Watamu & Malindi · Kenya · Reef
Canyon South
A grotto of juvenile fish with a resident large moray
Area photo: phil from uk · CC BY 2.0
A middle-reef site about 20 minutes from the Watamu centres, dived for the small grotto under its descent line. Juvenile fish pack the grotto and a large moray eel lives in it. The reef drops from 10 m to roughly 28 m, with schools of batfish, barracuda and flutefish passing over it.
Where it is and how deep
No published position for this site — the map shows Watamu & Malindi and its other sites; operators know the mooring.
The dive
The descent line lands you on the middle reef, which starts at about 10 m and steps down to roughly 28 m. The first thing to look at is directly below the line: a small grotto crowded with juvenile fish, and a large moray eel that often shows itself. It is a short stop rather than a penetration, and it is the feature the site is dived for.
Away from the grotto the dive is spent along the reef, watching the water column as much as the coral. Schools of batfish, barracuda and flutefish work along this stretch, and large Napoleon wrasse turn up now and then. How deep you go is a choice: the operator lists the site among the ones beginners can dive, which means staying up on the reef, while the full drop to 28 m costs bottom time on a site whose interest is spread the whole way up.
Marine life and season
- Barracuda
- Napoleon wrasse
- Reef fish swarms
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Good | Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime |
Season follows Watamu & Malindi: Oct–Mar is the season, with whale sharks Nov–Feb; the kusi monsoon and long rains shut most centres from April to June.
Questions divers ask
Is Canyon South suitable for beginners?+
The operator lists it among its beginner-friendly sites, but the reef drops to about 28 m, so a beginner profile means staying on the shallower part of the reef.
Sources
- Dive Sites - Turtle Dive Watamu — Turtle Dive Watamu
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