Turtle Dive Center - Watamu & Malindi
The team at Turtle Dive Center are the kind of people you instantly click with. Harry and Tina have built something special in Watamu and Malindi, a genuinely friendly operation that feels more like diving with mates than a commercial outfit. We love their relaxed approach; it takes the pressure off and lets you simply enjoy the dives. They specialise in PADI courses, so it’s a smart choice for anyone looking to get certified or advance their skills. We reckon their local knowledge is their biggest asset – they know the reefs around Watamu Marine National Park like the back of their hand. They’ll take you to sites where big pelagics often cruise past, like the Canyon, or spots where you can just drift over sprawling soft corals, watching the anemonefish dart between tentacles. We'd suggest aiming for a morning dive; the light really pops on the shallower reefs, and the water often feels silkier before the afternoon breezes kick in. It's a solid choice if you appreciate a personal touch and want to explore Kenya’s coast with people who genuinely love being underwater.
- Location
- Watamu & Malindi, Kenya, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- -3.364150, 40.004000
- Phone
- +254 715 386302
- [email protected]
- Website
- http://www.turtle-dive.com
- Certification Agencies
- ["PADI"]
- Courses
- PADI Resort [padi:3307]
- Address
- PO Box 420, Mida Creek Road, Watamu, 80202, Kenya
Dive Sites Near Turtle Dive Center
Turtle Dive Center provides access to 9 dive sites in Watamu & Malindi.
- Brain Coral Garden - 8-15m (reef)
- HAMAR - 11m (wreck)
- LEE CHRISTINE - 5m (wreck)
- NAIROBI - 1m (wreck)
- SHAKWE - 12m (wreck)
- South Canyon Watamu
- South Dolphin (cave)
- The Canyon - 15-30m (reef)
- Watamu Marine Park - 5-18m (reef)
Other Dive Centres in Watamu & Malindi
Best Time to Dive in Watamu & Malindi
The warmest water temperatures in Watamu & Malindi occur in January, averaging 28.2°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 28.2°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.2°C (air: 27.7°C)
- February: 28.2°C (air: 27.9°C)
- March: 28.2°C (air: 28.2°C)
- April: 28.2°C (air: 27.1°C)
- May: 28.2°C (air: 26.5°C)
- June: 28.2°C (air: 25.6°C)
- July: 28.2°C (air: 24.8°C)
- August: 28.2°C (air: 24.8°C)
- September: 28.2°C (air: 25.3°C)
- October: 28.2°C (air: 26.2°C)
- November: 28.2°C (air: 26.8°C)
- December: 28.2°C (air: 27.5°C)
Marine Life in Watamu & Malindi
Home to 254 recorded species including 148 reef fish, 57 hard corals, 17 seagrass & algae, 10 sea cucumbers, 6 sharks & rays, 3 crabs & lobsters.
Notable Marine Life
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- mangrove (Rhizophora mucronata) - Seagrass & Algae
- gray mangrove (Avicennia marina) - Seagrass & Algae
- Kankra (Bruguiera gymnorhiza) - Seagrass & Algae
- Sundari tree (Heritiera littoralis) - Seagrass & Algae
- Dhundal tree (Xylocarpus granatum) - Seagrass & Algae
- Staghorn coral (Acropora valida) - Hard Corals
- Species code: Tc (Thalassodendron ciliatum) - Seagrass & Algae
- Species code: Si (Syringodium isoetifolium) - Seagrass & Algae
- thalassia (Thalassia hemprichii) - Seagrass & Algae
Recommended Packing List for Watamu & Malindi
Based on average water temperature of 28.2°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories