Diani Marine Park at the Diani Chale Reserve
The Diani marine park is the Diani-Chale Marine National Reserve, a 75 km² KWS reserve of reef, lagoon, seagrass and mangrove from the Kongo River mouth to Chale Island, charged in the same fee band as Kisite.
- KWS protected reef and lagoon
- Same fee tier as Kisite
- Snorkelling and glass-bottom boat trips
Diani-Chale Marine National Reserve at a Glance
The Diani marine park is the common name for the Diani-Chale Marine National Reserve, about 75 km² of reef, lagoon, seagrass and mangrove from the Mwachema estuary at the Kongo River south to Chale Island. Kenya Wildlife Service gazetted it in 1995. Fishing is still allowed, so it works differently from the no-take Kisite park.
The glass bottom boat trip crosses the lagoon to Robinson Island with snorkelling and swimming.
Diani-Chale Key Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Official name | Diani-Chale Marine National Reserve |
| Size | About 75 km² |
| Gazetted | 1995, Legal Notice 196 |
| Boundary | Mwachema (Kongo) estuary to Chale Island |
| Managed by | Kenya Wildlife Service |
Getting to the Diani Marine Park
The reserve starts at the water's edge, so boats leave straight from the main Diani beach and no gate stands on the shore. Galu beach, the nearest road point to the centre of the reserve, is 9.1 km by road from the Ukunda junction. Glass bottom boats leave near Baobab, 5.6 km from the junction.
Ways into the Reserve
- Glass bottom boat to the reef and Robinson Island
- Snorkelling from the beach at mid to low tide
- Dive boats to the outer reef
- Kitesurfing in the lagoon off Galu
Sea Turtles in the Diani-Chale Reserve
Green and hawksbill turtles feed on the seagrass and reef in the Diani-Chale reserve, and a 2024 drone survey logged 233 turtle sightings in six months. Most sightings were on the reef, with a hotspot in the north near the Mwachema estuary. The researchers recommend a no-take zone there.
Diani Turtle Survey Results
| Finding | Figure |
|---|---|
| Turtle sightings, Feb to Jul 2024 | 233 |
| Share in reef zones | 61.86% |
| Share on the reef slope | 26.7% |
| Hotspot | Northern reserve near the Mwachema estuary |
Turtle Photo-ID in Diani
Local conservation groups have photo-identified 571 green turtles off Diani between 2018 and 2022. Report sightings and never touch or chase a turtle.
Reef, Lagoon and Seagrass at Diani
A fringing reef close to shore shelters a wide, shallow lagoon that drains at low tide, with seagrass beds, coral patches and reef fish easy to see with a mask. The outer reef slope drops into deeper water used by dive boats. Mangroves line the creeks at the southern end near Chale.
Diani Reserve Compared with Kisite
Kisite has a no-take park, rangers and a jetty for visitors. Diani-Chale has no enforced no-take core, so fish are smaller and fewer, and the water is reached straight from the beach. Our Kisite page covers the park further south, and Diani snorkelling compared with Kisite helps you choose.
Dive and Snorkel Sites in the Diani-Chale Reserve
Dive centres along Diani run boats to named reef sites on the outer reef, and turtle photo-ID work has logged the most turtles at Galu, Kongo, Milele, Kisima Mungu and Mwanamochi. Depths on the outer reef suit both beginners and certified divers. Snorkellers stay on the inner reef and lagoon.
| Site | Area | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Kongo | North, near the estuary | Turtles, the survey hotspot |
| Kisima Mungu | Central Diani | Reef fish, turtles |
| Galu | South | Turtles, coral heads |
| Mwanamochi | Outer reef | Turtles, deeper dives |
Diving in the Reserve
Certified divers book with a dive centre on the beach. Beginners can try a supervised first dive in calm months.
Fishing Communities and the Reserve
Local fishers from Diani, Galu and Chale still fish in the reserve with traps, lines and small boats. Fishing is allowed because the area is a reserve, not a park. The 2024 turtle study recommends a no-take zone in the northern hotspot to protect feeding turtles.
Buying Fish in Diani
Fresh fish lands on the beach in the morning. Buy from the fishers or ask your restaurant where the catch comes from, and avoid undersized fish and lobster.
Best Time to Visit the Diani Marine Park
The best time to visit the Diani marine park is around low tide on a calm morning between December and March, when the lagoon is clear and Robinson Island sandbank is above water. The boat time moves every day with the tide. High tide suits kitesurfing in the lagoon rather than reef walks.
Low and High Tide in the Lagoon
| Tide | Good for |
|---|---|
| Low tide | Sandbank, reef pools, glass bottom boat |
| High tide | Swimming, kitesurfing inside the reef |
Diani Marine Park Rules and Safety
The reef and lagoon are protected by Kenya Wildlife Service, so look but do not touch. Do not stand on coral or collect shells or starfish, and wear reef shoes in the shallows. Follow the captain's and KWS instructions on the water.
Boat and Water-Sport Zones
Stay with your boat crew, keep clear of boat lanes and kite zones, and ride jet skis only inside the zone the operator shows you.
Places Near the Diani-Chale Marine Reserve
The reserve runs the length of the Diani coast, so most beach places sit beside it.
- Robinson Island: the low-tide sandbank just past the reef, 15 to 20 minutes by boat
- Galu Beach: the nearest road point to the centre of the reserve, 9.1 km by road from the Ukunda junction
- Chale Island: at the southern end of the reserve, 17.7 km by road to the mainland point
- Kongo River: the Mwachema estuary at the northern boundary
Things to do at Diani-Chale Marine National Reserve
Guides
Diani-Chale Marine National Reserve Fees and Prices
The KWS schedule lists Diani-Chale in the same marine band as Kisite from 1 October 2025. The reserve has no gate on the Diani shore, and the fee is rarely collected in practice. Anyone asked to pay should expect these amounts and an official receipt.
| Who or what | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Non-resident adult / child | USD 25 / USD 15 | KWS conservation fee from 1 Oct 2025 |
| East African citizen adult / child | KES 500 / KES 250 | Kenyan ID or EA passport |
| Kenya resident adult / child | KES 675 / KES 350 | Valid resident permit |
| African citizen adult / child | USD 15 / USD 10 |
Prices checked 12 Oct 2026. Gate and hotel prices can change; confirm before you go.
Map of Diani-Chale Marine National Reserve
9.1 km by road and 8.7 km in a straight line from the Ukunda junction on Diani Beach Road. Road distances use the OSRM car route on OpenStreetMap data (free-flow, not traffic-aware).