Watamu & Malindi · Kenya · Reef
Turtle Reef
Watamu's inner reef at 8-10 m, with green and hawksbill turtles
Area photo: phil from uk · CC BY 2.0
Turtle Reef is the Watamu operator's inner reef, given a maximum depth of about 8-10 m and listed as suitable for all levels. Shallow, close in and unhurried, it is the easy dive of the local line-up, and green and hawksbill turtles are the reason divers ask for it by name.
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
Turtle Reef is the inner reef of the Watamu operator's list, with a maximum depth of about 8-10 m and no deeper ground to drop to. That depth shapes the whole dive: a slow swim over the shallow coral with no decompression pressure and air to spare at the end, which is why the operator lists the site as suitable for all levels rather than sorting divers by certification.
Green and hawksbill turtles are the animal to look for, on the coral or moving between the heads. Beyond the depth and the turtles, little else is published about this reef, so the route is whatever the guide picks on the day - the site is shallow enough and small enough that one tank covers a good part of it without hurrying.
Marine life and season
- Sea turtles
| 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.
Dive videos
Beneath The Blue | Watamu | Turtle Reef · Shazaad Kasmani on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is Turtle Reef in Watamu?+
It is the operator's inner reef, with a maximum depth of about 8-10 m, and it is listed as suitable for all levels. That makes it shallow enough for a first sea dive or for divers coming back to the water after a break.
Sources
- Diving sites — Turtle Dive Watamu
- Exploring the Underwater Treasures of Watamu, Kenya — Adventure Expeditions
In The Logbook
- Where to dive with sea turtlesBig animals · 15 min read
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