OceanWasini Island
Snorkelling in Wasini and the Kisite Reefs
What the reef is actually like, whether you need to swim well, and how to get the most out of an hour in the water.
The reefs of the Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Protected Area, off Wasini Island, are the reason most people book a day on this stretch of coast.
What you are actually looking at
This is living coral rather than sand or rubble. Hard corals build the structure; soft corals move with the surge on top of it. Reef fish live in and around all of it, and because the water is shallow and the light is strong, you see colour rather than the blue-grey that deeper water gives you.
It is a marine protected area, which is a large part of why there is still something to look at.
Do you need to be a good swimmer?
No.
The snorkelling is in shallow, sheltered water. Buoyancy aids are available, a guide stays in the water with the group, and the boat is right there. Plenty of people do this having never snorkelled before.
If you would rather stay on the boat, that is genuinely fine, and nobody will make it awkward.
Getting more out of it
- Defog your mask. Ask the crew — every boat has a way of doing it.
- Breathe slowly. New snorkellers breathe fast and shallow, get tired, and blame the equipment.
- Float, don't swim. Kicking hard stirs sediment, burns energy and scares fish. Drift.
- Look at the small things. Everyone scans for something large. The interesting stuff is usually six inches long and hiding.
- Stay off the coral. Standing on it kills it, and cuts from coral heal badly.
Reef-safe sun cream
Use it. Ordinary sun cream leaches into the water you are floating in, and this reef is protected for a reason. A rash vest does the job even better and does not wash off.
Visibility
It varies — with season, tide, and how much rain has recently come down the rivers. Nobody can promise you a specific number of metres on a specific day. We check conditions before departure and will tell you if it is a poor day rather than let you find out in the water.
If you want to go deeper
If snorkelling leaves you wanting more, the same reefs are divable. Private guided diving is arranged around your certification level and the conditions on the day.
