Kenya 2018 with Ariel SAC

Although not an official RSAC dive trip, I thought you’d like to know a little about my recent trip to Kenya with members of Ariel SAC.

I met up with my fellow travellers and divers on Sunday afternoon, 4th November (very civilised) for our flight to Nairobi at the start of a two week trip to Kenya. On arrival at 6 am in the morning we almost immediately set off on a drive to the Rift Valley and Naivasha in central Kenya taking in some amazing scenery along the way. Over the next couple of days we visited Crescent Island on Lake Naivasha where Out of Africa was filmed, Nakuru Nation Park where we were fortunate to see several Rhino among 100s of other animals in the wild.

Next we headed off to Tsavo in the south of Kenya to spend three days visiting both Tsavo West and Tsavo East National Parks (both very different). Here we saw many birds and animals including a pride of Lionesses and a pack of African Wild Dogs (very rare).

But what about the diving you might be asking. Well that came next. A week in Turtle Bay Beach Resort in Watamu in the south east of the country. Diving at Turtle Bay is very well organised with lots of help available for all the boring stuff like carrying and washing kit. There are normally two dives a day both in the morning with a short surface internal back on shore. Diving is normally to a depth of around 20m with the occasional deeper dive if there’s something particular to see. The maximum depth I got during the week was 37m. Nitrox is available for those who wish to use it.

Much of the diving is scenic with beautiful coral formations and lots of sea life – both large and small – most of which I can’t name. However I did recognise bat fish, leaf fish, octopus, scorpion fish, trumpet fish, crocodile fish, moray eels, parrot fish, clown fish etc. and we even managed to spot several turtles and on our second morning - a whale shark!

Kenya offers so much both for the diver and for those who prefer their animals above the sea. The people are friendly and the resorts fantastic. If you get the chance I’d recommend you go there, you’ll not be disappointed.

#Kenya #Africa #ArielSAC #Trips