Diani Beach & South Coast, Kenya
    Diani Chale Marine

    Maftah

    Best months: Jun–Oct

    Protected Area

    Diani Chale Marine

    Why dive here

    With 408+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, blacktip reef sharks, giant moray eels, humpback whales and octopuses - Maftah offers some of Diani Beach & South Coast's richest drift diving. Water ranges 26-30°C, warmest March, April, December.

    Best timeJun–Oct
    WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit
    Marine lifeBarracuda, Blacktip Reef Sharks, Giant Moray Eels, Humpback Whales and Octopuses · 408+ species recorded
    Water26-30°C · warmest March, April, December
    CharacterDrift dive
    StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

    Maftah is one of those Diani sites we always circle back to, especially if we’re bringing newer divers along. It's a gentle reef, rarely deeper than 20 metres, and generally pretty mellow on the current front, which makes for a relaxed drift. We love gliding over the hard coral bommies and the softer stuff in between, keeping an eye out for the small stuff. The nudibranchs here are fantastic, often tucked away, so take your time. We usually spot a couple of green turtles munching on the seagrass patches, and the resident moray eels are always peeking from their holes. If you hit it between October and March, there’s a real buzz about whale sharks and manta rays, though we’ve found the bigger stuff requires a bit more luck. Visibility averages around 10 metres, so it's not always gin-clear, but it’s more than enough to appreciate the intricate reef life. For an easy, enjoyable dive with plenty of chances to spot turtles and reef fish, Maftah is a solid choice.

    Safety Notes

    Drift dive - carry a surface marker buoy (SMB) and stay with your group. Brief the current direction before entry.

    Today06:0418:1512h 11m daylightGolden hour 17:47

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    Conditions

    Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Maftah

    Maftah Ocean Conditions

    Monthly averages for Maftah, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (-4.27, 39.61) (1km away)

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    October Averages

    Sea Temperature

    27°C

    81°F · Range: 25.3–28.7°C

    Air Temperature

    26°C

    79°F

    Wind Speed

    5.22 m/s

    10.1 knots

    Atmospheric Pressure

    1013.7 hPa

    Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data

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