Skip to content
Meet the full team, with certification cards →
ScubaDiving inMombasa &the South Coast
Most visitors arrive on this coast through Mombasa, then drive south to dive. From the airport, Diani is about 1 h 15 to 1 h 30 by road.
This page is for anyone working out where to stay, where to dive, and whether a day trip from the city is worth it.
Written by The Scuba Duka team · Reviewed by Ali, founder and Divemaster Instructor · October 2026
Mombasa and the South Coast are not the same diving
Mombasa is the gateway: an island city, a major port, and the airport most divers land at. It has its own marine national park and reefs off the northern beaches, and if you are staying in the city it is perfectly reasonable diving.
The South Coast is where the reef diving concentrates. South of Likoni the fringing reef sits close to shore, and we dive 15 regular sites between Tiwi and Chale. Diani, Galu, Tiwi, Ukunda and the run down to Kisite-Mpunguti are all part of it.
That is where we dive, from Soul Breeze Beach Resort in Diani.
The South Coast, briefly
Diani Beach →
The main base. Fringing reef a short boat ride offshore, the MV Alpha Funguo wreck at 17–31 m, and our centre.
Galu Beach →
Quieter, immediately south of Diani. Its own reef, and pickup is straightforward.
Tiwi Beach →
North of Diani, quieter still. Reached easily for a morning's diving.
Ukunda →
The inland town serving Diani, with the local airstrip.
Kisite-Mpunguti →
The marine park further south — a full-day trip.
Diving the South Coast from Mombasa
It is done regularly, and it works — provided you plan around the road rather than hope.
01
Leave early
Boats go out in the morning. From the airport or the SGR, the Dongo Kundu bypass takes about 1 h 15 to 1 h 30. From the island, the Likoni Ferry queue can add an hour. Tell us your hotel and we will give you a departure time.
02
Book the day, not the dive
A half-day trip plus travel each way is a full day out of your holiday. Worth it for the wreck or a good reef morning; less so for a single dive.
03
Or stay a night
Divers doing two or three days with us usually decide that staying on the South Coast beats the round trip. We can point you at accommodation we collect from.
What a half day on the boat involves
Two guided boat dives cost $110, with equipment, boat, guide, tanks, weights, hotel transfer, fruit and water included. The site is chosen on the morning from the tide and wind. A private Kisite-Mpunguti day is a full day: $700 for a small boat or $1,200 for a large one, plus $50 per diver and marine park fees. Prices and inclusions →
Hotel pickup is included across Diani, Galu, Tiwi, Ukunda and selected nearby accommodation. Pickup from Mombasa itself is arranged case by case — ask when you enquire.
Where to stay for the diving
Each of these has its own page with pickup detail and what the diving is like from there.
From Mombasa to the boat
Most guests land at Moi International Airport or arrive at the SGR terminus at Miritini. Both now connect to the South Coast by the Dongo Kundu bypass, so you no longer need the ferry.
Moi International Airport, via Dongo Kundu bypass1 h 15 – 1 h 30
SGR Mombasa Terminus, Miritini60–75 min
Mombasa island and Old Town, via Likoni Ferry1 h 30 – 2 h 30
Nyali and Bamburi, north coast2 h or more
Approximate drive times to the centre at Soul Breeze Beach Resort in normal traffic. Fridays, public holidays and heavy rain add time.
Mombasa and the coast south of it
What you pass and what is nearby, from the city to the Tanzanian border.
Mombasa itself
Fort Jesus, the 16th-century Portuguese fort, and the lanes of Old Town beside it are the reasons most visitors spend a day on the island. Haller Park, a former quarry turned nature park, is on the north mainland at Bamburi.
Mombasa Marine National Park lies off the northern beaches of Nyali, Bamburi and Shanzu, where most of the city’s beach hotels are.
Crossing south
The Likoni Ferry links the island to the south mainland and is still the direct route from Old Town. Queues can add anything from twenty minutes to over an hour.
The Dongo Kundu bypass, opened in 2024, runs from Miritini to the Likoni–Ukunda road and avoids the ferry altogether. From the airport or the SGR, it is the road we would use.
Down the coast road
South of Likoni comes Shelly Beach, then the turn-off for Tiwi, then Ukunda and Diani Beach Road. The 16th-century Kongo Mosque stands at the northern tip of Diani, at the mouth of the Mwachema River. Colobus Conservation and Kaya Kinondo, a sacred Digo forest, are towards the southern end near Galu.
Beyond Galu come Chale Island and Msambweni, and finally Shimoni, where boats leave for Wasini Island and Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park.
Inland
Shimba Hills National Reserve, reached from the coast road via Kwale, has sable antelope and Sheldrick Falls. Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary lies beyond it. Both make day trips from either Mombasa or Diani.
Medical
In Mombasa, the main private hospitals are the Aga Khan Hospital and The Mombasa Hospital, and Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital is the public referral hospital.
On the South Coast, Palm Beach Hospital in Ukunda is open 24 hours and Diani Beach Hospital is on Diani Beach Road.
Where to base yourself
Staying on the island or the north coast suits a day or two of diving. For a longer dive week, guests usually move south to Diani, Galu or Tiwi. The pages linked above cover each one.
Places are named so you can find your way around. Mentioning a hotel or restaurant here does not mean we have an arrangement with it.
Who you will dive with
Seven people run the centre, four of them born and raised in Diani Beach. Between the four instructors sit more than 13,000 logged dives on this stretch of the Indian Ocean. Two qualified dive guides, Sampuli and Captain Michael, guide dives alongside them.
Ali
Founder · Divemaster Instructor25+ years diving in Kenya and abroad. Born and raised in Diani Beach.
Kassim
Scuba Instructor17+ years and 8,000+ logged dives, from Diani to Kisite Mpunguti. SSI and PADI certified.
Salim Swaleh
Scuba Instructor4,000+ logged dives on Diani sites. Teaches SSI beginner to specialty courses.
Omari
Scuba InstructorSSI and PADI Open Water Instructor, 1,000+ logged dives. Shoots underwater photo and video.
Sampuli
Dive GuideBorn and raised in Diani Beach. 100+ logged dives. Guides guest divers and runs equipment checks.
Michael
Dive Guide · Captain20+ years scuba diving and captaining boats. Handles the boat and guides dives.
Frequently asked questions
Can you collect me from Mombasa?
Pickup is included across Diani, Galu, Tiwi and Ukunda. From Mombasa it is arranged case by case — ask when you enquire and we will be straight about the timing.
Is the diving better south of Mombasa?
For reef diving, the South Coast is where the sites and the centres are concentrated. Mombasa has its own marine park, which is worth diving if you are based in the city.
How long does the journey take?
In normal traffic, about 1 h 15 to 1 h 30 from the airport and 60 to 75 minutes from the SGR terminus, both via the Dongo Kundu bypass. From Mombasa island via the Likoni Ferry, allow 1 h 30 to 2 h 30. Tell us where you are staying and we will give you a departure time.
Is one day enough?
For two dives, yes. If you want the wreck and a reef morning and a Kisite day, plan on staying nearer the water.