The shoreline in the area features white sand beaches and offshore coral
formations arranged in three bays: Watamu Bay, Blue Lagoon and Turtle
Bay. They are protected as part of the Watamu Marine National Park. The
Marine Park is considered one of the best snorkelling and diving
areas on the coast of East Africa. In order to assist the managing
authorities namely Kenyan Wildlife Service, in protecting the Park,
local community groups, the tourist sector and environmental groups have
formed a unique organisation,Watamu Marine Association
Watamu has a population of around 1900 and it is part of the Malindi District.
The
name "Watamu" means "sweet people" in Swahili. The name came from the
fact that Arab slave traders used to distribute sweets to entice the
local population before taking them as slaves.[citation needed]
A newly discovered species of the largest spitting cobra in the world (Naja ashei) was recently (2007) discovered in Watamu
