DERNA - Diani Beach & South Coast
The Derna offers a straightforward wreck dive right off Diani Beach. This old trawler, originally the Dewsland, went down in 1954 and now sits in just 6 metres of water, making it a perfect spot for newer divers or those looking for a relaxed second dive. We’ve found her to be quite broken up after all these years, but the bow and stern sections are still distinct. You’ll weave through the scattered hull plates, spotting moray eels tucked into crevices and schools of snapper moving through the structure. It’s a gentle introduction to wreck diving, with plenty of resident reef fish making the most of the artificial reef.
- Location
- Diani Beach & South Coast, Kenya, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- -4.067245, 39.642640
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 6m
Marine Protected Area: Mombasa
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)
- Chale (reef)
- 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 DERNA
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 DERNA
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