Diani and Chale

Diani and Galu combine walkable stretches of beach with spread-out lodging and restaurants; plan taxis or arranged drivers for longer hops and avoid unverified roadside pickup claims. Hotels and dive operators may offer prearranged transport; Diving the Crab advertises complimentary Diani-area pickup for its dive guests, subject to booking. Operators use separate launch bases and their pages can contain conflicting old/new pickup locations, so get a written meeting point. Chale should be treated as a hotel-transfer itinerary with tides controlling the final crossing. Boat visits to Shimoni, Wasini and Kisite are intentionally excluded from this guide's local marine-region scope.

• Electronic Travel Authorization: Kenya's official eTA portal sets nationality-specific requirements and exemptions. Most non-exempt short-stay foreign visitors must obtain an approved eTA in advance. The published standard fee starts at USD 30; official processing is generally about three working days but can take longer. Apply earlier rather than assuming same-day approval.
• New inbound insurance rule: Beginning 5 October 2026, Kenya requires most short-stay non-exempt visitors to buy its government-mandated inbound travel health insurance, regardless of private insurance. Apply through the eTA flow or official eCitizen insurance portal as appropriate. The official portal and UK entry advice describe 90-day validity; the quote and specific exemptions must be checked at purchase. An eTA exemption does not automatically mean an insurance exemption. The policy does not replace dedicated diving emergency and hyperbaric cover.
• Passport: Kenya's eTA FAQs specify at least six months of validity and a blank page; some national travel advisories recommend two blank pages. Check your nationality's requirements and airline documentation checks.
• Health entry documents: Yellow fever vaccination proof may be required when arriving from a country designated as a yellow fever transmission risk. Seek individualized travel-health advice about malaria prevention, vaccines and medications.
• Limits: An eTA does not grant permission to work or overstay. Rules can change at short notice. Check Kenyan immigration, government insurance and your carrier directly shortly before departure.

Kenya introduced government-designated inbound health insurance on 5 October 2026. The government portal lists up to USD 44 including statutory charges and 90-day cover. Its short-stay threshold differs from UK entry advice, and the portal itself has conflicting exemption descriptions. Confirm the rule for your passport, status and itinerary directly before travel. This entry policy is not proof of specialist diving or evacuation cover.