Diving in Kenya With Bonfire Adventures

Author: Content AdminDate: Fri Jan,2024

There are 6 Marine Parks and Reserves in Kenya; Mombasa, Kisite Mpunguti, Malindi, Watamu, Kiunga and Diani-Chale. These parks are natural diving sites popular with experienced and novice divers.

Below are our picks for the top 5 diving spots in Kenya to help you plan your next scuba adventure in the country.

Nyuli Reef, Shimoni
Nyuli Reef in Shimoni has a deep dive wall where two currents meet. A coral reef wall starts at about 28m, and the site is suitable for experienced divers only.
Look out for Napoleon wrasse, White tip reef sharks, and Manta Rays.

Turtle Reef, Watamu
Located in the Watamu Marine Park and Reserve, north of Mombasa, Turtle Reef is one of the best diving spots in Kenya.
As a novice diver, this is my favorite site. It’s a shallow dive between 10 and 15 meters deep. Here you’ll spot the surgeonfish, parrotfish, and green turtles.

Mombasa Marine Park
Scuba diving at the Mombasa Marine Park is possible all year round. This is mainly because of the suitable conditions of the inside lagoon. There’s no need for wet suits here as water temperatures range between 25°C and 32°C. So whether you’re a beginner or an expert diver looking for a diving spot in Kenya with spectacular marine life and colorful fish, try Mombasa Marine Park.

Vuma Caves, Kilifi
Scuba diving in caves is one of the most thrilling diving adventures. And the dark corners of the Vuma Caves in Kilifi offer just that. The dive spot is located about 40 minutes by boat from Kilifi Creek, north of Mombasa City.
Its average depth is 20 meters, making it suitable only for experienced divers.
You should expect to see large species of marine life, such as reef fish, green sea turtles, manta rays, and barracuda. Also, look out for reef sharks, dolphins, snappers, and groupers.

Galu Reef, Diani
Galu reef is a dive site situated only a short 10 minutes boat ride from Sands at Nomad. The reef is home to attractive corals and groups of rare fish species. With an average depth of 15m, the dive spot is suitable for divers of all levels, from beginners to experienced ones.
During the diving trip, you can see turtles, ghost pipefish, leaffish, sea horses, and frogfish.

Kinondo Reef, Diani
Also accessed from Sands at Nomad is the Kinondo Reef diving site (30 minutes away). At an average depth of 15m, the site is suitable for intermediate and experienced divers.
The diving spot is popular among divers due to its high fish population compared to other sites along the south coast of Kenya.
You can expect to see the yellow and blue snappers, triggerfish, lobsters, Napoleon wrasse, and barracuda.

Artificial Dive Wrecks
To complement the fascinating natural reefs and cave dives are artificial wrecks. These purposefully sunk ships and fishing trawlers attract marine life and are great diving spots.
They include the Alpha Funguo Wreck, Waa Wreck, and MV Diana in Diani.