Pinewood Beach, Kenya

Pinewood Beach Resort and Spa.   Diani, Kenya. 

Coordinates in degrees decimal:  N -4.376621, E 39.554640

Visited in  April, 2009.   Photographer: Nigel Thomas.    Cameras:  Sea & Sea 1G with DX1G housing

Website: http://www.pinewood-beach.com/index.html

Several areas can easily be snorkelled, directly off the beach at the Pinewood Resort.  These generally consist of shallow seagrass bed, 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).

Produced without the support of the resort.

An extensive intertidal area is evident at low water, the lowest part of which is heavily covered by growths of small algae.

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.

Good examples of the fish species attracted to the rocks are these juvenile Teira batfish.

Also watch out for the numerous Firefish, which you should avoid touching!

Resort Sealife Photos

click on image to open and view text

?Clark’s Anemonefish. Perciformes.  Amphiprion ?clarkii.  Small species found associated with the anemone Stichodactyla sp.  Many very similar forms of anemonefish exist, hence generous use of question marks. 

Adult of Three Spot Dascyllus. Perciformes.  Dascyllus trimaculatus. Small as an adult.  Found in association with the rock and coral outcrop.

Juvenile of Three Spot Dascyllus. Perciformes.  Dascyllus trimaculatus.  Very small as juveniles, found associated with rocky outcrops and the large Mertens’ sea anemone. 

Humbug Damsel.  Perciformes.  Dascyllus aruanus.  Aggregations of this small fish are found around rock outcrops and coral features.

? Sandy Partner Goby.  Perciformes.  Ctenogobiops ?feroculus.  Very small individuals, found in sand burrows, in association with the shrimp (Alpheus sp.).

Juvenile Emperor Angelfish.  Perciformes.  Pomacanthus imperator.   Small as juvenile growing to 40cm as an adult.  Juveniles found singly in association with rocky reef outcrops.

Longhorn Cowfish.  Tetraodontiformes.  Lactoria cornuta. Front view of a small Longhorn Cowfish, swimming over seagrass and in the vicinity of a rocky outcrop.

Valentin’s Toby.  Tetraodontiformes.  Canthigaster valentini.  Very small species.  Found amongst the coral growth.  Highly toxic if eaten.  A very similar mimic species exists, which is non-toxic  Paraluteres prionurus.

Scribbled Pipefish.   Syngnathiformes.  Corythoichthys intestinalis.  Small thin pipefish, that stays close to the rocky seabed. 

Harlequin  Snake Eel.  Anguilliformes.  Myrichthys colubrinus.  Up to a 100cm long, found over mixed seabed but most commonly over sand.

Peppered or Tattooed Moray.  Anguilliformes.  Siderea grisea.  Medium sized species.  Found in the open, although well hidden amongst the seagrass.

Finless Sole.  Pleuronectiformes.  Pardachirus marmoratus.  Small to medium sized fish.  Found well camouflaged over sand and sandy gravel.

Juvenile Lionfish.  Scorpaeniformes.  Pterois sp.  Juveniles of the Lionfish group are small in size and were noted in many locations around the rock and coral outcrop.

Indian or Common Lionfish.  Scorpaeniformes.  Pterois ?miles.  Adults are medium sized.  Noted in the vicinity of the rock and coral outcrop.  Avoid contact due to venomous spines.