Diani wrecks......
MFV Alpha Funguo
MFV Alpha Funguo, a 44.5-meter steel tuna long line fishing vessel with a gross tonnage of 385 tons
was built in 1980 at Donghae Shipbuilding yard in Ulsan, South Korea.
She arrived in Mombasa by sea
from South Korea in March 1980 where she started long lining for tuna along the East African coastline
generally within a 200-mile radius of Mombasa.
In June 1997 she ran aground, after a fire, on a reef
just outside the harbour of mombasa at shelly Beach. Southern Engineering Co. LTD. then salvaged her
bring her into the harbour. She then sat in dock till Diving The Crab and Dream Diving bought her
in 2001 for use as an artificial reef.On the 21st of February, her 22nd birthday, and after being
thoroughly cleaned of oil and fiberglass.
MFV Alpha Funguo became the first artificial reef to be created for the purpose of diving tourism
on the Kenyan Coast.
MFV Alpha Funguo was sunk adjacent to a small isolated reef only 50 meters from the main barrier reef.
The small reef had very little life apart from the coral and a few odd hangers around. It was hopped
that with the addition of the artificial reef, the amount and variety of life would increase.
Arriving with MFV Funguo from the Mombasa Harbor were a small school of Sergeant Major's.
These were not known to exist south of Mombasa Island. Their numbers have now increased and are a common
sight around the anchor line and have been known to accompany divers during the ascent and decent.
In one year we have witnessed a huge increase in life, not only on the wreck it's self but also on the
nearby reef and the surrounding sandy floor.
Polyps of soft coral are growing and we have seen the
wreck used as a nursery for a school of baby barracuda that are now almost adult size.
They are still using the wreck for shelter.
There are resident schools of batfish, glassfish and sweetlips. The Ocean's loners are also well
represented with lobsters, lionfish, and nudibracs. There are a whole host of exciting critters arriving, passing by or moving on daily.
Visitors include whale sharks, dolphins, manta rays, and tuna.
This is an exciting dive with great photography opportunities.
Nitrox recommended
Waa Wreck - The H.M.S. Hildasay.
Sunk June 21st 1945.
"H.M.S. Hildasay" and her sister ship "H.M.S. Shapinsay" were armed steam trawlers based at
Mombasa and allocated to the Kenya Royal Navy volunteer reserve in the latter part of the World War II.
Built in 1941 these two vessels had been used as mine sweepers off the East African Coast replacing
two older earlier vessels.
On June 21, 1945 "H.M.S. Hildasay" was summoned to the assistance of her
sister ship in difficulty while towing a lighter from Tanga to Mombasa. In the struggle to keep the other
two vessels off the reef "H.M.S. Hildasay" ran aground and became a total loss. Captain "Pip" Wilkinson
and his Crew were all rescued.
Today one can occasionally see the boiler lying on the reef amid the
pounding surf. Part of the bridge superstructure was later washed ashore and built into a house in
Sand Island overlooking the sight. HMS Hildasay lies in the sand at 22m hull up, which means the
wreck itself is not wildly interesting. However, there are always interesting and rare fish on and
around the wreck so it is a dive that is well worth doing.
