Dive Mombasa

Ocean Tribe offers a massive range of PADI dive courses up to advanced PADI Instructor levels and a diving and snorkelling equipment shop.

We are also a recognized Disabled Divers International Instructor Training Centre, offering scuba opportunities for people with disabilities.

Diving in Kenya includes coral reefs, wrecks, caverns and more including some of the most pristine corals in the world.

We often get asked by our divers which of the Kenya dive sites you will visit on your dive safaris with Ocean Tribe in Diani Beach, Kenya. Ocean Tribe runs daily diving trips to both the local Diani reef and wreck dive sites as well as the Kisite National Marine Park. All of these sites rank amongst Kenya’s best dive sites and have remarkably unspoiled coral and a wide range of marine life.

Diani’s dive sites offer opportunities for awesome underwater encounters from the giant whale shark and manta rays (from October to March) with a vast array of macro marine life and a very large turtle community. There is also a shipwreck which was purpose sunk as an artificial reef.

Daily dive sites are selected based on conditions and the experience levels of the divers but the dive sites can cater to a large range of divers from beginner to advanced level

All of the dive sites are within a half an hour’s boat ride and are visited on two tank dive trips. The exception to this is the Kisite National Marine park dives which are done on a full day out on a dhow.

A Diani diving holiday would not be complete without a day dive safari in nearby Kisite-Mpunguti National Marine Park. The park is a protected marine sanctuary offering excellent chances to spot more elusive marine life such as dolphins, which are regularly encountered on our trips. The day out is also an excellent trip for non-divers, offering a boat ride on a traditional dhow and great snorkelling opportunities.

We depart from Diani at around 7:30 am headed down to the port of Shimoni, infamous in history as the loading point for slaves bound for the markets of Zanzibar. From Shimoni we ride on a traditional African dhow around Wasini Island out to the marine park sanctuary of Kisite-Mpunguti.

After equipment assembly and a dive brief it’s time for a dive. Dives typically last between 40-50 minutes with a PADI Divemaster+ as a guide. During the dive, the boat is moored up so snorkellers can also enjoy the Kisite Reef.

During the surface interval, you can chill in the sun, or have a snorkel and play before another dive brief and back into the water.

Once both dives have been completed we take a leisurely cruise around Wasini Island back to Shimoni for lunch before the transfer back to your hotel in Diani.
Commonly encountered bigger animals at Kisite include dolphins and green turtles, in addition to the common coral reef fish inhabiting the area.

Ocean Tribe dolphin-watching safaris in Diani give everyone the opportunity to see dolphins, up-close and personal in their natural environment.
We hope to be able to see dolphin pods on the surface and if conditions allow, and depending on swimming abilities, to get in the water with these awesome mammals.

In the open ocean, it is not unusual for a dolphin to swim up to 65km each day. They are also highly social animals with extremely advanced fishing techniques.

What Will I see on the Dolphin Watching Safari in Diani?

The dolphin-watching safaris in Diani will take you up and down the Diani coastline trying to locate dolphin pods to give you a sighting of them. The boat ride in itself on our comfortable dolphin safari catamarans is a thrill as we go out over the outer reef of Diani and begin the dolphin-watching cruise.

Dolphins do tend to be visible in the same locations for much of the year, however, our tours are only run during certain months to give you optimal viewing conditions and avoid choppy seas, wind, and rain. We rely on our skippers to decide whether a dolphin-watching tour goes ahead and the departure times and trip durations.

Whale shark safaris in Diani offer you the chance to get in the water with the largest fish in the Ocean, the Whale Shark. Whale shark season in Diani generally runs from October through to March with the peak stage being January and February. However, that is not to say that there are no chances of seeing them at other times of the year.

The boat tours will go up and down the Diani coast searching for whale sharks. When they locate whale sharks, the boat captains will then take you to hopefully snorkel close to these magnificent creatures.

Can I swim with the whale sharks?

If you can swim then the answer to this question is yes. Of course, you can swim with the whale sharks on the whale shark safaris in Diani.
The chance to be in the water with the world’s biggest fish can be both exhilarating and serene all in one feeling. You will feel tiny compared to these giants who can grow up to several metres in length. Size isn’t something to worry about.

Whale sharks are curious around people but this has absolutely nothing to do with lunch. Their diet typically consists of plankton, copepods, krill, and fish eggs.

When it is time to jump into the water, an Ocean Tribe PADI Divemaster will be in the water with you as your guide, ensuring you swim a safe distance with the fish. You’ll be dropped in the water close to the whale shark, and your guide will tell you when to put your head in the water and start swimming. Check out the marvel of the large white spots on the whale sharks’ backs and the distinctive ridges which one might even mistake for stripes. Be awed by the Papa Shillingi.

Our Tsavo and Amboseli drive and safari package combines the incredible sites of Tsavo East and Amboseli National parks with the amazing diving of the Indian Ocean in Diani Beach. The 10 night trip includes stays at Satao Camp in Tsavo East, and Ol Tukai lodge in Amboseli, before transit to the luxury Baobab Beach Resort and Spa in Diani where you can depart for daily dive trips.

The package enables you to see the best of land and ocean that Kenya has to offer, including the chance of seeing the big 5 (lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo, and rhino) on land before going to encounter the corals, turtles, whale sharks and more in the ocean.

Your safari will be in large 4×4 Land Cruisers with a knowledgeable guide to hopefully enable you to find and see the famous animals in Africa.

When you are not on safari or diving the white powder sands of Diani are the perfect place to relax in style, as well as enjoy Kenya’s local culture, restaurants, and bars. The Swahili coast offers lots to see as well such as the Omani constructions in Mombasa Old Town, the Shimoni Slave Caves, and local craft and food markets. For those who still need a little adrenaline, Diani has lots more activities including kite surfing and skydiving. Trust us you will not get bored.

Our Masai Mara drive and safari package combines the incredible spectacle of the World Famous Masai Mara reserve with the amazing diving of the Indian Ocean in Diani Beach. The 10-night trip includes stays at the Zebra Plains Camp in the Mara before transit to the luxury Baobab Beach Resort and Spa in Diani where you can depart for daily dive trips.

The package enables you to see the best of land and ocean that Kenya has to offer, including the chance of seeing the big 5 (lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo, and rhino) on land before going to encounter the corals, turtles, whale sharks and more in the ocean.

Your safari will be in large 4×4 Land Cruisers with a knowledgeable guide to hopefully enable you to find and see the famous animals in Africa.

When you are not on safari or diving the white powder sands of Diani are the perfect place to relax in style, as well as enjoy Kenya’s local culture, restaurants, and bars. The Swahili coast offers lots to see as well such as the Omani constructions in Mombasa Old Town, the Shimoni Slave Caves, and local craft and food markets. For those who still need a little adrenaline, Diani has lots more activities including kite surfing and skydiving. Trust us you will not get bored.