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Mombasa Marine Park and National Reserve
Mombasa, a coral island off the coast of Kenya, has beautiful coral reef and marine life; this makes the whole experience of diving and snorkeling awesome. Mombasa has also a deep harbor called the Kilindini, which serves as a docking station for vessels serving the East African trading regions.
The area where the diving and snorkeling occur is north of Mombasa, extending from around the Mtwapa creek all the way south to the entrance of Likoni; this area is called the Mombasa Marine Park and National Reserve. In 1986, the Kenyan Government officially extended Mombasa Marine Parks and National Reserve its well-deserved status. Mombasa Marine Park encompasses 4 square miles, while the National Reserve extends 77 square miles.
The Mombasa Marine Park and National Reserve's pristine beauty has been kept in check by the efforts of the Kenya Wildlife Service. The depths for diving and snorkeling vary between 30 feet to 1000 feet. The reefs are of different types; there are multicolored hanging reefs and large corals, which complement the soft smooth sandy bottoms. Snorkeling in shallow depths will display the coral reefs close to the surface, providing sustenance to small marine life which otherwise would be unable to survive.
The Marine life at the Mombasa Marine and National Reserve is incredible. Plenty of diverse fish life can be seen by snorkels, divers, or from the "glass bottom boat". The glass bottom boat, we have to admit, is a fun experience. It makes the cautious come to an understanding regarding the complexity but yet the perfection of the interactions between water and marine life that live in it. On the other hand, the divers get to experience first hand the large pelagic game fishes like the barracuda or the snorkels get an awe of the brightly colored tropical fishes like snappers, both yellow and red camouflaging with similarly colored corals; sometimes even completing the white coral which present an unrepresented beauty well-deserving of picture taking.
Mombasa North Coast Dive Sites
Dive Location and Specific Sites: Mombasa Marine Park. Encompassing locations - Serena, and Bamburi coral and reefs.
Rating (out of 5): 4½.
Dive Level: Excellent for recreational snorkels and beginners; mild currents during monsoon (May to August); perfect during short rains season.
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Visibility: Approximately 25 feet during the monsoon season; greater than 40 feet during short rains season.
Temperature: Almost always greater than 74 F.
Comment: Opportunity for recreational divers to see beautiful multicolored corals and underwater life like tuna, turtles. Beautiful shells seen too.
Dive Location and Specific Sites: Mombasa Marine Reserve. Encompassing locations - Nyali corals, Ras Mkungombe and Lucky chance.
Rating (out of 5): 4.
Dive Level: Excellent for recreational and beginners; mild currents during monsoon (May to August); perfect during short rains season.
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Visibility: Approximately 20 feet during the monsoon season; greater than 35 feet during short rains season.
Temperature: Almost always greater than 74 F.
Comment: Opportunity for recreational divers to see beautiful multicolored corals. Opportunity to explore sunken ships and underwater caves. Many beautiful corals seen along with schools of fish. Proximity to local beach hotels makes it perfect for visitors.
Dive Location and Specific Sites: Likoni location. Specific sites - Likoni reef, Shelly beach reef and mahali ya phapa (place of sharks).
Rating (out of 5): 3½.
Dive Level: Intermediate to Experienced only; Strong current almost all year round.
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Visibility: Approximately 15 feet during the monsoon season; greater than 35 feet during short rains season.
Temperature: Almost always greater than 72 F.
Comment: This location has strong tidal currents, as it is the main channel converging the Indian Ocean through Likoni creek; It is fairly deep with abundance of large fish populations. Coral are not as pretty as the ones seen at other locations. Spectacular dive for experienced people. Divers should also be fairly strong swimmers.
Dive Location and Specific Sites: Depart from Malindi town; Barracuda Channel site.
Rating (out of 5): 3 ½.
Dive Level: Intermediate level minimum; strong tidal current during monsoon (May to August) bouncing off the channel may cause difficult conditions; Favorable during short rainy season.
Visibility: Approximately 12 feet during the monsoon season; greater than 30 feet during short rains season.
Temperature: Seasonal; almost always greater than 72 F.
Comment: Opportunity to view beautiful rose corals; diverse marine life.
Dive Location and Specific Sites: Malindi Marine Park; locations at the park Snorkeling Reef (Scuba point), Tewa Reef, Shark Point.
Rating (out of 5): 4½.
Dive Level: All levels; Favorable in all season.
Visibility: Greater than 30 feet.
Temperature: Seasonal; almost always greater than 72 F.
Comment: Opportunity to view beautiful corals brain, potato; fringing reefs and formation of underwater caves and islands; diverse marine life always seen.
Dive Location and Specific Sites: Encompassing the Watamu Marine Park. Specific locations Black Coral Reef, Dolphin Corner, Moray eel, Canyons and Manta.
Rating (out of 5): 4½.
Dive Level: All levels; Favorable in all season.
Visibility: Greater than 30 feet.
Temperature: Seasonal; almost always greater than 72 F.
Comment: Opportunity to view beautiful rainbow colored corals, for example beautiful blue sea cucumber. Known to have one of the best coral distributions on the African coast; overhangs and caves present; diverse marine life always seen schools of multicolored fish; dolphins also seen.
Dive Location and Specific Sites: Kilifi creek. Specific locations Kilifi Creek, Barracuda Reef, South Reef.
Rating (out of 5): 4.
Dive Level: Intermediate to Experienced level only; strong tidal conditions during monsoon (May to August) form strong currents; Mild currents during short rainy season. Divers also need to be good strong swimmers.
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Visibility: Approximately 15 feet during the monsoon season; greater than 35 feet during short rains season.
Temperature: Seasonal; almost always greater than 70 F.
Comment: This location has plenty of coral, caves and overhangs. Aggressive fishing tactics by locals had burdened the coral reef and fish; conditions have drastically improved since government stepped in. Floor of the sea reveals amazing sea anemones. Visited by diverse marine life because of its dept and tidal conditions. Large school of fish seen.
Dive Location and Specific Sites: Departing from Nyali. Specific Locations - Famous Vuma.
Rating (out of 5): 5.
Dive Level: Experienced level only; very strong tidal conditions during monsoon (May to August) forms strong currents; Strong currents all year round.
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Visibility: Approximately 15 feet during the monsoon season; greater than 40 feet during short rains season.
Temperature: Almost always greater than 74 F.
Comment: Famous for diving and fishing. There are a number of caves. The deep reefs form perfect location for fish hideout. Number of large fishes likes King fishes (nguru), Sharks (phapa) are seen along with blue rays, dolphins. Perfect for viewing diverse large fish life.
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