Named for the six rusted cannons clustered on the seabed—likely dumped ballast from 19th-century trading ships—Cannons is a fascinating wreck-and-reef site inside the Cocos Lagoon. The shallow, turquoise waters (12–25 m depth) are draped in coral and teem with marine life, including reef sharks, turtles, manta rays, and the endemic Cocos Pygmy Angelfish. Scattered metallic wreckage adds to the underwater intrigue. With average visibility of 25 metres and calm lagoon conditions, this spot offers a superb snorkel experience blended with maritime history.
Cannons (wreck & reef dive site)
IntermediateGO
GO
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Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.2 mSwell Period 12 sWind Speed 2.5 knPrecipitation 14 mmTidal Phase slack
Last evaluated
The spot
Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Logged by the community, confirmed by mods
Low risk: Tidal currents at lagoon entrance
The site is inside the lagoon, but tidal currents can flow through the Port Refuge entrance. Snorkelers should be aware of changing tidal movement.
Low risk: Submerged wreckage and cannons
Sharp metal wreckage fragments and encrusted cannons on the seabed present a laceration risk at depths of 12–25 m.
Low risk: Boat traffic
Boat traffic in the lagoon channel used by dive operators and local vessels.
Wildlife Guide
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Getting in
Boat
Entry
Cannons is located inside the Cocos Lagoon, opposite Direction Island near the eastern entrance to Port Refuge. Access is by boat only, typically via dive operators such as Cocos Dive operating out of West Island. A short boat trip across the lagoon brings you to the site.
Parking & facilities
Available at the boat ramp / dive operator base on West Island.
parking
Dive/snorkel tours from Cocos Dive or similar operators; prices vary by package. Contact operators for current rates.
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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