Watamu Marine Park
Kenya · East Africa
Watamu Marine National Park on Kenya's coast offers coral diving, turtle encounters, and seasonal whale shark passes. Quieter and more locally rooted than Zanzibar, with a coastal town feel.
How this reef is doing
ⓘ How we measure thisReef state
Kenyan coast MPA reefs. Cover has thinned but the marine park's enforcement limits compounding damage.
Coral cover
Fish life
Heat
No unusual heat right now.
Fishing
Some fishing is allowed here, in marked zones.
Sources · MERMAID and partner coral surveys · NOAA Coral Reef Watch · Global Fishing Watch and reef gravity
What you will see
16 species across the dive sites here
Rough-Scaled Plated Lizard
Seen 22 days ago
at Watamu Marine Park Wall
Least concern
Eurasian Whimbrel
Seen 2 months ago
at Watamu Marine Park Wall
Least concern
Porcupinefish
Seen 3 months ago
at Whale Island Cave
Least concern
Whale shark
Seen 3 months ago
at The Canyon
Endangered
Green Sea Turtle
Seen 4 months ago
at Watamu Marine Park Wall
Least concern
Crab-Plover
Seen 4 months ago
at Watamu Marine Park Wall
Least concern
Bluestripe snapper
Seen 11 months ago
at The Canyon
Least concern
Ribbon eel
Seen Dec 2024
at The Canyon
Least concern
Spiny Lobster
Seen Feb 2024
at Whale Island Cave
Least concern
Golden sweeper (glassfish)
Seen Jan 2024
at The Canyon
Least concern
Giant Moray
Seen Jan 2024
at Watamu Marine Park Wall
Least concern
Malabar grouper
Seen year round
at The Canyon
Least concern
Nurse Shark
Seen year round
at Whale Island Cave
Vulnerable
Yellowbar Angelfish
Seen year round
at Whale Island Cave
Least concern
Bumphead Parrotfish
Seasonal visitor
at Watamu Marine Park Wall
Vulnerable
Whitetip reef shark
Rare sighting
at The Canyon
Vulnerable
Dive sites
What divers say
Kenya's diving is underrated and the safari add on makes it unbeatable as a combination trip.
Good to know
Safari combo
Tsavo East is 3h inland — easy to bolt on.