Watamu Marine Park - Watamu & Malindi

Watamu Marine Park is our easy choice for a warm-up dive in Kenya, especially if you’re new to the Indian Ocean or haven't dived in a while. The maximum depth is 18 metres, usually shallower, which means longer bottom times and lots of light hitting the coral. We've spent many an afternoon here drifting over the reef, just watching the busy activity. It’s a site that always delivers on the smaller stuff: look for knife razorfish dancing above the sand, and we’ve often spotted green turtles cruising past, completely unbothered by divers. The big draw here, though, are the resident grey sweetlips. They often hang out in schools, looking almost silver in the clear water. You can get surprisingly close to them, watching their fins ripple. We recommend an early morning dive if you can swing it – the light is softer, and the reef feels a bit more awake. Currents are generally mild, making it a truly relaxing dive.

Location
Watamu & Malindi, Kenya, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates
-3.370000, 40.030000
Type
reef
Maximum Depth
5-18m
Difficulty
Beginner

Marine Protected Area: Watamu

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)

Nearby Dive Sites in Watamu & Malindi

Nearest Dive Centres to Watamu Marine Park

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 Species

Recommended Packing List for Watamu Marine Park

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