Kenya’s southern coast section offers some of the country’s top dive sites and reefs to explore. The Diani Beach area of this stretch of coastline also boasts an incredible community of turtles, a purpose sunk shipwreck, and from November through until February, there is the chance to encounter whalesharks. Diani Beach is a crucial hotspot for turtles on the south Kenyan coast. Hawksbill and Green sea turtles are regularly seen while diving, and we are very fortunate to have such a healthy population. Not only do divers get to see these great creatures on dives, but they are also using Diani Beach as a nesting ground, returning to the same stretch of beach where they too would have been born many moons ago. Green turtles can grow to lengths of 1.5 meters and can weight a staggering 300kg! Despite their size, they can swim at upto 35km/h. Turtle nests take approximately 60 days to hatch, and the female turtle can lay between 100-200 eggs at a time. Both Hawksbill and Green turtles are currently classified as ‘Endangered’ due to hunting and poaching of eggs.

Diving in Diani offers countless opportunities for encounters with macro species and critters. The reefs themselves, and also the shipwreck that we can dive and explore offer a multitude of different species that will delight even the most demanding of macro lovers! Sunk on the 21st February 2002, MV Funguo ran aground on the reef outside Kilindini Harbor. She was salvaged and then re-sunk just off Diani Beach. Over the last 15+ years, the wreck has blossomed to become an artificial reef and home to a plethora of corals and fish. At an average depth of 22 meters, diving the Funguo wreck is a must for any experienced Advanced Open Water diver. With reefs and dive sites teeming with macro life, there are countless opportunities for great underwater photos to be taken around Diani Beach.

Learn about Diani Diving destinations below and click here to book your diving safari with us!