Kisite Wasini Island Dhow Diving and Snorkeling Tour 2026/2027
This excursion begins with transfer pickup from your beach hotel and a drive to the south coast’s Shimoni Pier that overlooks the Wasini Channel.
When you arrive, you meet the experienced dive team and listen to a brief introduction about the trip and available options before setting sail in an authentic dhow.
As you sail to the park site, you may spot dolphin, including the rare humpback dolphin, as well as aquatic seabirds.
Kisite Wasini Island Diving
Once in the marine park, your adventure begins as you slowly go below the surface to enter an underwater realm that is filled with beautiful coral, fish, sea turtle and other inhabitants.
For snorkelers, the outer reef of a rocky islet gives you the chance to see underwater life from a unique vantage point of gazing down into the water to locate and observe the animals.
Later depart and be dropped off at your hotel.
Kisite Wasini Island Snorkeling Tour
Introduction:
Enjoy a full day at Kisite Marine Park for dhow sailing, dolphin spotting and snorkeling. You may also swim and sun bath.
Partake a mouthwatering Swahili seafood lunch at the Restaurant.
Have a glimpse of the local culture here by visiting Wasini Village.
The Island is within the Kisite Mpunguti Marine Reserve and is available to guests staying around Diani Beach.
This is a full day trip to the Kisite Mpunguti Marine National Park, South of Diani Beach near the Kenya Tanzania border.
Highlights:
- Look out for dolphins and turtles that inhabit the area
- Learn to snorkel with instructors, if you have not done so before
- Enjoy an excellent crab and fish lunch
- Take in the views from a cliff-top restaurant
Description
You are collected from your hotel in Diani Beach early in the morning and drive to Shimoni, a small fishing village.
On the way, pass by small villages, sugar cane plantations and fields of cassava.
On arrival at Shimoni you board a traditional Arabian Dhow to cruise to the Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park. Be sure to look out for dolphins as you head out to sea.
Tea, coffee, mineral water, soft drinks, biscuits, mandazis and pizza bread will be served on the dhow. You’ll go snorkeling at two different sites.
There will be plenty of photo opportunities, so bring your camera. If you have an underwater one, even better.
Kisite Wasini Island Snorkeling Tour
Admire the views and enjoy a delicious meal of fish and crab, followed by citronella tea or fresh Kenyan coffee.
Surrounded by a beautiful sandy beach, this island is a vital habitat for the various bird populations.
The Island is also a vital seabird sanctuary, and hosts colonies of roseate and sooty terns. The birds breed in July.
There plenty of turtles here and they ply through the clear waters. Look for green and hawksbill turtles gracefully swimming or sunning themselves on the rocks.
Formed in 1978, the group works to identify and implement projects that will generate income for the village.
The boardwalk takes you to excellent observation points to see the fossil coral gardens and mangroves.
You walk with an experienced and knowledgeable guide who explains the significance of the ecosystem, as well as mangrove species and significant coral formations.
Across the narrow channel from Shimoni is Wasini Island, 17 sq km of protected mangrove swamps and coral stone.
Two villages on the island house about 1500 inhabitants, mostly fishermen and craftsmen making items for the tourist trade.
Charlie Claw’s restaurant and bar is famous for massive seafood lunches.
Famously, the enormous crabs steamed in ginger and served on wooden platters washed down with a cold beer are a delicacy here.
Kisite Wasini Island Snorkeling Tour
There are loungers overlooking the channel and a small pool.
Coral gardens reef is accessible to all grades of divers and snorkeling is good at low tide.
Turtles and sharks swim over the reefs and dolphins often follow the dhows carrying tourists around the marine park.
Around Kisite island are several dive sites, the colorful fish here are notoriously tame.
The parrotfish is very tame and visitors often see huge lobsters, surgeonfish, snappers and leopard moray eels hiding in large holes in the coral.
The Park is an important breeding ground for the rare coconut crab; the world’s largest species of crab.
The crab eats mainly fruit including coconuts, which its strong claws can break open.
This area is one of the best places for game fishing in Africa, enormous marlin, sailfish, shark and tuna are among the regular catches.
The Package includes:
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Entry ticket for the Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park
- Dhow trip to Kisite Island.
- Use of snorkeling equipment
- Services of professionally trained marine escorts
- Tea, coffee, water or soft drinks on the dhow
- Lunch at the Restaurant.
Not suitable for:
- People with mobility impairments
- Wheelchair users
- Non-swimmers
Besides being one of the best snorkeling and diving areas along Kenya Coast.
Kisite Wasini Island Diving
The waters around Wasini are home to two species of dolphins: the gregarious bottlenose dolphin and the more elusive humpback dolphin.
Both dolphin species can be spotted in the vicinity of Wasini.
The humpback dolphin is more likely to be seen very close to Wasini’s shore, and the bottlenose dolphin generally a bit more offshore.
After lunch, relax for a while and then cruise back to the mainland for the drive back to your hotel and are dropped off.
Dhow Sailing Tour of Kisite Marine Park and Wasini Island
Conclusion:
Kisite Wasini Island Diving