Diani Beach runs along the Indian Ocean south of Mombasa, a wide band of white coral sand backed by palm and, further inland, the forested Shimba Hills. It is Kenya’s longest-established beach resort area and the default coastal finish for safaris that end, rather than start, inland.
The reef sits close offshore and is protected within the wider Diani–Chale Marine Reserve, making it a reliable spot for snorkelling and diving as well as swimming; the coast here is also a well-known kitesurfing destination in season. Colobus Conservation, a local project working to protect the endangered Angolan colobus monkey found in the coastal forest patches behind the beach, runs guided walks and is worth a stop if you have any time beyond the sand.