Scuba Diving In Watamu Beach
Remember, all our itineraries are totally flexible and can be changed to suit you.
Discover Scuba Diving Excursions In Watamu Beach
Watamu Beach; another of Kenya’s popular scuba dive destinations given its importance as a key breeding area for turtles – mainly green turtles and hawksbill turtles; this makes the diving conditions here even more magical as compared to other locations. Dive into Watamu’s top-class reefs, and get the rare chance to experience thriving marine biodiversity, a year-round diving, 1000+ marine species, and certified PADI trainings available.
Scuba Dive Trips In Watamu Beach
Watamu is fortunate to have some wonderful dive spots in and outside of the reef, providing good diving experiences. Additionally, the underwater national park (Watamu Marine National Park & Reserve) is one of the oldest in Africa with many different species of fish, turtles and much more. Discover for yourself, from Scuba Diving to safaris & from fishing to watersports, Watamu will give the level of adventure you want. Add extra watersport activities around Watamu waters with everything on offer for both beginners and experienced divers.
Top 8 Best Scuba Diving Sites In Watamu Beach
The Watamu National Marine Park covers an extended portion of the coast and provides exceptional opportunities for both beginner and advanced level ocean scuba divers, at several world-class diving sites in Kenya. Inside the Marine Park, there are over 150 species of corals and over 600 species of fish. A recommended dive spot is the Mida Wreck: a sunken boat that now lies 14 meters deep. Other sites not to be missed include Moray Reef with its breathtaking drop-off and Canyon, a breathtaking arch covered in soft coral, bordered on both sides by steep drop-offs.
1. Turtle Reef
The ‘Turtle Reef’ has a maximum depth of approx. 8 – 10 meters. A beautiful circuit, and as the name suggests, turtles can often be seen on this reef.
2. Drummers Reef
At the ‘Drummers Reef’ dive site, you first follow a channel-like path before reaching the edge of the reef. Blue-spotted rays can usually be found along this path. The special feature of this site is a large flower-like anemone surrounded by small shrimps and pipefish. Furthermore, you dive over an ‘anemone meadow’ and to an extremely beautifully overgrown and lively coral block, where rocking fish in various colors are not uncommon. The dive site has a depth of about 12-25 meters.
3. Canyon, Canyon North, Soft Coral und Brain Coral
At the ‘Canyon’ dive site, the reef rises again after an approx. 25-meter-wide trench. In this channel, where there is sometimes a current, you can occasionally see large stingrays. Discover the beautiful coral growth with swarms of blue-striped snappers, fusiliers, surgeonfish and much more.
4. Canyon South, Red Fire, Dolphin Corner
These dive sites are located on the middle reef and drop from 10 to approx. 28 meters. Canyon South’ has a small grotto below the descent line with numerous juvenile fish and a large moray eel that often makes an appearance. A variety of schools of fish such as batfish, barracudas, flutefish etc. can be found at this dive site. Every now and then you can also see large Napoleon fish. At the ‘Red Fire Place’ you will find a wide variety of lionfish and leaf fish as well as a mixture of fantastic corals, many different species of fish and much more. At Dolphin Corner, you can dive across a channel and, with a bit of luck, encounter these playful animals.
5. Octopus Reef, Moray Reef
These two Watamu dive sites are located on the northern reef and drop from 10 meters to approx. 27 meters before merging into a sandy bottom. On this side of the reef, it is very common to come into contact with sea turtles. At the ‘Octopus Reef’ you have a good chance of encountering these interesting animals. Occasionally you will bump into a blacktip or whitetip reef shark sleeping under a rock. Shoals of blue-striped snappers are at home there. At ‘Moray Reef’ you will encounter shoals of flute fish, fusiliers and barracudas. The special feature of this reef, however, are the small inhabitants; the numerous nudibranchs in a wide variety of colors and variations
6. Tewa Reef
At ‘Tewa Reef’ it is simply fantastic to dive along the reef and enjoy the beauty of the underwater world with all its surprises. Due to the abundance of plankton in Watamu Bay, there is a chance of encountering manta rays and whale sharks all along the reef. The best time to see these animals is from November to the end of March.
7. Secret Garden
Colorful dive spot with a coral garden at a depth of 12 – 20 meters. A large brain coral that is teeming with life and colorful reef fish. There is a rare red anemone, an abundance of shrimps, lobsters and often ghost moray eels. Shoals of blue-striped snappers, fusiliers and surgeonfish like to cavort there. This dive site is only suitable for experienced ocean divers.
8. Black Coral
At a depth of 30 to 40 meters there is black coral here, the appearance of which is not known to many divers. This beauty can be marveled at here. Another attraction are the rare blue and yellow sea cucumbers, which do not change their location. They can often be seen filtering their food from the plankton-rich water when they are open. Huge basket sponges, which reach a size of 1 to 1.5 meters, can also be discovered here. There are numerous whip corals and many schools of fish frolic on the reef. This dive site is only suitable for experienced scuba divers.
Why Watamu Scuba Dive Tours
Discover the sheer wonder of being exposed to a new, unpredictable world, or the excitement of hanging motionless in warm, clear water alongside a whale shark, or being dazzled by the rainbow colours of so many different creatures finned, fronded, and tentacled, on the coral reefs.
 Exciting Underwater Encounters: Discover over 1000 species of fish and 200 corals.
Go On Reef Explorations: Discover fringing reefs offer varied dives from 6 to 30 meters.
Indian Ocean Rare Encounters: A rare chance to spot whale sharks, manta rays, and colorful nudibranchs.
Beginner Certification Courses: One-on-one training with PADI, BSAC, SSI-certified beach diving instructors.
When To Scuba Dive In Watamu Beach
Best time of year to go diving in Watamu is between November and April with the larger whale sharks and manta ray spotting generally occurring in January to the end of March. May and June are not advised for the best diving but the dive centre its open for diving and training all year.
Recommended Diani Beach Tours & Excursions
Our exciting Nairobi city tour package lets you see all of the top sites in Kenya’s capital within a single day. Book now, these incredible full-day guided city tours which will allow you to explore some of the best attractions of Nairobi. Kick-start your morning city excursions throughout Nairobi’s main areas, including visits to the Museum and significant historical sites in the CBD. Experience Nairobi city through the eyes of street children on a personal storytelling walking tour in downtown which has been ranked best tour in Nairobi. Alternatively, we provide you with the combination of the best full-day Nairobi tour to Nairobi National Park, David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, and Giraffe, among other destinations.