Africa · Kenya
Wasini Island & Kisite-Mpunguti
Easy reef dives in a marine park where dolphins are seen most days
Photo: Ewout Knoester · CC BY-SA 4.0
Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park lies off Shimoni and south of Wasini Island, on Kenya's southern coast near the Tanzanian border. Its dives take in Kisite Island Reef, a gentle slope of hard corals, Secret Place with its soft coral garden, and Nyuli, a plunging reef for experienced divers. Most dives run between 5 and 18 m. The draw is the park's dolphins, seen on most days.
About diving in Wasini Island & Kisite-Mpunguti
Diving here is by boat from Shimoni, the start and finish point for trips to Wasini Island. Most visitors arrive on prepaid packages organised outside Wasini and Shimoni, and the dhow safaris fit one or two scuba dives into the marine park at Inner and Outer Kisite. More than 10 sites lie close to Wasini, both inside and outside the park, and local centres take divers to either. The Kenya Wildlife Service monitors the park and charges an entry fee.
The park's sites range from shallow hard-coral slopes and a soft coral garden to a deep drop-off. Sea turtles graze on the corals, blue-spotted stingrays dart away across the reef, and lionfish, crocodile fish camouflaged in the sand, octopus and squid fill out a dive. Visibility often exceeds 20 m in the dry months. In December 2021 the park received a gold Blue Park Award for the standard of its marine life protection and management.
Kisite-Mpunguti suits beginners and divers returning after a long break, who get relaxed reef dives inside a protected park on a day that also carries a good chance of dolphins. Experienced divers looking for more have Nyuli, a drop-off of robust coral formations with schools of barracuda, and the Shimoni Caves, an advanced dive because of strong currents.
Best time to dive Wasini Island & Kisite-Mpunguti
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime |
Diving is possible all year. The seas are at their calmest from November to March, the months when whale sharks are most likely. April opens the rainy season, when wind and currents can affect visibility, and May and June bring a strong current and a very turbulent sea. From July to September the water cools to 24 to 26 °C, and from October whale sharks become more likely again ahead of the calm months.
Dive types & marine life
Dolphins are seen on most days, though as wild animals they cannot be guaranteed. Whale sharks pass occasionally, mostly between October and March, and humpback whales are seasonal visitors. Sea turtles are a regular sight grazing on the reef.
- Reef
- Muck & macro
- Dolphins
- Sea turtles
- Whale sharks
- Whales
- Stingrays
Best dive sites in Wasini Island & Kisite-Mpunguti
- 1
Kisite Island Reef
Fringing reef on a gently sloping wall of hard corals from the surface to 18 m, with little or no current.
- 2
Nyuli Reef
Plunging reef to 32 m with strong currents that draw big pelagic life, for seasoned divers.
- 3
Secret Place
Soft coral garden full of small creatures, suited to new divers and macro photographers.
Site guides
A calm hard-coral slope fringing Kisite Island, inside the marine park
Wall
A plunging reef where strong currents pull in pelagic fish
How to get to Wasini Island & Kisite-Mpunguti
International travellers fly into Mombasa, directly or via Nairobi, and a small airport at Ukunda serves Diani Beach. Shimoni is the start and finish point for trips to Wasini Island, and tours to the park are sold at travel agencies in Diani Beach and Ukunda.
Photos from Wasini Island & Kisite-Mpunguti
rcrhee · CC BY-SA 2.0
Dive videos
Diving in Kenya ( Tauchen in Kenia) Diani Beach, Wasini Island Kisite Turtle Place water Snake wreck · Diving Seraph on YouTube
WASINI ISLAND & KISITE MPUNGUTI MARINE PARK (Amazing and extended underwater footage!!) · KIARIE EXPLORES KE on YouTube
Questions divers ask
Is Kisite-Mpunguti suitable for beginners?+
Yes for the reef dives, which suit beginners and divers who have not dived for a long time. Nyuli and the Shimoni Caves have strong currents and are for experienced divers.
Is there a park fee for diving Kisite-Mpunguti?+
Yes. The Kenya Wildlife Service monitors the marine park and charges an entry fee.
When is the best time to dive Kisite-Mpunguti?+
November to March, when the seas are calmest and whale sharks pass occasionally. April to June is the rainy season, when wind and currents can affect visibility.
How do divers get to Kisite-Mpunguti?+
By boat from Shimoni, the start and finish point for trips to Wasini Island. Park tours are sold at travel agencies in Diani Beach and Ukunda, and international travellers usually fly into Mombasa.
Are dolphins guaranteed at Kisite?+
No. Dolphins are seen on most days, but as wild animals they cannot be guaranteed.
Sources
- Diving | Pilli Pipa Dhow Safari — Pilli Pipa Dhow Safari
- Diving | Kisite — SSI
- Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park — Wikipedia
- Wasini Island — Wikipedia
- Shimoni — Wikipedia
- Diani Beach — Wikivoyage
- Wasini Island as a Dive Base — wasini.net
Photo credits
- A grey-green rabbitfish with small blue spots and an orange-brown head swims over a seagrass bed by Ewout Knoester, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- A small sailing canoe with three people passes waves breaking on a low coral-rock cliff topped by baobab trees by rcrhee, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Embed
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Whale sharks from November to February and 29 sites within 40 minutes
Whale sharks are near-certain November to May, with mantas on the outer reefs.
Manta cleaning stations on the reefs and whale sharks at the surface all year
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Half a century of protection on one of Africa's oldest marine reserves