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Country: Kenya Area: Kenya
Water Temp: 21 - 30°C (70 - 86°F)
Visibility: 5 - 20m (16 - 66 ft)
Depth Range: 10 - 30m (33 - 98 ft)
Book A Diving Trip OnlineDiani Beach is a major beach resort on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya in eastern Africa located 30 kilometers south of Mombasa, in the nearby Kwale County.
Book A Dive Center OnlineThe white sands of Diani Beach offer facilities and equipment for a holistic water sports holiday, above, on or below the water.
The reefs are home to huge shoals of fish and undersea predators.
Small leopard Moray with bigger Moray, Credit
Diani is also a gateway for the smaller near-by diving destination Shimoni which features dive sites including Nyulli Reef. Shimoni Dive Centers tend to provide pick-up from Diani.
The general area is known for its coral reefs, black-and-white colobus monkeys, and the closely located Shimba Hills National Reserve, a wildlife reserve which looks out over the Indian Ocean. Diani Beach has a range of restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, and several shopping centers and is also a popular kite surfing location. Diani offers several different coral reef formations and wreck sites. The reefscontain hard and soft corals and teem with tropical fish common to the Indian Ocean. Most of the formations are relatively shallow allowing for long down times with minimum surface interval requirements. The deeper sites include sunk artificial reefs off Diani coast. Because the shallow water stretches out for several kilometers with numerous sandbars, most of these sites take 30 minutes or more to get to.
The beach, Credit
Diani Beach has two windy seasons historically called the trade winds. The Kaskazi blows at between 18 to 25 knots from the North-North East from November to April. Traditionally it brought warm winds and the Dhows (sailing cargo boats) down the coast from Arabia to the East African Sea Board for Trade.
The Kusi blows at between 25 and 30 knots from June to October. It brings cooler air from the Southern Indian Ocean and propelled the heavily laden Dhows back to Arabia with ivory, spices and slaves.
Rough swells in May and June make it difficult (but not impossible) to get to some dive sites.
But Diani Beach is always warm – even when it rains!
Egg Cowries , Credit
Much of the conservation around Diani beach occurs through volunteer-based non-governmental organizations. In terms of marine conservation, projects largely revolve around sea turtles and whale sharks.
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There is no shore diving off Diani beach.
All diving in Diani is done by boat. In general this involves two dives in the morning, and back in time for a late lunch.
The dive sites are divided into two halfs: the north and south parts of the beach.
Ribbon Eel, Credit
There are a few wrecks in the region. The first, HMS Hilday, sank in 1945 and is surrounded by a number of rare fish. The MFV Funguo sank in 2002 and was relocated as an artificial reef in the area.
Turtles are often seen at Kasa Kubwa, a gentle slope with coral formations and at Kongo, another gently sloping reef. Maru, by contrast, is one of the more unusual reefs, with dense areas of whip coral and sea fans. Here, there are plenty of yellow snapper and baracuda. Galu Reef has rarer creatures, including sea horses, ghost pipe fish, flying gurnards and leaf fish. At the Igloo, there are large populations of sweetlips and octopus.
Leaf Scorpionfish, Credit
Advanced divers may be interested in Pongwe, one of the area’s drift dive sites. Maweni also is good for drift dives, and gives divers a better chance of seeing mantas and pelagic fish.
Most questions are answered by our
diving community within 24 hours
The nearest international airport is Moi International Airport in Mombasa, only 35km away but with traffic the transfer can take up to 4 hours. International charter flights come in from many European destinations while Ethiopian Airways and Emirates both have good connections.
Diani Beach Seaside, Credit
The other option is to fly to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and transfer to Wilson Airport for a domestic flight direct to Diani Beach (Ukunda Airstrip).
Most questions are answered by our
diving community within 24 hours
Forty Thieves Beach Bar is the centre of all entertainment along the beach, with evening discos, weekend parties and special events. They also have a Bistro with pizzas and seafood. Ice cold Tusker Beer is available as well.
Beer! Credit
Ali Barbours Cave Restaurant next door offers fine dining in an ancient coral cave where the roof has collapsed, but this offers views of the night sky.
Most questions are answered by our
diving community within 24 hours
Kayaking, water skiing, wind surfing, kite surfing, sky diving, stand up paddling, deep sea fishing, spas, shopping, cultural and heritage tours, safaris , etc. are all available.
Water skiing, Credit
A day excursion to the Kisite Marine park offers great diving, snorkelling for non-divers and try diving for beginners. The excursion is to suitable for all ages.
Back on the beach, many of the hotels have dedicated kiddie clubs where children can have fun while mum and dad are out diving. A few watersports centre offer children's programs.
Diani beach also has Kenya’s only sky diving club.
Most questions are answered by our
diving community within 24 hours
Be very wary of accepting ‘special deals’ from the beach boys -- there is a reason why these deals are so cheap.
Without insurance, tourists may find themselves in a completely different location from the one they booked.
White-banded Cleaner Shrimp, Credit
The Kenyan Navy has a hyperbaric chamber at their base in Mombassa (40km north), which they allow tourists to use. The nearest public decompression chamber in Tanzania is located in Matemwe on the island of Zanzibar.
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