Churna Island Karachi: Snorkeling, Cliff Jumping & Adventure Day Trip Guide (2025)

Where It Is and How to Get There

Getting to Churna is pretty easy if you’re okay waking up early and don’t mind salt spray in your hair.

Most groups leave from Clifton’s Boat Basin or Sunhera Beach, hopping into air-conditioned coasters by 7:00 AM. The drive—through Mauripur and along Hawksbay takes around 1.5 hours, ending at Mubarak Goth, a small fishing village.

Now, don’t expect proper restrooms or cafés here. It’s a working village, full of friendly locals but missing even basic stuff like jetties or public toilets.

From there, the group switches to a traditional wooden fishing boat. The 45 to 60-minute ride to Churna depends on the weather. Luckily, a massive rock mass shields the island from the bigger waves, making the ride doable most days.

There’s just one catch: Churna Island is part of a Pakistan Navy firing zone. You need a permit called an NOC and must book with an approved operator. Most tour organisers supply permits, equipment, lunch, snacks, and a guide.

Best Time to Visit Churna Island

October to March is the sweet spot. The sea is calmer, visibility in the water gets better, and it’s not brutally hot. That’s when serious divers and nature lovers plan their visits.

Avoid May to September. The heat? Next level. The sea? Rougher. The jellyfish? Angry.

A quick piece of advice – jellyfish appear in October. It is often better to go in late October or in November. People got ready with sunscreen that protects the coral; they also brought pills for motion sickness. That preparation helped them a lot.

What to Do at Churna Island: The Full Adventure Line-Up

Snorkelling and Scuba Diving

The divers went into the water, which was 10 to 15 feet deep – it felt like they entered a different place.

Dive guides say Churna contains more than 60 types of coral and bright sea animals, which include parrotfish, clownfish, barracuda, and mackerel. One diver swam above a colourful coral fan. The other attempted to photograph with a waterproof pouch and laughed through the snorkel.

For people new to scuba diving, there is no problem. The guides offered a short lesson on the boat. This taught how to breathe, stay calm, and balance pressure. She was underwater quickly, watching fish move past like slow traffic.

A person does not need to be an expert to like this. Just follow the guide, pay attention, and allow the water to hold you up.

Cliff-Jumping and Sea Caves

The cliffs stand 30 to 40 feet up. Their edges are sharp, and the wind hits them hard. This aspect brings amusement.

Their guide went up first. He motioned them over. “One at a time!” he shouted.

She paused – leapt. She screamed, partly from fear and partly from happiness; they all dropped with big splashes – these splashes soaked the camera operator on the boat.

Close by, sea caves hide within the rock walls – he swam inside with a flashlight – she waited outside, floating softly. When he came out, fish moved around him like small, shiny bits. They both laughed then.

Water Sports (Because Why Not?)

As if snorkelling and cliff jumps weren’t enough, there’s jet skiing, banana boat rides, kneeboarding, and more.

They liked the banana ride the most. The boat moved fast over the water, pulling them like a picture. Just when they thought they were safe, the ride turned them over. She flew off to the side and dropped into the water slowly. Someone said her dive was perfect.

4. Fishing & Floating

The noise quieted, and their arms felt tired, so they reduced their speed.

He went with some local fishermen plus put a line over the side of the boat. He did not use fancy rods, only string, bait, and patience.

She lay on a float near the reef. The sun was on her face, and the sea breeze blew in her ears. That quiet time seemed as good as the excitement from before.

Meeting the Locals: The Real Island Experts

Fishermen from Mubarak Goth enable this trip; they have fished here for a long time. Tourists jump from cliffs, but the fishermen pull nets, repair boats, and depart before sunrise to earn money. Many guides once fished for a living.

There are no clinics, proper schools, or running water here. The little income they get from tourism helps, but it isn’t enough. One guide reminded everyone before leaving: “If you can’t help with money, at least don’t leave your trash behind.”

The Wildlife at Churna: Way More Than Fish

You’ll see way more than coral and clownfish. Keep your eyes peeled for:

• Turtles
• Yellow-bellied sea snakes (venomous but shy)
• Sea urchins
• Barracuda
• Spanish mackerel
• Octopi
• Whale sharks (if you’re lucky)

In 2017, people watched a killer whale and a blue whale with a calf.

A man shouted, “Does a sea snake watch us?” Everyone laughed. Such times formed the trip.

Safety Tips (Take These Seriously)

Churna feels like fun and games, but it stays open water, plus safety counts.

Always wear a life jacket, especially if you do not swim well.

Could you stick to the buddy system? Never go off alone.

Double-check your snorkelling mask—hers flew off mid-jump, and they had to replace it.

Watch the weather—tour guides usually check tides and adjust the trip, but ask just to be sure.

Don’t forget your CNIC—especially during Navy inspections.

And as their guide joked, “Better safe than drifting to India.”

Churna’s Environmental Side: Don’t Mess It Up

Churna Island is marked as an EBSA (Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Area), which means it’s a protected marine space. That coral you’re looking at? It took decades to grow—and seconds to ruin with foul gear or plastic waste.

Problems Churna faces:

Oil spills and dirt come from shipbreaking sites.

Poachers use fishing nets that harm reefs. People who visit drop trash, such as plastic bottles plus food wrappers; they place reusable bottles in their bags, but they also apply sunscreen that does not hurt reefs. Visitors gathered trash that the water carried to the shore. The person who showed them around said, “If this area stops living, the fish, the coral, along with our work, will also stop.”

This is not a speech – it is a fact.

Sample Itinerary (How Their Day Looked)

What It Costs (Per Person)

Basic snorkelling trip: Around PKR 3,200

A complete scuba diving trip costs about PKR 8,500 to 9,000. That covers pickup, lunch, and snorkelling gear. Guides and permits are included, plus you spend a full day on the water.

What to Pack (Trust Us on This)

• Swimsuit or dry-fit clothes
• Beach towel & water shoes
• Extra snorkelling mask (just in case)
• Reef-safe sunscreen and lip balm
• CNIC (you’ll need it!)
• Waterproof pouch for your phone
• Snacks or meds if you get motion sickness
• Some cash for extra snacks or tips

Pro tip from her: “Don’t wear jeans. Wet denim is pure regret.”

He added: “And if sea ear is a thing for you, bring earplugs.”

Why Churna Island Is Worth It

What makes Churna different?

• A person is out in the wild. There are no hotels, no gates, and no walls to separate him from nature.
• The trip offers plenty of action. People dive, jump, and ride.
• The area teems with life. Sea snakes, in addition to whales, are visible.
• The travel links to the community. Each trip supports local fishermen.
• It’s real—you leave with sunburn, salt, and stories you’ll tell for years.

Most guides online just share how to get there or what fish you’ll see. But they miss the people, the problems, and the messy beauty that makes this island special.