Snorkelling in Shimoni

At the South Coast of Kenya we find two of the best snorkeling and scuba diving sites in the country - Shimoni Village and Wasini Island. Shimoni is a village found 76 km south of Likoma, and close to the Kenya-Tanzania border. The village is most renowned for the Shimoni caves in which are found such artifacts as the well-preserved wooden crates used by slave masters to transport slaves to Arabia during the slave trade. Shimoni also marks the launching point to Wasini Island, situated a few minutes from Shimoni.

The Kisite-Mpunguti marine National Park lies just next to Wasini Island, about 75 miles south of Mombasa. It is reputedly Kenya's most accessible marine park. Kisite has a great diversity of fishes and coral, and its weather conditions are perfect for diving all the year round. Visitors can also snorkel off the reef of a rocky islet and the beautiful sand bar that appears out of blue ocean during low tide.

Wasini and the Kisite marine park are a snorkelers' and divers' haven, and host a great diversity of plant and animal life in the protected areas. There is an interesting and prolific bird-life there including the fish eagle and the rare palm-nut vulture.

Green and Hawksbill turtles and seven species of dolphins have been found in the Shimoni complex, and both turtles and dolphins are seen by visitors virtually on a daily basis. Humpback whales are seen regularly on their yearly migration in October and November.

Several fish have been observed in the area, and most fall into the following families - Large Wrasse, Emperors, Puffer fish, Butterfly fish, Trigger fish, Snappers and Groupers. The specific species found include Scorpion fish, Parrot fish, Wrasses, Moray eels, Cardinal fish, angel fish, Damsel fish and rays.

The main snorkeling site, accessible from either dhow or from the beach at low tide is a fringing reef near Kisite Island in the centre of the park. Many of the dive-sites fall within the park as well as the reserve. Behind Wasini Island there are two uninhabited islands Mpunguti Yaa Chini and Mpunguti ya Juu.

Click here to book your Snorkelling trip online.