The Kenyan coast is fast becoming the most recognized area to view the magnificent Whale Sharks. Beautiful, powerful, magnificent and most of all simply immense. This is the whale shark. The sheer size of this creature, coupled with the fact that it eats only plankton, has led divers to be completely fascinated by it. Wanting only to encounter it where ever possible. The whale sharks are found around the South Coast all year round, but you can see them in their large numbers from October/November through to March.
1. Dive sites at Watamu Marine Park and Kiliffi
It is a protected areas where sea-life abounds. Most of the diving sites are just outside the main fringing coral reefs that protect Turtle Bay. All are within the jurisdiction of Kenya Wildlife Service, and are protected areas, either as National Marine Parks or National Marine Reserves. Within Turtle Bay there is Turtle Reef, 10-15 metres deep. Here are many large coral heads, the haunt of shoals of larger parrot fish, surgeon fish, unicorn fish and a few resident whitetip reef sharks. Green turtles are also seen here if you are lucky. The other attraction within the lagoon where beginners get to dive is the Coral Gardens where it is easy to see hundreds of species of fish.
2. Scuba diving at Vuma Caves
Scuba diving in caves is one of the most exciting diving adventure. The deep, dark corners of the caves hide huge groupers up to 300kgs – quite a stunning sight! The dive site at Vuma Caves is approximately 40 minutes boat ride from Kilifi Creek (45 km south of Watamu). The caves are at the bottom of some shoreline cliffs, where you descend to a sandy bottom at approximately 20 metres, swim along the reef for a bit looking at the reef fish, and not forgetting to look out to the deep sea where you may have a chance to glimpse dolphins, sharks, barracuda etc. After entering the caves you may come across large groupers & snappers ‘lurking’ towards the back! You can then swim up a ‘chimney’ and emerge on the top of the reef at approximately 10 metres.
3. Dive sites at Diani Beach
A 48m fishing trawler, this is the first-ever wreck to be purposefully created on the East African coast. Sunk 2 years ago by Diving the Crab, in conjunction with the local dive community, this wreck sits in 28m of water. The wreck starts at 17m and has already attracted many large fish. Prepare to see the usual fish but 3 times bigger!
4. Camp Site
Suitable for all level of experience. See the largest rose corals in Kenya. They flow down the reef slope and are accompanied by fragile salad corals. Living inside these corals, spot butterfly and angelfishes as well as puffers and trunkfishes. Diving depth from 8-23 m. Travelling from Tiwi Beach Resort 15 min.
5. Galu
Suitable for all level of experience. Turtles again, and meet our reef musician the Guitarray! See squids performing their bridal dance as well as the most beautiful soft corals. Diving depth from 8-24 m. Travelling time from Tiwi Beach Resort ca. 40 min.
6. Kisiwani
Suitable for all level of experience. A dive site rich in fish and with a beautiful underwater landscape. See schools of snapper, sweetlips, banner-fishes and big cleaner stations. Dive depth from 08-25m. Travelling time from Tiwi Beach Resort 55 min.
7. Kinondo
Suitable for certified Diver. Also called “fish-soup”. See schools of snapper, barrakuda, red-tooth-trigger fish, giant morray eels, crocodile fish and watch the huge potatoe grouper being cleaned. Dive depth from 12 -34m. Travelling time from Tiwi Beach Resort ca. 60 min.
8. Maisha Marefu
Our biggest patch reef (small individual coral reef distributed over sandy bottom) at the south coast. Top reef starts at 8m, sloping down to a maximum of 26m in the sandy areas. Good spot for whale sharks. Travelling time 35 min.
9. Maweni
Starting at 6m, huge brain corals form ‘walls’ to 24m. Overhangs and pillars make a total contrast to a flatter reef. You will feel as though you are within a mountain range. Dolphins are often seen in this area. Travelling time 35 min.
10. New Place
Not really new but well known and loved by divers is this 1.8 km long reef ideal for drift dives. The smoothly descending reef slope, starting at 6m in the surf zone down to maximum 21m at the sandy bottom. Good spot for seeing turtles. Travelling time 20 min.
11. Samaki Mbili
Suitable for all level of experience. Here you can spot many turtle as well as white-tip reef sharks, meet-a-leaf that is a fish, spot snake-eels and giant crayfish. Diving depth from 8-25 m. Travelling time from Tiwi Beach Resort ca. 40 min.
12. Shark Alley
This reef has been named after its famous “guitar sharks” and white tip reef sharks. Reef starts at 7m, with a maximum depth of 24m. Travelling time 15 min.
13. Tewa
Suitable for all level of experience. Beautiful reef with coral islands surrounded by white sand. Enjoy the light-flooded reef harmony and spot the birdy looking lion fish, blue spotted sting-rays undercover hiding in the white coral sand. Diving depth from 8-24 m. Travelling time from Tiwi Beach Resort ca. 50 min.
14. Tiwi Reef
Suitable for all degree of enjoy. Enjoy diving on a wall, have a look at all small holes and caves. See the boneless octopuss adapting to its environment. Watch colleges of rudder fish passing overhead and comply with the yellowtail barrakudas thru the reef. Diving intensity from five- 23 m. Travelling time from Tiwi Beach Resort five min. Anchor buoy.
15. Twiga
Suitable for all degree of enjoy. See the maximum exceptional coral garden. Huge range on difficult and tender corals. Mountainlike they strech from shallow depthes round eight m all of the manner right all the way down to the lowest of the reef in approximately 25 m. Diving intensity from eight-27 m. Travelling time from Tiwi Beach Resort 15 min.
16. Two Towers
Suitable for all degree of enjoy. At this dive web web page you've got got a 90% hazard to peer the endangered Green Sea Turtle. Also spot Hawksbill Turtle. The tender coral cowl at this dive site is breathtaking. See the below water global in purple and lilac. Diving intensity from eight-18 m. Travelling time from Tiwi Beach Resort 25 min.
17. Waa Wreck
A forty m lengthy Vessel, the HMS Hildasay, which sank withinside the 50´s. Keel up, it lies in a intensity of 24 m. You can spot numerous scorpion-, frog- and lionfish. large honeycomb morrays, guitar- and stingrays. Due to the intensity handiest appropriate for superior divers. Travelling time from Tiwi Beach Resort approximately 20 min.
18. Waa Coral
Close to the Waa-Wreck this dive web web page is appropriate for all degree of enjoy. The intensity in this dive web web page lies among eight and 25 m. Waa Coral is appropriate for waft dives. A waft dive means, going with the current, the boat will comply with the divers, so that you do now no longer want to return back lower back to the anchor line. By doing this you could enjoy maximum range at the reef. At Waa Coral you spot large potatoe groupers coming for a cleansing provider to the cleaner-stations on the Reef. Turtles waft round and large reef rays as well. Travelling time from Tiwi Beach Resort 20 min.
19. Waa Ufa
Is the continuation of Waa Coral. As this reef is superbly protected with corals, and additionally the slowest breather will end his tank after a sure time, right here you could enjoy extra of the lovely Waa area. See exceptional tender corals in addition to difficult corals. Travelling time from Tiwi Beach Resort 20 min.
