Shimoni sits at the southern tip of the Kenyan coast, where diving takes place inside Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park in the Indian Ocean. The park's protected status has kept its reefs in good condition, and sites range from shallow sandbanks and reef tops to walls and caves reaching around thirty metres. Topography varies considerably across the six sites in our database: Kisite Sandbank and Kisite Marine Park suit beginners in gentle, shallow water, while Kisite Outer Reef and Kisite Point offer walls, drop-offs, and moderate currents for intermediate divers. Green sea turtles and bluespotted fantail rays are regularly recorded, and whale sharks appear seasonally. All sites are reached by boat from the Shimoni jetty, and two operators run trips into the park. Conditions are best during the drier months.
Monthly water temperature across Shimoni's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water temperatures stay warm year-round, peaking in March and April and dropping slightly through the mid-year months before rising again toward the end of the year. The drier months generally bring the most settled conditions and better visibility, which at its best reaches thirty metres on sheltered sites. Some sites carry moderate currents, so conditions can vary between visits.
Water temperature around Shimoni ranges from about 26°C in July to 29°C in March, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
In the warm season (about 29°C) a rash guard or 3mm shorty is comfortable in Shimoni; in the coldest months (about 26°C) step up to a 3mm full suit.
Fin maps 6 sites in Shimoni (6 scuba diving sites and 2 snorkelling spots, with some suited to both).
Across Shimoni's dive sites, January, February, June, July and August are most often reported as the best months to visit.
2 more sites to explore
