Named for the six rusted cannons clustered on the seabed — likely 19th-century ballast dumped from a wooden ship — Cannons is a fascinating wreck-and-reef snorkel site inside the Cocos (Keeling) Islands lagoon. The shallow, sheltered waters host colourful coral gardens, reef sharks, turtles, manta rays, octopus, and the endemic Cocos Pygmy Angelfish, alongside scattered metallic wreckage. It's a unique blend of history and marine life, offering clear calm conditions perfect for snorkellers wanting to explore a genuine underwater relic.
Cannons / Canons
BeginnerMAYBE
MAYBE
Fair. Experienced snorkellers only.
Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.7 mSwell Period 5.6 sWind Speed 13 knPrecipitation 25 mmTidal Phase slack
Last evaluated
The spot
Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
Know before you go
Logged by the community, confirmed by mods
Moderate risk: Sharp wreckage / cannons
Rusted metal cannons and wreckage debris on the seabed pose a cut hazard to bare skin.
Low risk: Lagoon tidal current
Tidal currents can flow through the lagoon entrance channel, especially during outgoing tide.
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Getting in
Boat
Entry
Cannons is located inside the lagoon of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Access is typically by boat from the main settlement on West Island or via a snorkel/dive tour operator. The site is on the eastern side of the lagoon entrance to Port Refuge, opposite Direction Island.
Parking & facilities
Parking available at the jetty area on West Island where boat tours depart.
No direct entry fee; snorkel/dive boat tours are charged by local operators.
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About this data
- Conditions last evaluated
- Spot data last updated
- Data sources
- Open-Meteo (marine & weather conditions), tide predictions via UTide, community contributors (descriptions, hazards, marine life).
- License
- Spot content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. How's the Spot is open source.
Weather & swell ┬╖ Open-Meteo marine & weather APIs Tides ┬╖ UTide harmonic analysis Sea & safety ┬╖ community reports