Churna Island Karachi: How to Get There and What to Do

Churna Island is a small, uninhabited rocky island about 7 km off Mubarak Village, at the far western edge of Karachi's coast, and the best place near the city for snorkelling, diving and cliff jumping. You reach it by boat from Mubarak Village, about two hours' drive from central Karachi, and the crossing takes 30 minutes to an hour. Trips run in the calmer months, roughly October to April. In the summer monsoon the sea is too rough and boats stop.

This guide covers how to get there, what a day on and around the island involves, when to go, the safety gear to insist on, and what the island's new protected status means for visitors.

What is Churna Island?

Churna is a bare rock island, about 1.2 km long, rising from the sea near the border between Sindh and Balochistan. Nobody lives on it, and it has long been used by the Pakistan Navy as a firing range. What draws visitors is under the water. The reefs around it hold more than 50 species of coral and around 250 species of fish, and green turtles are among the animals recorded around it.

In September 2024 the Balochistan government declared Churna the country's second Marine Protected Area, after Astola Island. The idea is to control fishing, pollution and recreation around the reef. As of mid-2025 the management plan had not yet been finalised, so rules for visitors are still being worked out. Expect them to tighten, and choose an operator that takes the reef seriously.

How to get to Churna Island

Step 1: the drive to Mubarak Village

Mubarak Village is a fishing village at the western end of Karachi's coast, in Keamari district, reached by the coast road west past Hawksbay. Allow around two hours from central Karachi, more from DHA or the north of the city. Most trips set off from the city very early, at dawn or before, to be on the water while the sea is calmest.

The village has few facilities for visitors and no pier; the fishermen's boats leave from the beach. Bring food, water and anything else you need from the city.

Step 2: the boat to the island

The boats are usually local wooden fishing boats, open and without much shade. The crossing of about 7 km takes 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the boat and the swell. Dolphins are sometimes seen on the way.

There are two ways to do it:

• An organised trip from Karachi. Most people go this way. The operator arranges transport to Mubarak Village, the boat, life jackets, snorkelling gear, often lunch, and someone who knows the reef. It is the simplest and, if you choose well, the safest option.
• Hiring a boat yourself at Mubarak Village. Possible if you have your own gear and experience, and someone who can negotiate with the boatmen. Agree the price, the time on the island and the return time before you set off, and do not go without a life jacket for everyone.

How the day usually runs

1. Leave Karachi around dawn, so you reach Mubarak Village while the sea is still calm.
2. Boat out to the island in the morning, with a briefing and life jackets on before you leave the beach.
3. Spend a few hours at the island, snorkelling, swimming and jumping, with food and water on the boat.
4. Head back to Mubarak Village by early afternoon, before the wind often picks up, and drive home to the city.

What to do at Churna

Snorkelling

Snorkelling is the main reason to go. The boats anchor or drift near the island and you snorkel over the reefs close to its shore, where the water in the calm season is clear and full of fish. It is the best snorkelling within reach of Karachi, a real step up from the rock pools of French Beach.

Beginners can do it with a life jacket, a well-fitting mask and a guide in the water. Strong swimmers will get more from it, since the best reef is not always in the most sheltered water.

Cliff jumping

The rocks at the island's edge drop straight into deep water, and jumping from them is the other big draw. It is also where people get hurt.

• Jump only where the operator has checked the depth that day. The depth under a jump point changes with the tide.
• One person at a time, and clear the landing area before the next person jumps.
• Wear a life jacket unless you are a confident swimmer, and know how you will climb back out of the water before you jump.
• Start low. There is no need to go from the highest rock on your first attempt.

Scuba diving

Churna is one of the main diving sites for Karachi's dive schools, and try-dives and courses are run here in the season. If you want to dive, go with an established dive centre with certified instructors, and ask whether it has any permission needed under the island's new protected-area rules.

When is the Churna Island season?

Trips usually run from about October to April, when the sea is calmer and the water at its clearest. Some operators start in September or carry on into early May when conditions allow. The best months for snorkelling are generally from November to March.

From about mid-May to August the southwest monsoon makes the sea off Karachi rough and dangerous. Boats stop running to the island, and Section 144 orders usually ban swimming and sea activity at Mubarak Village and the neighbouring beaches for part of the summer.

Even in season, check the forecast the day before. A windy day can make the crossing unpleasant and the snorkelling murky, and a good operator will postpone rather than go out in a rough sea.

Safety gear and what to bring

Insist on these, whoever you go with:

• A life jacket for every person on the boat, of the right size, including for children and anyone who says they can swim.
• A mask and snorkel that fit. Try them on in the boat before you get in the water.
• Fins, which make it far easier to stay with the group.
• Reef shoes or old trainers for climbing on the rocks, which are sharp and slippery.

And bring:

• Plenty of drinking water and food; there is nothing on the island
• High-factor sunscreen, a hat and a long-sleeved top or rash vest, since there is almost no shade on the boat
• A dry bag for phones and car keys
• A towel and a change of clothes
• Motion-sickness tablets if anyone gets seasick

Don't touch, stand on or break coral, and don't feed the fish. Take every piece of rubbish back to the mainland.

Is it safe?

For Pakistani visitors, Churna trips are a routine day out from Karachi in the season. The real risks are the sea and the rocks: a rough crossing, a bad landing from a jump, or someone struggling in the water without a life jacket. A careful operator, the right gear and the calm season deal with most of them.

Churna lies in Balochistan's waters. The UK government currently advises against all travel to Balochistan, and other governments may give similar advice. If you are visiting from overseas, check your government's travel advice and your insurance before booking, since a trip against official advice may not be covered.

Is Churna Island worth it?

If you can swim, don't get badly seasick and want to see a real reef, yes. It is the best underwater experience within a day of Karachi, and a morning on the water off Mubarak Village is very different from a day on the city's sandy beaches.

It is less suited to very young children, non-swimmers who dislike the water, or anyone who wants shade and comfort, since the day is spent in an open boat and on bare rock. For a gentler day by the sea, a hut at Hawksbay is easier, and our comparison of the best beaches in Karachi sets out the other options. If Churna is part of a longer trip around Pakistan, our trip planning page explains how we put an itinerary together.

Frequently asked questions