Chale - Diani Beach & South Coast
Ginger Steps has a funny name, but there’s nothing funny about the wall itself. This site is a personal favourite for a leisurely second dive, especially if the current isn’t too feisty. The "steps" are these distinct coral formations that drop down to around 19 meters, creating ledges and overhangs we love to poke around in. You'll spot Rosy Blennies peeking from every crevice, and the parrotfish here seem particularly bold, often letting you get quite close before they fin away. We’ve found huge schools of Yellow Jacks swirling in the blue, and sometimes a curious Horse-eye Jack or two will cruise by the drop-off. Keep an eye on those mushroom-shaped coral structures for lobsters – they’re masters of camouflage, but a patient search usually pays off. It’s a site that rewards slow, deliberate diving, ideal for photographers or anyone who just wants to soak it all in.
- Location
- Diani Beach & South Coast, Kenya, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- -4.446500, 39.538100
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: Diani Chale Marine
Best Time to Dive in Diani Beach & South Coast
The warmest water temperatures in Diani Beach & South Coast occur in January, averaging 28.1°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 28.1°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.1°C (air: 27.7°C)
- February: 28.1°C (air: 28.2°C)
- March: 28.1°C (air: 28.1°C)
- April: 28.1°C (air: 26.7°C)
- May: 28.1°C (air: 26.2°C)
- June: 28.1°C (air: 25.3°C)
- July: 28.1°C (air: 24.4°C)
- August: 28.1°C (air: 24.5°C)
- September: 28.1°C (air: 25.2°C)
- October: 28.1°C (air: 26.2°C)
- November: 28.1°C (air: 26.7°C)
- December: 28.1°C (air: 27.2°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Diani Beach & South Coast
- AGIA MARINA - 18m (wreck)
- ALPHA COMMANDER - 25m (wreck)
- DERNA - 6m (wreck)
- Dzinani (wreck)
- FATIH MUBARAK - 0m (wreck)
- Galu (reef)
- GLOBE STAR - 2m (wreck)
- HIGHLAND LASSIE - 20m (wreck)
- HMS HILDASAY - 5m (wreck)
- HMS SHAPINSAY OR HILDASAY - 0m (wreck)
- Igloo (wreck)
- Jadini (cave)
- Kinondo (wreck)
- Kisima Mungu (Nomads) (reef)
- Kisite Marine Park - 5-20m (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Chale
Marine Life in Diani Beach & South Coast
Home to 446 recorded species including 284 reef fish, 96 hard corals, 27 seagrass & algae, 7 sea snails & nudibranchs, 7 sea cucumbers, 5 crabs & lobsters.
Notable Species
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Marbled Parrotfish (Leptoscarus vaigiensis) - Reef Fish
- Cigar wrasse (Cheilio inermis) - Reef Fish
- Hooded oyster (Saccostrea cuccullata) - Clams & Mussels
- Spangled emperor (Lethrinus nebulosus) - Reef Fish
- Silver-streaked rainbowfish (Stethojulis strigiventer) - Reef Fish
- Crested Sabretooth Blenny (Petroscirtes mitratus) - Reef Fish
- Alligator pipefish (Syngnathoides biaculeatus) - Reef Fish
- thalassia (Thalassia hemprichii) - Seagrass & Algae
- mangrove (Rhizophora mucronata) - Seagrass & Algae
- cymodocea (Cymodocea rotundata) - Seagrass & Algae
- seagrass (Halophila ovalis) - Seagrass & Algae
- Shoalgrass (Halodule wrightii) - Seagrass & Algae
- Short-head Sabretooth Blenny (Petroscirtes breviceps) - Reef Fish
- Bullethead Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus) - Reef Fish
- gray mangrove (Avicennia marina) - Seagrass & Algae
- Flowery Flounder (Bothus mancus) - Reef Fish
- Species code: Tc (Thalassodendron ciliatum) - Seagrass & Algae
- Species code: Hs (Halophila stipulacea) - Seagrass & Algae
- Rainbow wrasse (Halichoeres iridis) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Chale
Based on average water temperature of 28.1°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories