age. With plenty of experience on traditional sailing boats and snorkeling, he’s able to dive in like a fish!

His calm and friendly personality makes him a great boat captain and snorkeling guide. No matter the sea conditions, he always ensures everyone feels safe and happy.

Halidi is excited to earn his diving certifications and further explore the ocean he’s been navigating for years!

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Captain Sheha has been navigating in Zanzibar waters since he was a child. Sheha has been a dive boat captain for many years and joined us in 2019. Certainly, he will take you to and from the dive sites safely and comfortably.

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Hussein brings over 10 years of experience as a boat captain in Nungwi. Everyone calls him “Counsellor” (Kansela) because of his calm personality and helpful advice.

He’s reliable, hardworking, and always arrives early to make sure everything is set for the day.

Hussein became part of the team in 2025 and is known for his constant smile. After trying diving for the first time with us, he quickly fell in love with it and goes diving every time he can, especially in our coral nursery.

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Mohamed is an experienced sailor with deep knowledge of Zanzibar’s waters. Growing up in Pemba Island, known for its often challenging sea conditions, he developed strong skills from an early age.

He has spent years working on traditional sailing boats and is known for being calm, reliable, and hardworking.

You’ll see him aboard our sailing boat Maamkwe or assisting on our dive boats, always making sure everything runs smoothly.

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Ali has been working for Spanish Dancers almost since the beginning. He has a natural smile, and it’s almost impossible to get on his bad side.

Ali is a very dedicated employee, and the clean, pure air you breathe at Spanish Dancer is due to his hard work and dedication.

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Simai has been with Spanish Dancer ever since the beginning. He is another dedicated member of the compressor team. You will also find him on the boat, and although he doesn’t say too much, he will make sure your tank is changed before you even notice.