Watamu & Malindi · Kenya · Reef · Sand slope
Octopus Reef
Octopus on the northern reef, where turtles are very common
Area photo: phil from uk · CC BY 2.0
One of the two northern-reef sites the Watamu boats run, paired with Moray Reef. The reef starts at 10 m and steps down to about 27 m before it flattens into sand, and the site is named for a good chance of finding octopus on it. Turtles are common on this side of the reef and blue-striped snappers shoal 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 northern reef begins at around 10 m and drops to roughly 27 m, where it merges into a sandy bottom. That transition is the line the dive tends to follow: coral on one side, open sand on the other, and blacktip and whitetip reef sharks are occasionally found sleeping under rocks along the way.
Back up on the reef the site earns its name. Octopus are found here often enough to make the search worth the whole dive, and they take some looking for: a change of texture on a coral head, or an eye watching from a hole. Sea turtles are very common on this side of the reef, and shoals of blue-striped snappers hold over the structure, so there is something to watch while the group works its way along.
Marine life and season
- Octopus & cuttlefish
- Sea turtles
- Reef sharks
- 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
What can you see at Octopus Reef?+
Octopus give the site its name and are found regularly. Sea turtles are very common here, shoals of blue-striped snappers hold over the reef, and reef sharks are occasionally seen resting under rocks.
Sources
- Dive Sites - Turtle Dive Watamu — Turtle Dive Watamu
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