Located just offshore from the city of Mombasa, the park is easily reached, and in all, covers more than 200 square kilometers. The area in which diving is conducted is just part of the national reserve, covering just about 4 square miles. Patrolled by Kenya's wildlife service, and offering diverse marine life as well as splendid natural wonders topside, this portion of the park extends from the Mtwapa Creek mouth south to Likoni. With spectacular reefs at depths from just a few feet to well beyond recreational diving limits, Mombasa Marine Park has something for everyone.
Serena and Bamburi Reefs
A pair of reefs that are excellent for snorkeling and for beginning divers, Serena Reef and Bamburi Reef are shallow sites where you'll find yourself among beautiful corals, surrounded by vibrantly colored reef fish small and large. Watch for little butterfly fish and angelfish, as well as the occasional Moorish idol, and keep an eye out for the juvenile reef sharks, only a foot or two long, that can sometimes be found hiding underneath the coral structures. Remember not to touch anything - this area is populated by some small yet dangerous species including well hidden stonefish that look very much like lumps of coral or small rocks; they and the scorpionfish and leaf fish you'll sometimes encounter pack a powerful sting. Along the outer edges of the reef, watch for pelagic species like tuna and jacks, trevally, and the occasional ray; keep an eye out for turtles here, as well. During the monsoon season, visibility at these reefs is normally about 25 feet; during the remainder of the year, you'll enjoy visibility at better than 40 feet most of the time.
Nyali Corals, Ras Mkungombe, and Lucky Chance
Another fantastic set of dive sites suitable for all divers, these three sites can be played by mild currents between May and August, but for the rest of the year, they are as calm as the rest of the park's dive sites. With beautifully vibrant corals and sponges in an astonishing array of colors, these sites offer some small shipwrecks as well as some underwater caves. The marine life you'll encounter along the way is spectacular; large groupers and shoals of glassy sweepers can be found inside sheltered areas, while shoals of yellow and blue lined snappers are encountered in abundance. In addition, the site is home to octopus and lobster, moray eels, stingrays, the occasional ribbon ray, and an entire who's who list of nudibranchs and other invertebrates, as well as plenty of colorful crustaceans.
Even non-divers and those who don't wish to snorkel in your group can get a firsthand look at the corals and marine life at Mombasa Marine Park; glass bottomed boat tours are available for those who prefer to stay dry. Topside, there are trails to explore, plus, you can spend as long as you like lounging on the beach, watching the birds, and watching wildlife. Mombasa itself has plenty of accommodations at various levels, and local dive operators are friendly, accommodating, and well-equipped. An outstanding place to spend a day or two, Mombasa Marine Park is a treat for everyone.