The average cost of living in Diani / month is around $500US (with your accommodation included). It all depends on how much you are out and about, what activities you are doing etc. You will be studying some of the time and diving a lot of the time but bear in mind what you want to do with the rest of the time and budget accordingly.
Food Prices in Diani
Kenya has a wide range of different cuisines available including Western food. While you will have to go to Mombasa to find the large chain fast food joints, you will be taken on a tour of the local area by Ocean Tribe interns and shown the best places to eat.
Clothing
You do not need to bring a big wardrobe to Kenya. Bear in mind what you will need. You will be in a dive environment most days or a beach resort the rest of the time. You might want a couple of things for going out but it can be better to buy things here in Kenya. (And as a result not have to worry a lot about the excess baggage charges on flights). Clothes can be fairly cheap here with open-air markets selling shirts and tops for a few hundred shillings and jeans for not much more. At the more upmarket department stores shirts and T-shirts are 1000 shillings upwards. Any clothes you feel you can’t do without then it is a good idea to bring them with you.
Drink Prices in Diani
A bottle of local beer (Tusker, Pilsner, Whitecap) will set you back about 300-500 shillings in a bar. Foreign beers (except) are more expensive and harder to find. Spirits are usually 200 to 300 bob a glass (plus a mixer).
Getting Around Diani
Most of the interns use local transportation such as motorbike taxis, tuk tuks, and matatus (local minivans) for going short distances. For longer distances, taxis can be arranged but these can be a little pricey if you are on a serious budget.
For getting around East Africa there are options like the train, the inter-city buses that run, or the low-cost airlines such as Jambojet and Skywards Express. The national airline Kenya Airways also operates flights from the coast to up-country.
