Level: Free shore access This spot have a free shore access: you can go snorkeling there freely and without having to book a tour or pay an entrance fee. Resort nearby
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Last updated on February 15, 2021
The Pinewood Beach Resort is one of the many hotels located along Diani Beach. Here, the coral reef is quite far from the coast, and you are advised to stay on the shallow flat that faces the beach. In these seagrass meadows areas, dotted with rocky outcrops, you are likely to spot clownfish, angelfish, lionfish and several species of starfish.
The Pinewood Beach Resort is one of the many hotels located along Diani Beach, about 40km south of Mombasa. Even if you are not staying in the hotel, you can reach this spot from other hotels by walking on the beach.
We recommend exploring this spot at low tide. Walk towards the reef until you have enough water to swim. Ask for local advice for the best time to get in the water and not be surprised by the ebb or flood tide.
Several areas can easily be snorkeled, directly off the beach at the Pinewood Resort. These generally consist of shallow seagrass beds, however, dotted amongst these are areas of rocky outcrop, with associated coral growth and numerous fish species. The area is also notable for good echinoderm species (starfish and urchins).
Swimming straight out (50-100m at low water), from the beach directly in front of the restaurant area, over extensive seagrass beds, will bring you to one of the rock outcrops. The rocky outcrops are surrounded by seagrass and covered with urchins and corals, as well as attracting numerous different fish species.
Amongst the fish species you may spot at Pinewood Beach are the emperor angelfish, the twobar anemonefish, the longfin batfish, the threespot dascyllus, the Indian Ocean lionfish, and dozens of other colorful reef fish.
In the sand and seagrass beds, two starfish species are also common: the red-knobbed sea star and the Indian Ocean cushion sea star.
The Pinewood Beach Resort has its own bar and restaurant.
These spots are accessible to anyone with basic snorkeling skills, and feeling comfortable in the water and with his snorkeling gear. You will enter the water from the shore (beach, pontoon, ladder, rocks) or from a boat. The water height in the sea entrance area is reasonable, but you will not necessarily be within your depth. Moderate currents can occur in the area, even when the sea conditions are good. The distance to swim to reach the most interesting snorkeling areas of the spot does not exceed 200 meters. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
