Blue Lagoon Wall

On the outer edge of the Watamu reef system the seabed drops away in a steep wall coloured by gorgonian sea fans, black coral trees, and brilliant orange and yellow sponges. This is the best site in the area for pelagic encounters — from November through March whale sharks are regularly sighted cruising the blue water just off the wall lip, and year round hammerhead sharks, spinner dolphins, and occasional manta rays pass through. The wall itself hosts an impressive cast of reef inhabitants: large Napoleon wrasse, schools of masked puffer fish, and hunting packs of dog-tooth tuna in the blue. A thermocline at around 25 metres marks the transition to cooler, nutrient-rich water that explains the exceptional filter feeder growth on the deeper sections.