Africa · Kenya
Mombasa, Nyali & Bamburi
A protected fringing reef and the MV Dania wreck, close to the beach
Mombasa's north coast, from Nyali to Bamburi, faces a fringing coral reef protected as Mombasa Marine National Park, Kenya's most popular marine park. Boats leave from the beachfront hotels for the coral gardens of Nyali Reef, the white tip reef sharks of Shark Point and the scuttled cargo ship MV Dania, with most dives between 12 and 24 m. What brings divers here is easy boat access to a protected reef with a wreck ten minutes offshore.
About diving in Mombasa, Nyali & Bamburi
Diving here is by boat, and boats often leave directly from beachfront hotels. Trips usually run as two-tank dives, with night dives also on offer. The MV Dania lies 1.5 km (0.93 mi) off Ras Iwetine in Bamburi, about ten minutes by motorboat, and has a safe mooring buoy for dive boats. The reef sites sit inside Mombasa Marine National Park, a 10 km² park within a 200 km² reserve that takes in the reef crest of the Bamburi-Nyali fringing reef and part of the lagoon.
The diving is on fringing coral reef and on wrecks, of which three can be visited. Nyali Reef holds coral gardens busy with angelfish and butterflyfish. Shark Point is a reef slope on a sand flat. The Dania lies on a sandy bottom at 30 m (98 ft), with its highest parts at 12 m (39 ft) at low tide, and has been colonised by a wide diversity of animal species.
The coast suits divers who want warm water and short rides from a beach hotel. Newer divers have the easy coral gardens of Nyali Reef, which also suit freediving, and training runs at all levels, from beginners to experienced divers, with snorkelling trips for non-divers. The Dania is a technical dive for advanced divers because of its depth and complexity.
Best time to dive Mombasa, Nyali & Bamburi
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Prime | Prime |
The best diving runs from November to March, when the seas are calmest and visibility peaks. The major rains fall between mid-April and late May. From May to October the southeast monsoon raises wind and current and cuts visibility, making conditions less favourable. A minor wet season comes in October and November before the calm months return.
Dive types & marine life
White tip reef sharks gather at Shark Point, where turtles, Napoleon wrasse, giant and leopard moray eels, scorpionfish and giant groupers are also very common.
- Reef
- Wreck
- Reef sharks
- Sea turtles
- Napoleon wrasse
- Groupers
- Barracuda
Best dive sites in Mombasa, Nyali & Bamburi
- 1
Shark Point
Reef slope from 12 m to about 24 m, with a good chance of white tip reef sharks.
- 2
MV Dania
Scuttled cargo ship on a moored buoy, surrounded by barracuda and groupers.
- 3
Nyali Reef
Easy coral gardens with angelfish and butterflyfish, suited to scuba and freediving.
- 4
Leven Reef
Coral reef inside the marine park and the main attraction for divers on this coast.
Site guides
Wreck
A former livestock carrier sitting upright on the sand, ringed by barracuda
Shallow coral gardens a short ride from the city
Reef
White tip reef sharks gathering on a marine-park reef slope
How to get to Mombasa, Nyali & Bamburi
Mombasa has an international airport, Moi Airport, and a taxi is the most common way from the airport to the city centre. The dive centres are based on Mombasa's North Coast.
Photos from Mombasa, Nyali & Bamburi
Andrew Thomas from Shrewsbury, UK · CC BY-SA 2.0
Dive videos
Mombasa North Coast / Kenya / Scuba Diving January 2013 · Peponi Divers Mombasa on YouTube
Best Diving & Snorkeling Team in Mombasa | Tropical DIving Kenya |MOMBASA MARINE PARK · East African Foodie on YouTube
Questions divers ask
When is the best time to dive Mombasa's north coast?+
November to March, when the seas are calmest and visibility is at its peak. From May to October the southeast monsoon brings more wind and current and lower visibility.
What certification is needed for the MV Dania wreck?+
The Dania is rated for advanced divers because of its depth and complexity; it sits on sand at 30 m (98 ft), with its highest parts at 12 m (39 ft) at low tide.
Are the dives from shore or by boat?+
By boat. Boats often depart directly from the beachfront hotels, and the ride to the Dania takes about ten minutes.
Sources
- About us - Papamanyota Diving Center — Papamanyota Diving Center
- Tropical Diving Mombasa Kenya — Tropical Diving Kenya
- Mombasa — Wikivoyage
- MV Dania — Wikipedia
- Mombasa Marine National Park and Reserve — Wikipedia
- Scuba Diving Kenya — SCUBA Travel
- Diving in Mombasa — SSI
Photo credits
- A pale grey sea anemone among seagrass in clear shallow water, with about twenty small black fish with white spots over it by Andrew Thomas from Shrewsbury, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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