Dive Site: Cocos Keeling - Canons

About Cocos Keeling - Canons

Cocos Keeling - Canons offers a distinctive dive experience within the Cocos (Keeling) Islands lagoon, making it Australia's most remote dive destination. This site, officially known as the Gerhard Cannon Site, is notable for its six iron cannons, dating from the early to mid-19th century, which lie rusted in two clusters on the seabed. These cannons, likely salvaged from historic shipwrecks, are surrounded by a debris field that includes metallic wreckage, old telegraph cables, and even what local rumor suggests is a forgotten safe. The dive site runs shallow, typically between 8 to 12 meters, allowing for relaxed multi-level profiles suitable for various certification levels, often as a post-lunch dive. Beyond its historical artifacts, Canons is a vibrant natural reef, home to a diverse array of marine life. It is particularly known for frequent sightings of 'Kat', the resident dugong, as well as dolphins and manta rays that are often seen entering or leaving the lagoon. During summer months, giant triggerfish nest here, and fine sand under ledges can reveal white cap partner gobies. The Cocos (Keeling) Islands generally boast an average visibility of 25 meters, clear turquoise waters, and consistently warm temperatures ranging from 26°C to 29°C. The islands are surrounded by a protected marine park, home to over 600 species of fish and nearly 100 species of coral, contributing to the rich biodiversity observed at sites like Canons. This combination of unique historical elements and thriving reef ecosystems provides an engaging and memorable dive for visitors.

Dive site facts: Cocos Keeling - Canons

Depth

8–12 m

Typical dive

12 m, duration depends on diver

Current

Mild

Visibility

25 m

Water temperature

26–29°C

Entry

Boat

Level

All certification levels

Dive type

Historical, reef, marine life

Night dive

Possible

Region / port

Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Australia

Coordinates

-12.0882, 96.8731

Conditions & Currents

Conditions at Canons are generally favorable, with small, gentle waves and moderate wind, making for good diveability. Although there may be a sizeable offshore swell, the site itself is well-protected. The average water temperature of 28°C means a 3mm wetsuit is usually sufficient. Tide movements are present, with high tides reaching approximately 0.9m and low tides at 0.4m, but the site's protected nature mitigates extreme current impacts. Visibility typically averages 25 meters, allowing for clear views of the historical artifacts and marine life. This site is suitable for various diver levels due to its calm and shallow nature, but awareness of general conditions is always recommended.

Marine life & sighting chances

Dugong (Kat)

common

Manta Ray

summer months · common

Dolphin

common

Giant Triggerfish

summer months · common

White Cap Partner Goby

occasional

Damselfish

common

Parrotfish

common

Angelfish

common

Nudibranch

occasional

Octopus

occasional

Hard Coral

common

Soft Coral

common

Dive profile & how the dive runs

Diving at Canons typically begins with a boat entry, often following a leisurely lunch on Direction Island. The site's shallow depth, ranging from 8 to 12 meters, allows for an easy exploration. Divers navigate across the seabed, observing the two distinct clusters of six iron cannons and the surrounding historical debris field, which includes metallic wreckage and old telegraph cables. The dive is usually conducted as a multi-level profile, allowing ample time to explore the historical artifacts and the abundant natural reef life, including frequent sightings of the resident dugong 'Kat', dolphins, and manta rays. The shallow depth naturally facilitates extended bottom times and a safe ascent directly from the site without specific turn points, concluding with a standard safety stop at 5 meters. This relaxed profile makes Canons suitable for divers of all experience levels.

Underwater photography

Canons, with its clear, warm waters and shallow depths, offers excellent wide-angle photography opportunities for capturing the historical cannons alongside marine life. A wide-angle lens is ideal for showcasing the scale of the artifacts and schooling fish. For close-up shots of gobies or nudibranchs, a macro lens can also be effective. Natural light is often sufficient due to the shallow profile and good visibility, but strobes can enhance color and detail, particularly for the rusted iron. Buoyancy control is paramount to avoid disturbing the historical site or the sandy bottom, especially when seeking out smaller creatures. Be mindful of marine life, giving ample space to the resident dugong and mantas.

Combine with nearby dive sites

• Cocos Keeling - Broccoli Patch

  Known for blooming coral and easy descent, home to white tip reef sharks, turtles, and dolphins.

• Cocos Keeling - Enterprise

  Features a large bommie on a drop-off, attracting grey reef sharks, dogtooth tuna, and groupers.

• Cocos Keeling - Cabbage Patch

  An area of green and gold cabbage-shaped coral, with thousands of anthias and chromis, spotted garden eels, and sleeping white tip reef sharks.

• Cocos Keeling - Rose Wall

  A wall covered in rosy hard coral, frequented by schools of surgeonfish and parrotfish.

• Cocos Keeling - Ski Run

  Starts at the reef edge, leading to a glassfish bommie, with trevally feeding, sleeping white tip reef sharks, and long garden eels.

Getting there & logistics

Accessing the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Australia's most remote dive destination, requires flights to Christmas Island, typically from Perth, followed by onward travel. The diving itself is primarily operated by Cocos Dive, the sole dive operator on the islands, based out of West Island. Due to its remote location, liveaboard options are less common for local dives, with most excursions being day trips by boat to sites like Canons, which are just a short ride from shore. Booking dives well in advance is highly recommended due to limited availability and seasonal tour operations. There are no specific park fees mentioned for individual dive sites, but travel to the remote territory involves standard flight and accommodation costs.

Safety & environment

The nearest recompression chamber facilities are not readily available on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands due to their extreme remoteness. In the event of a dive emergency requiring recompression, evacuation to mainland Australia (Perth) or a facility in a neighboring country would be necessary, a process that can be time-consuming and logistically complex. Therefore, comprehensive dive insurance with emergency evacuation coverage is essential for all divers. Site-specific hazards at Canons are minimal due to its shallow, protected nature, but standard safe diving practices, including monitoring air consumption and no-decompression limits, are always crucial. Divers should stay hydrated, follow guide instructions, and avoid touching or disturbing the historical artifacts and marine life.

Who it suits — and who it doesn't

FAQ

Cocos Keeling - Canons FAQ

Liveaboards diving Cocos Keeling - Canons

These liveaboards may visit Cocos Keeling - Canons on selected itineraries — the exact dive sites depend on departure, weather and conditions.

Spoilsport

Australia

28 guests30 m

$405/day

Odyssey Liveaboard

Australia

20 guests24 m

$392/day