Diving

Watamu’s coast is heavily tidal, with a shallow fringing coral reef just offshore which has some excellent low stress diving minutes from the beach. This reef lies just below the surface and is exposed at low tide. You can either dive the inside or the outside of the reef but due to the height of the reef the outside is not easily accessible which limits diving  by the tide as it cannot be dived at low tide when the reef is exposed.

One such site is “The Canyon” which has deep drop offs, coral gardens and an archway covered with soft coral. The canyon itself is a sandy channel with steep walls where you can frequently see rays cruising along this sandy strip and even some White tip reef sharks. The whole area is full of schools of reef fish and Turtles can also be seen in the coral gardens at the top of the reef.

How to get there

Located on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya, Watamu is a couple of hours drive north from the coast’s main town of Mombasa. Mombasa has an international airport which receives flights from all over the world and domestic flights from the countries capital Nairobi. 

Where to Eat & Drink

The daily ocean catches largely dictate the meals available in Watamu. With excellent crab, fish, lobster and oysters prepared daily, in addition to tropical fruit and cashews, fresh local meals are available in great abundance. Much of the seafood is prepared with Swahili influences, incorporating curry, coconut and local spices into most dishes. As a result of a strong Italian influence in Watamu, guests can take a break from seafood in exchange for a great variety in authentic Italian restaurants and coffee shops. 

The nightlife in Watamu is fairly relaxed compared to some of Kenya’s busier cities. Plenty of cocktails are served on beachside cafes under the stars, as people stroll along the walkways and coastline.

Other activities

The quiet village of Watamu revolves largely around the coast and the ocean. In addition to spectacular snorkelling and diving, the marine reserve office also hires glass bottom boat tours of the ocean. Not far from the town itself, guests can also visit the old Swahili ruins of Gede, adding some history and architecture into your trip.

Traveling slightly further north of Watamu, guests can visit the Marafa Depression – often referred to as Hell’s Kitchen. These series of sandstone gorges and gullies has inspired local folklore, and sits in enormous contrast to the white sandy beaches of Watamu. Dense forests and mangroves with rare forest elephants are also within driving distance of Watamu’s lodges, again contrasting the tropical Indian ocean.

Most people don’t visit Kenya solely for the diving and its main attraction is still definitely the amazing safaris in Tsavo National Park and the Masai Mara Game Reserve. Here you have the opportunity to spot the Big Five, lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffalos, all in their natural habitat. Also many other great creatures such as zebras, hippos and giraffes!

This is a nature lovers dream to watch these magnificent creatures in the wild and you cannot visit Kenya without taking part in a safari! So it’s best to team one up with a few days of diving on the coast so you get the best of both worlds.

Tips

Watamu truly is a tiny beach paradise.

It is worth noting that there are no ATMs in town to access cash. Major hotels and dive centres generally take credit cards and may exchange currency and travellers cheques. However, to be safe, it is worth carrying in ample Kenyan Shillings withdrawn in Mombassa to be safe.