Full-day Special Wasini Island Tour With Snorkeling And Lunch

We had a really good experience with Diani Dhow and would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a dolphin-watching and snorkelling excursion in Diani but there are some things to improve which are written at the end. Booking and Organisation Steffen, who we communicated with and booked through, was professional, responsive and quick to answer our questions. He was easy to talk to and made the booking process straightforward. Our driver arrived on time and the transfer was excellent. The vehicle was air-conditioned, spacious and comfortable and the overall organisation was very professional. The Boat and Crew The boat was amazing! It was spacious, had a really cool vibe and was a great setting for the day. We were a group of 12, which felt like a good size and made the experience enjoyable without feeling overcrowded. The crew were absolutely remarkable. Ali Baba, who led the day, along with the captain and the rest of the boat staff, were fantastic. Everyone was kind, attentive and welcoming and they genuinely helped make the experience special. One crew member was even assigned as our photographer, which was a brilliant touch and meant we could enjoy the activities while someone captured the memories for us, although we are still waiting to receive the photos. The refreshments on board were also excellent. We were provided with tea, coffee, breakfast snacks and drinks, along with water throughout the trip and biscuits later in the day. There was also a toilet on the boat, although it was very small and basic. One thing worth noting is that towels were not provided, so bringing your own would be advisable. Dolphin Watching and Snorkelling We were a little unlucky with the weather, which was obviously outside the company’s control. We spotted dolphins a couple of times, but most sightings were extremely brief, lasting less than a second. We did get one proper sighting, which was lovely, but it is important to remember that dolphins are wild animals and sightings will vary depending on the day. The snorkelling was really good. Although I have experienced better reefs in other countries, we still thoroughly enjoyed getting into the water and exploring the marine life. We also visited the sandbank, which was beautiful and offered a lovely opportunity for photos. Lunch and Wasini Island Lunch was served in the village on Wasini Island and was genuinely delicious. There were chicken, fish and vegetable options, so there was a good variety to choose from. One thing to be aware of is that the toilet facilities on Wasini Island are quite basic. They were dirty and difficult to flush and some had no toilet seats, so it is worth bearing this in mind before the trip. I would also recommend bringing some cash if you would like to support the local community or purchase souvenirs, as there is a stall selling items on the island. Things That Could Be Improved Although we had a fantastic experience overall, there were a few things that could make the trip even better. Firstly, some parts of the itinerary felt a little rushed. Despite snorkelling twice, we only had around 5–10 minutes on the sandbank, which felt quite short. It would have been lovely to spend more time there, especially as it was such a beautiful spot. I would have preferred to spend less time on some of the additional activities and more time enjoying the ocean and sandbank. Secondly, the day was extremely long and tiring. Our pickup was at 6:30 am and we didn’t return until around 5:30 pm. With the heat and sun, it was an exhausting day and by the final activities, our group was visibly tired and struggling to keep going. Personally, I think a pickup around 7:00–7:30 am would be more manageable, alongside a slightly shorter itinerary. I would prioritise dolphin watching, snorkelling and the sandbank, then return home. While the additional activities, including the village walk and the slave cave visit, may interest some people, I felt they were unnecessary additions to an already very full day. A more streamlined itinerary would allow guests to enjoy the main attractions without feeling exhausted by the end. Overall had a fantastic time and would recommend!

It was amazing experience and Jamal very adorable guide.Thank you so much for wonderful experience

We had the BEST DAY EVER! This day was honestly the highlight of our trip. The guides Mohammed and Swabir were so kind, fun and informative and made sure we were all looked after all day. It was the perfect mix of a boat day, snorkelling, dolphin watching (a dream!!) and a wonderful insight into life on Wasini Island. Amazing value for money too, with efficient transport and yummy food. You must book this trip right now , you won’t be disappointed.

Awesome experience with great people. Everything was taken care of and we didn’t need to worry about anything during the day

The trip was amazing worth every penny.the guides alhajj and mustafa were really amazing and kind will definitely repeat we got to see dolphins too😊

I used Steffen and his team to deliver a dhow cruise for a trip I planned for some of my clients. The clients enjoyed the trip so much and kept talking about the experience. Through out the planning process, Steffen was easy to communicate it and was very adaptable to some of the changes with the group. I would recommend!

The tour was really good Marco is the best guide ever I can’t say enough about him just give him a raise… the food at the restaurant wasn’t 100% but it was ok as we were more concerned about the adventure which was 100%.. definitely coming back..

Tour guide and boat team very accommodating. It was our first time snorkeling and they made the experience unbelievable. Thank you you team Bubble

Considering the weather wasn't great, cloudy, a bit chilly and the sea was choppy. This made no difference as I had a fabulous time snorkeling for the first time for a very lengthy time. I was made safe and put at ease totally whilst in the water. The beauty of the sea bed was magnificent full of wonderful beautiful coral and beautiful fishes and seeing the odd lobster. We all on route saw dolphins. We had a tasty breakfast and lunch full of local culture. At the end of the day we visited the Slaves Caves which was totally interesting and inspiring. The crew were friendly, courteous and knowledgeable. I highly recommend this trip and it was good value for money 😊👍.

This was such a fun day! Seeing the dolphins, snorkeling, and going to the sand bar made up a wonderful morning. Lunch was delicious and the walk through the mangroves afterwards was spectacular. And it was super interesting to end in the slave caves! Thank you so much to the wonderful guides and boat staff who made this such a memorable day!

Lovely day out. Even though our villa was a bit out of the way and difficult to find we were picked up. (owner had given us driver number if there was a problem.) Great value for money and all costs included. 2 opportunities for snorkelling. Saw dophins and the visit on the sandbank great for photo opportunities. Bonus that the crew take photos throughtout the trip and send them all to you at the end of the trip! ( including underwater ones!) Book this trip if you are in Diani! 😁

The pickup was right on time. Once we arrived on the boat, we were served a small but delicious breakfast. The crew took great care of every single guest. There was also plenty of space on board, as there were only 16 people in our group. The snorkeling was fantastic. We would definitely recommend this tour.

From Picking Up to bringing Back super organised. Everything they offered itv was worth the price we paid. I fehlt save during the boats Tour, the spots for snorkeling were unforgettable, the food in board and in the Restaurant were delicious and the Island Tour was very amacing. Even the divers had a good adventure. In the end we had an interesting cave tour...I can recommend all. Asante sana

Worst snorkeling experience ever. Nature is obviously unpredictable (weather forecasts can help). We were advised to join the tour on a stormy day (had flexibility over 3 days, but the stormy day was probably better to combine transfers and save costs). It turned out to be a disaster: many people sick on board, 17 participants, 3 guides helping in the water with one mostly concerned about taking pictures (most participants didn’t see those things). We didn’t feel safe - despite the laudable efforts of the crew. One guide stayed with less experienced swimmers but had to go back and forth for people who wanted to try, resulting in a swimming experience rather than nature observation. The second snorkeling was during a rainfall, with big waves, no visibility at all - we had to rush before lunch and the visit of the village, so we couldn’t wait the weather to be better. The guide was calling the boat after it had left the zone (!) for at least 5 minutes before it came. Luckily only good swimmers went for that one - others had realised that staying on the boat was a better option. The tour should have been canceled under these conditions but money seems to matter more than safety. I tried desperately to get in touch with the owner? travel agent? to explain why I was not satisfied. If you read this Steffen, happy to explain more- if you care about customer satisfaction. It was certainly not worth the price (given the conditions). The crew did its best, though. You asked me to be patient, when I mentioned all the issues in the morning. Sent pictures of the swimming experience after that. I recommend that compensation is put in place to participants in events like this - at least this would be an incentive to cancel in case of bad weather conditions. The way things are done now, I do NOT recommend it to family with kids unless the weather is perfect and more staff can ensure safety. It seems to be a nice place. A lot to say also about the attitude of the operator towards the village, but I keep that one when safety will be handled properly.

This is an amazing tour! The guides are very nice, the driver is nice, you meet a lot of cool people on the tour and learn a lot about the island as well as seeing a lot of fish and the coral looks good as well! If you’re lucky, you might see dolphins and turtles! I would recommend this tour!

Amazing day out - a must do whilst in Kenya

Wonderful experience. We were on the Babu dhow, and the crew was literally amazing. We made snorkeling in two different spots and I realized one of my dreams: I swam with dolphins 🐬 🐬 🐬 We really enojyed Wasini Island with local food and the local people.

I highly recommend! The boat crew was amazing. They were very organized and it was a great experience. The lunch wasn’t really what I expected, but it was a great cultural experience. The seats in the van on the way to shining felt a little unstable, but everything else felt very safe.

The tour was well-organized; we were able to pay everything in by credit card, which meant there were no delays entering the park. Breakfast on the boat and lunch on the island were delicious. The crew was friendly but only spoke English and Swahili, with just a few words of German and Polish. We booked two dives, and the equipment was in good condition. The two dives were good, but for my taste, they were too close together. I didn't have time to warm up and was therefore cold during the second dive. All in all, it was a great day trip.

We had an absolutely lovely experience with the Diani Dhow Adventure to Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park and Wasini Island. From the very beginning, the tour operator was highly responsive and genuinely wanted to make sure we did not miss out on the experience. Pickup was perfectly on time, and everything throughout the day ran smoothly and according to schedule. Our guide was outstanding, extremely knowledgeable, professional, and also very entertaining. He spoke multiple languages fluently, including English, German, French, and even a bit of Polish, which made everyone in the group feel included and comfortable. His knowledge of marine life was impressive, and he answered every question with professionalism and a good sense of humor. The snorkeling experience at Kisite Marine Park was fantastic, and we were lucky enough to swim with dolphins, which was truly unforgettable. The equipment provided worked perfectly for me, although my partner experienced a few issues with the snorkeling gear. One of the highlights was how the guides dived deep underwater to capture amazing up-close photos of turtles, dolphins, and other sea creatures for us. We also visited Wasini Island for lunch, which was simple but very tasty. Another major highlight was the tour of the local village, especially visiting the school near the mangrove area. Visiting the Shimoni Slave Caves and learning about their history was also a very meaningful and memorable experience. To top it all off, by the evening, we had already received links to all the beautiful photos taken during the tour by our guide, which was such a thoughtful touch. Overall, this was an incredible experience from start to finish, and I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting Diani.

Fantastic experience with Aqualand at Wasini Island and Kisite marine park. Steffen was extremely responsive and everything was on time and well organized. Shout out to the super friendly dhow crew who guided us through some amazing snorkeling and took into consideration our large group of kids. The photos at the end of the trip were a bonus! Great shots from the water and boat that saved us the hassle!

For €100 per person, the experience was very disappointing. The “Swahili” breakfast was greasy, not particularly good, and insufficient. The lunch was also not up to the standard expected for a boat trip at this price level. This was actually the only place in Kenya where we were disappointed with the food, so I would recommend eating before going. The lunch stop itself was uncomfortable. We were constantly approached by people asking us to spend more money, give tips, give money “for the children”, visit their shop, or give cigarettes. It happened repeatedly and made the experience unpleasant. We shared this feedback with Stephen, but he stopped replying. When we followed up, he gave excuses, never came back with a proper response, and never even apologised. This is why we decided to write here.

Excellent experience in the tour, easy booking, great interactions with Steffen, great value for money and amazing experience.

Overall a very good trip at the ocean. We were very happy. The breakfast and lunch were good. The snorkling was Fantastic with professionel guides. We Saw dolfins and a lot of beautyfull fish. The space om the boad was good as there is a maximum participants.

We had a great day out with the Diani Dhow team on the boat trip. All team members were extremely helpful - from making sure you felt safe during the snorkelling , to photographing the whole day for you and making sure you had food and drinks. Breakfast was on board and lunch was on wasini island at a restaurant and had great portion sizes and was delicious . I would highly recommend this excursion as it is a fantastic day out . I particularly love that the team send all the photos they have taken to you after the trip and the photos are beautifully edited and high quality . Some additional comments I would make is to ensure you use lots of sun cream when snorkelling as it gets very , very hot and you don’t realised how strong the sun is. At the restaurant , you will be approached by staff (not the boat team) to ask you to buy souvenirs and this can feel a little overwhelming sometimes, but this is in line with Diani culture anywhere .

We had a lovely day out, the sun was shining and the organisation and management with the crew was first-rate. I was brought up in Kenya (eons ago!) and my family were serious shell collectors and every year we used to come down to Shimoni from Diani and dive off Wasini Island so I knew the area quite well. The drive from Diani to Shimoni takes an hour, we were picked up bang on time. From Shimoni the dhow takes you to the snorkelling site. It's a fun trip with lots to chat about with the friendly crew. You are offered a 'traditional' local breakfast on the boat and tea. It takes about an hour to get to the snorkelling site. We snorkelled for about 3/4 of an hour, had a break and then many returned for another half hour or so. Visibility was not brilliant and I was a little disappointed that there was not a lot of very colourful coral- there were plenty of fish, for sure. Some of us got off and explored a large sand bar. From here we took the somewhat rock and rolly trip to Wasini Island where a little power boat transferred us ashore to take us to our lunch stop above an island cliff. Coke and soft drinks were provided on the boat for guests to help themselves. Guests were given options to pay extra for lobster, octopus or prawns at lunch. Beer, wine or soft drink were included and lunch included delicious (but small) crab, barbecued whole fish, spinach-like vegetables and coconut rice with coconut sauce. Despite the strong wind this was quite an adventure and fun! We visited the local kindergarten on the island and were sung to by gorgeous little kids. The trip back across to Shimoni followed from where we were taken to the 'Slave Caves' where hundreds of caves were imprisoned underground, in the dark, before being shipped to Zanzibar and from there to the Middle East and some to South America. Terrible. This was really interesting and we were given an excellent talk on this. The only downside to me was that the travel time took a lot of the day but all in all we had a good day out.

I feel there is room for improvement in professionalism, both in skills and hospitality. At times, the work feels more routine‑driven than focused on quality and service. Additionally, the emphasis on tips can sometimes seem to outweigh the focus on providing attentive, consistent service.

Very well organized day trip with pickup and drop-off. Snorkeling was great, we were lucky to see a lot of dolphins and even swim near them. The boat was comfortable for number of people on it, crew was friendly and thoughtful. Special praise for incorporating local community initiatives into the trip, like mangrove boardwalk and slave caves.

What an amazing experience. We were swimming with wild Dolphins in the ocean.....we have travelled to many different places and never experienced anything like this. The snorkeling was fantastic too along with lunch and the tour of Wasini Village. All the staff were excellent and the boat was lovely. Highly recommend this trip....book it you won't regret it!!

Was Good and amazing DG is amazing guide an enjoyable experience to each and every one you are all welcomed to visit this place

Absolutely wonderful day out today - the crew are exceptionally good at what they do - so knowledgeable about the area, culture and wildlife! Mack and Captain were both very friendly and helpful. They cater for many many languages. Nothing was too much trouble and Captain did an excellent job of getting us through the dropping tide and wind on the way back after the snorkeling. We saw dolphins and so many different kinds of fish on the coral reef. Oh and it was very humbling to visit the island, especially the school children. Take some cash to donate to the school. Lollipops amd sweets also went down a treat with the children! Beach shoes are also handy when crossing the coral on foot to get to the island. Thank you so much guys, I really had sooooo much fun! I highly recommend taking STRONG sunscreen (don't be shy) and maybe a tshirt as you spend a lot of time in the sunshine. I also recommend putting your first layer on before you leave your hotel in the morning - the sun is intense!

Snorkeling with Diani Dhow was an amazing experience. They were so kind and accommodating, especially to my 70 year old mother. She was nervous and they had someone stay with her and take her through it the whole time, which allowed her to experience it, while feeling secure. She was very happy! The rest of us (me, my sister and my boyfriend) had an unbelievable time snorkeling as well. The reef is so cool and we saw so many amazing creatures. We even saw Dolphins from the boat! Diani Dhow took some great photos too that we got sent, free of charge. They fed us delicious food and the crew were lovely company as well. Lots of laughs :) The lunch at Wasini and the village tour were great too, and the short time at the Cave Slaves was fascinating. They do warn you that the Wasini lunch place only takes cash, but they only frame it in the context of purchasing extras, since lunch is already included. We therefore didn't bring any cash, but didn't realize tips were expected and there was a little market, so it's best to bring cash with you when you go for lunch (and sunscreen and water, since the walk around the village is right after lunch in the same location), even if they tell you to leave your bags! Luckily, they were accommodating to us on this when we didn't have these things.

Great day out, relaxing boat ride, lovely food from breakfast to lunch. Snorkeling, bongo drums, Uber boat and Mohammed sense of humour fantastic as was his knowledge of local history and marine activities. I would fully recommend this trip for anyone....do it 😎 Thanks to all staff.amazing adventures

It’s about an hour car ride from Diani to the boat, breakfast is very small so I wouldn’t depend on it to be the ‘main’ morning meal. The boat ride was quite long but it was a beautiful ride. The staff is very helpful and friendly. Because you are snorkeling in deep water it seemed like people would do it for a little and then get back in the board and just sit. Lunch was okay- again friendly staff but very very pushy about buying objects and tipping. Overall, not bad but as we were traveling with kids, I’m not sure I would recommend. We ended up not going to the slave caves bc the boat ride took so long to get back bc of weather it was 4pm before we were even back to the bus to go to the caves.

The guide and boat crew were very polite and helpful.We even got free photos of the day.Food on the island was lovely and there was beer and wine included.Saw Dolphins and while we were snorkelling saw a turtle.Great day out.

A great day of snorkeling and dolphin sighting with an excellent crew. All of us dozen guests on the boat were very happy. As an extra the organizers made photos from the day available.

Overall a good experience, however there is no swimming with the dolphins, just spotting from the boat. Snorkelling was good, lunch was good and the boat was all well kept. Breakfast could have been a bit better, only watermelon and oranges with some fried african bites. Thanks for the trip👍🏻

The trip was worth the price we paid. Our transport, the boat trip, the pictures, breakfast, unlimited soft drinks/water & the snorkelling experience was unreal. The guides were excellent - they brought the energy & expertise. They went above and beyond to ensure we experienced all Wasini had to offer, with shortcuts (such as opting out of the village walk, and getting a ‘water taxi’ I.e., holding on to the rubber ring as the instructor swam - perfect for those who struggle to swim or have mobility challenges). The Swahili food experience was intimate and cultural - we met the locals and tried their food. It was fun! A visit to the ‘Slave Caves’ was also very eye opening and I can only wish we spent more time learning about the history - it will be something I do on my journey back to the UK.

The Diani Dhow Team made our day! They are incredibly competent and genuinely welcoming. We felt well taken care of both on board and in the water, with the team accompanying and guiding us every step of the way. We were even lucky enough to see dolphins swimming beneath us while snorkeling — an unforgettable experience. Highly recommended!

I joined the Diani Dhow Safari for a full-day tour to Wasini Island with snorkeling and lunch, and it was absolutely amazing. Both my brother and I had a fantastic time. He already knew how to swim, but I had never swum in the ocean before. The team was incredibly supportive — they helped me so much, and thanks to them I learned to swim and snorkel on the same day. It was a truly unforgettable experience. I’m very grateful for their patience, kindness, and professionalism. Highly recommended.

11/10! ♥️ Beautiful wievs, funny crew, good food. Great experience even for those who are not really good at swimming, crew will help you.

The owner of Diani Dhow Steffen Putzker is a scammer. Be careful. My friend and I booked a safari trip with Diani Dhow. We were picked up at our hotel early in the morning and driven for about an hour, only to be told upon arrival that the trip had been cancelled for unclear reasons and rescheduled for the following day. Unfortunately, we couldn’t join the new date because of our travel plans (we had a flight back). The owner initially promised to issue a refund (as per screenshot below) but has since stopped responding — it has now been three months with no repayment. I’ve since discovered that other travelers have had similar experiences, as shown in several online reviews. If everything goes smoothly with this provider, you might have an enjoyable trip, but if any issue arises, you risk losing your money. Up to you to take the risk/chance. After years of traveling, I’ve never encountered such unprofessional behavior from a tour operator.

My snorkeling trip was cancelled after payment, and I have not received a refund despite several follow-ups. The manager initially claimed not to have received the payment, later promised to return it, but hasn’t done so. Communication has since stopped. Things might be ok if you are lucky, but if something goes wrong, good luck... For those who have doubts, I encourage you to read the business’s responses to negative reviews (e.g. google reviews also). They speak volumes about the attitude and approach toward customers (e.g. basically blaming customers and telling the customer made a mistake).

We did the Wasini island and snorkeling tour. The hotel pick-up was on time. Friendly staff on the boat. Great snorkeling places and above all, we were lucky enough not only to see dolphins jumping next to the boat, but also to swim with them. Of course we were lucky but that will be a forever memory. The organization is very professional. I highly recommend.

This was a great snorkelling tour. It was well organised, the guides and boat crew were friendly and knowledgeable, and the food was local and tasty. The boat was not crowded, which is also good for families with children.

We are having a great honeymoon! 😀 It was truly wonderful. Everything was very well organized, and we met such kind people. In a word, perfect! 🐬

This is a must tour if in Diani region! It was a really nice experience and a fun one! Thank you for convincing my afraid husband to try it, he fell in love with it and we will be able to go together every time now!

Great activity, I highly recommend everyone to book with Hassan, via dianibydaytour. Wonderful product with wonderful people

Thank you so much to dianni dhow safari it was an experience higher than our expectations !! We had swim with dolphin and it was amazing. The lunch excellent, caring staff they make all they can for you pass a really good Day!! We are french family with 2 Kids 8 and 5 years.