Named for the six historic cannons resting on the seabed in two rusted clusters, Cannons is a unique wreck-and-reef dive inside the sheltered lagoon of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. At depths of 14–25 metres, the cannons — believed to have been used as ballast on 19th-century wooden ships and later dumped — sit amid scattered metallic wreckage, vibrant coral bommies, and gorgonian sea fans. The site is renowned for exceptional fish diversity, including the endemic Cocos Pygmy Angelfish, and regular encounters with reef sharks, turtles, manta rays, octopus, and parrotfish. Warm, clear water and calm lagoon conditions make it a must-visit for snorkellers and divers seeking history and marine life in one spot.
Cannons
IntermediateMAYBE
MAYBE
Fair. Experienced snorkellers only.
Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 1.1 mSwell Period 12 sWind Speed 2.5 knPrecipitation 14 mmTidal Phase slack
Last evaluated
The spot
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Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Logged by the community, confirmed by mods
Low risk: Outgoing tide current
The site sits in the lagoon entrance channel where tidal flows can be strong, especially on outgoing tides.
Low risk: Moderate depth range
Depths range from 14 to 25 metres, requiring moderate swimming ability and comfort with depth.
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Getting in
Boat
Entry
Cannons is located inside the lagoon of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Access is by boat tour from West Island or Direction Island, operated by local dive operators such as Cocos Dive. The site is a short ride across the lagoon from the main settlement.
Parking & facilities
Parking available at the Cocos Dive shop on West Island.
Boat dive trips are arranged through Cocos Dive or similar operators — fees vary by package. Contact operators for current pricing.
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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