Introduction

Snorkel off the back of a dhow or visit one of the many top-notch dive schools on Diani Beach, Nyali Beach in the Mombasa Marine Reserve, Watamu Marine National Park, Malindi Marine National Park, or Kisite Marine National Park. Nyali, in a peaceful residential area near a local wildlife sanctuary, is particularly good for short snorkel and scuba trips due to its proximity to the city-center. Six-mile-long Diani Beach is filled with coral reefs, while Watamu boasts magnificent coral as well, with abundant fish life and sea turtles. Malindi, the oldest marine park in Kenya, covers 80 sq. miles of coral and Thalassia seagrass, home to fish and green sea turtles. At beautiful Kisite, visitors have a good chance of spotting dolphins, who will often permit them to snorkel alongside them.

A place for all levels of divers

Kenya’s coastal waters are warm all year-round and it’s possible to dive without a wetsuit almost anywhere, though the best period is October to April with October, November, and March being prime months. Most of the dive bases located at Malindi, Watamu, the coast north of Mombasa, or Diani Beach, will provide training from a beginner’s level and upwards. For underwater photographers, in particular, the extensive coral reef is a major attraction. The undersea landscape is quite varied, with shallow coral gardens and blue-water drop-offs sinking deep into the ocean with visibility generally excellent.

Coral Reefs

There are a number of world-class dive sites in Kenya and north of Mombasa is home to several. Some of the best sites are in the Watamu Marine National Park, a protected area with a reef that’s close to shore with accessible shallow coral that’s ideal for novice divers and snorkelers. The outer reef here has drop-offs with sheer walls and large brain corals attracting abundant marine life. Dives on the central Turtle Reef attract large schools of vibrant parrot and surgeon fish, and divers can occasionally spot white-tip sharks. Watamu is also an egg-laying site for the endangered green sea turtle, which lay on the beaches here several times a year.

Amazing Wildlife

Nearby Moray Reef has a beautiful overhang dropping several feet to a sandy bottom. The coral here is home to octopus, eel, and a massive moray. The sharp reef edge has plenty of nudibranch, angel fish, tang, and the occasional grouper or barracuda. A spectacular dive site is the Canyon, a long sandy channel bordered on each side by deep drop-offs. There is an arch here covered with soft corals and the reef walls are filled with snapper. Rays and reef sharks are here, and whale sharks pass through from October to February. From June to September, migratory whales from Southern Africa pass through this area and are often seen breaching in deeper waters.

A little farther south towards Kilifi, there are dive sites at Mtwapa and Barracuda Reef. The outer edges here have large shoals of angel and butterfly fish, and there have been occasional sightings of whale sharks. Experienced divers will want to dive at the Vuma Caves near Kilifi Creek, just beneath the surface on the face of seaside cliffs. The open sea around the entrance is a good place to spot dolphins, while the interior of the caves is a refuge for eels, grouper, and barracuda. After exploring the caves, divers exit through a chimney to emerge through a hole in the reef above.

There are also dive sites along the coast south of Mombasa from Tiwi to Shimoni. Some of the best sites are centered on Kisiite Mpunguti Marine Park and Reserve where divers can sight massive manta rays. For experienced divers, the best option here is Nyulli Reef, a deep dive with strong tidal currents where spectacular coral, snapper, barracuda, and zebra sharks can be seen. A much easier dive is Kisite Point with its hawksbill turtles and bottlenose dolphins.