Diani Beach · Kenya · Reef · Drift
Mwanyaza
Turtles and blue-spotted rays on a long sloping reef
Mwanyaza is a long, sloping coral reef off Diani Beach where turtles and stingrays are the regular sightings. Mild to moderate currents make it a natural drift dive, and the reef suits anything from a relaxed reef dive to a deeper exploration.
Where it is and how deep
4.3692° S, 39.5738° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The reef slopes from 10 m down to 25 m, and an average dive here sits around 14 m. The current carries divers along the reef past frogfish, ghost pipefish, lobsters and octopus in the coral, with turtles, blue-spotted rays and yellow striped snappers along the way. With the reef this close to the base, it serves beginners and experienced divers alike.
Marine life and season
- Sea turtles
- Stingrays
- Frogfish
- Octopus & cuttlefish
- Macro critters
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime |
Season follows Diani Beach: Late November to mid-March is the best time to travel, with whale sharks from November to February; April to June is the main rainy season.
Know before you go
- Mild to moderate currents run along the reef, suited to drift diving.
Dive videos
Diani Dive Sites - Mwanyaza Dive Briefing · Ocean Tribe- Scuba Dive Diani, Kenya on YouTube
Sources
- Kinondo dive site (with Diani sites list) — ScubaGo
- Mwanyaza dive site — Diving The Crab
- Mwanyaza dive site — ScubaGo
More dive sites in Diani Beach
Wreck
A purpose-sunk trawler carrying frogfish, nudibranchs and batfish
Drift
Coral ridges and sand channels with leaf fish and pegasus dragonfish
Reef
Barracuda schools over the most fish-rich reef on the south coast
Similar dives elsewhere
Manta cleaning stations on an amphitheatre of rock at 21-26 m
Table corals crowded with sweetlips and unicornfish
Turtles, reef sharks and devil rays, dived flat or as a drift
Durban's deep offshore reef, with caves used by migrating raggies.