The warm clear waters of Cuba, hold treasures in terms of biodiversity in it’s miles and miles of coral reefs. Right from the underwater caverns that provide mysterious confines which beg inspection to the plentiful wrecks including a sunken torpedo boat and a fallen transport plane now safe havens for an unparalleled variety of marine life, Cuba is a diving dream turned reality.

Currently on offer there are 31 diving centers at 18 different zones and 100′s of dive sites with new areas being developed everyday. Of these, Maria La Gorda located in the Pinar Del Rio province of Cuba, a scenic 4 1/2 hours drive from Havana past scenic banana, sugar cane and tobacco plantations is one of the most loved Cuban dive spot even if it’s one of the least developed areas of the island. It has two distinct dives zones – a shallow area that gently slopes away from the beach for a short way before suddenly dropping steeply to several thousands meters below sea level on a near vertical plane. The drop creates some impressive walls cut with tunnels and caverns. Other underwater sights include black coral walls, 18th century shipwrecks and a few caves.

For something a little closer to the country’s capital city of Havana, Cayo Levisa is the place to go. It’s just one of the thousands of cays and islets surrounding Cuba. An hour outside the capital on the north west of the island, this Cuban dive site is home to sponges, black coral and some of the larger tropical fish. It’s also home to some of the island’s more memorable shipwrecks from the 17th and 18th Century. Cayo Largo, in the south of the island is another obvious choice for diving with it’s virtually untouched beaches and coral reefs. A great place for beginners as it is protected against any strong currents in it’s huge reef.

About 90 miles east of Havana, Varadero is a top Cuban beach destination and a dive site where you can spot a sunken torpedo boat,or check in on a fallen transport plane.

Then there’s the peculiarly named Bay of Pigs dive site, a fabulous 30 m swim through with small coral gardens at 6 m then drop off down a fantastic coral encrusted wall with Tuna, Barracuda, jacks and the likes. Playa Giron near the Bay of Pigs too has some good diving. Renowned for it’s shelf diving, the area has sheer drop offs near the shore which make for some great swim-throughs.

No matter where in Cuba you choose to dive you can’t be disappointed. If nothing, the clear warm waters, 30-40m visibility and abundant coral life make it a joy to dive. So the next time your planning a scuba diving trip, head to the Caribbean don’t forget to experience some ‘Cuba Diving’!

*Photo Credits: photos by copepodo, species_snob, Watertons on flickr

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Cuba Diving Explored was written by Noreen for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

1.The Elbow, Turneffe Island, Belize
Turneffe Islands is the largest of the three atolls of Belize and the only one with an extensive cover of mangroves. Of it’s numerous dive sites, ‘The Elbow’ is our pick for the best dive to see large fish and pelagics. Located at the very southern end of the atoll The Elbow is quite different from its neighboring Lighthouse Reef. Here, the reef reverses its direction exposing it to the deep and a confluence of opposing ocean currents bathes the 3,000-foot drop in nutrient-rich water, supporting a cavalcade of marine life. Soft corals drape the vertical ledge interspersed by barrel sponges and patrolled by large predatory fish like jacks, snapper and permit. Seasonal appearances of sharks and kingfish add to the pelagic spectacle, but most spectacular is the majestic flight of eagle rays. On exceptional days a school of more than 50 eagle rays can bring a sensation of euphoria to even the most jaded and experienced diver.

However, this dive is considered an advanced dive because of it’s strong currents. Divers attempting it should have excellent buoyancy control and good air consumption as this wall dive ranges from 60 ft (18 meters) to very deep depths and dive time must be spent in mid-water because of bottom time constraints.

2. Ocean Blue Hole, Andros Island, Bahamas
The Ocean Blue Hole in Andros is literally a tube in rock more than 200 feet (61 m) across at the top and with a skylight formed when the roof of an ancient, and formerly dry, limestone cavern collapsed and flooded after one too many cycles of rising and falling sea levels. But it isn’t just any hole in the ground, it’s teaming with marine life and coral life, in the shallow parts and jacks and bigger fish the deeper it gets. It’s a completely different world down there, with overhangs, swim-throughs and winding canyons.

3. Wreck of the Antilla, Aruba
One of the largest WW2 wreck in the Caribbean, at 400 ft is an unforgettable dive site. Dubbed ‘The Ghost’ ship, the MS Antilla was scuttled by it’s own German Captain to prevent it getting into the hands of the Dutch, right off the coast of Aruba where it was docked. The German supply ship now lies on its port side at a maximum depth of 55 feet, although it can be easily seen from the surface and the wreckage even breaks the surface. It’s wreck in it’s shallow and clear waters often casts an eerie massive shadow on the white sandy seabed. Up until a couple years, the wreck used to be open to special wreck penetration scuba diving but now after the hull has been weakened by storms it is collapsing on a daily basis, making it unsafe to go inside the wreck. But, still there is plenty to see and the marine life astounding. Yellowtail snapper, angelfish and bluehead wrasse dart between star and brain corals, while hamlet and damselfish hang beneath purple gorgonians. Four-eye butterfly fish and beaugregory seek refuge near white-tipped fire coral and even dive masters who’ve descended on the wreck hundreds of times say they still discover new sights with each visit.

4. Bloody Bay Wall, Little Cayman, Cayman Islands
Diving conditions in the Caymans is second to none, with it’s astonishingly clear underwater visibility usually ranging from 150′ to 200′. It’s renowned primarily for their abundant Wall and Wreck Diving sites. One of the best walls to dive at is located in the Bloody Bay Marine Park which is technically a Little Cayman site, but easily accessible by boat from Cayman Brac. This site has been rated frequently by several dive magazines and sites as one of the best wall diving sites in the world. With underwater ledges starting at 20 feet and dropping suddenly to a few thousand feet honeycombed with caves and crevices, this one mile long wall is near the deepest part of the Caribbean Sea. The abundance of coral life and sponges are second only to the hundreds of species of fish and marine life that inhabit this region. The big-lipped Nassau Grouper and Turtles are regular features of this site.

5. Santa Rosa Wall, Cozumel
Ranked no. 1 by PADI as a top dive destination and featuring on almost every divers must-dive destination list, the island of Cozumel off the Mayan Coast of Mexico is a feast for any divers eyes. Famous for its drift diving, Cozumel is a lazy diver’s paradise with currents that range from gentle 1/2 knots near some dive sites to fast, strong currents only for experienced and adventurous drift divers.The Wall at the Santa Rosa Reef begins at 50 feet and drops straight away into the deep blue. The Santa Rosa Wall is an expansive reef filled with huge coral mounds and covered with giant sea fans, beds of tunicates, immense sponges, huge overhangs of stony corals and impressive caves and tunnels. The massive richly colored sponges line the wall that drops off to infinity. Visibility here is stunning and with the current doing most of the work all you need to do is fall into the water and let the currents carry you away, past a Technicolor reef scene that boasts a rainbow array of sponges and scads of unique fish. Look in cracks and crevices for the whiskered Splendid Toadfish, found nowhere else on Earth. (For more read: Paradise Reefs: Diving in Cozumel, Mexico).

*Images from flickr by Serge Melki, D M Amundsen, joeduty on flickr

Top 5 Dive Sites In The Caribbean was written by Noreen for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

Diving conditions in the Caymans is second to none, and with an astonishingly clear underwater visibility usually ranging from 150′ to 200′, the reefs of Cayman Brac are perfect for snorkelers or scuba divers to explore its waters.  While there are dive sites catering to all kinds of divers, Cayman Brac dive sites are renowned primarily for their abundant Wall and Wreck Diving sites. There are over 46 frequented dive sites from which at least 20 are wall diving sites and four ship wrecks to explore.

Out of the four ship wrecks, the Russian Frigate 356 – MV Capt. Keith Tibbetts is perhaps the most popular, and is a 330 foot vessel with its bow in 85 feet of water, and the stern in 60 feet. Sunk in 1996 the wreck is relatively intact and can be visited by both snorkelers and divers. This wreck is a must do dive for anyone visiting Cayman Brac, and there are over 100 species of fish inhabiting the wreck which is partially penetrable and made diver friendly.

The wall diving at Cayman Brac is simply breathtaking. Wall dive sites surround all sides of the island and are teeming with of all types, colors, and sizes of coral and sponges cascading down the wall faces. Each wall is peppered with small caves and ledges that are waiting to be explored. One of the best walls to dive at is located in the Bloody Bay Marine Park which is technically a Little Cayman site, but easily accessible by boat from Cayman Brac. This site has been rated frequently by several dive magazines and sites as one of the best wall diving sites in the world. With underwater ledges starting at 20 feet and dropping suddenly to a few thousand feet honeycombed with caves and crevices, this one mile long wall is near the deepest part of the Caribbean Sea. The abundance of coral life and sponges are second only to the hundreds of species of fish and marine life that inhabit this region. The big-lipped Nassau Grouper and Turtles are regular features of this site.

Getting to Cayman Brac is relatively simple. Tourist can get in from the US Mainland (Miami) through Grand Cayman where smaller aircraft transport you to the airstrip at Cayman Brac. LeisurePro Travel currently offers up amazing Cayman Brac packages for 7 nights on either resort or liveaboard.  The Brac Reef resort package Includes 7 nights Standard accommodations, airport transfers, breakfast and dinner daily and 12 boat dives with Reef Divers, and the second diver gets half off!

photos from flickr by: lyng883, Venson Kuchipudi, joeduty

Dive Cayman Brac the Caribbean’s Wall Diving Capital was written by Nevin for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

Aruba has two sunken airplanes an YS-11 and a Convair 240 (or a DC-3) both intentionally sunk as an artificial reef for Scuba Divers rest in the same waters becoming major dive attractions and a must-do dive for anyone visiting Aruba.

The Convair 240 or DC-3 (debatable) is a 40 seater aircraft  74 ft (22.76 m) in length, which was confiscated during a drug-bust in the late 1980s and  later sunk by the authorities as an artificial reef. The aircraft was sunk shallow in the Sonesta reef just off the coast, but has moved to a depth of 80 feet after Hurricane Lenny hit in 1999 which also cut the fuselage into two big pieces. Other parts of the plane are located at a depth of 45 feet on the sloping reef. The Convair 240 is still penetrable, and divers can easily explore the interior of the fuselage offering divers a fantastic photo opportunity. The Convair 240 is resting in the Sonesta coral reef, which is a sandy bottom reef surrounded by soft corals and colorful sponges.

The second airplane is a Japanese manufactured NAMC YS-11 turboprop passenger airliner belonging to Air Aruba which had outlived its service and was donated to the Aruba Water Sports Association who in 2004 sunk the 60ft long passenger airplane weighing close to 13 tons and it came to a rest at 45 feet with its tail section resting at 75 feet making the airplane appear poised for take-off. The cockpit is still intact, though the nose cone has fallen off, and it is possible to dive through the fuselage of the airplane. The YS-11 is presents an eerie sight as its resting on its landing gear with its nose pointing towards the island inclined upwards almost as if it wants to lift-off from the Sonesta reef.

Both the Convair 240 and the YS-11 airplanes are situated close to the shoreline and can be easily accessed by boat or by a shore dive. These wrecks are simply alluring owing to the ‘out-of-place’ feeling you get when sighting an aircraft underwater, and are truly unique photo opportunities for divers.

photos from flickr taken by: ChrisDag and David M*

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Dive Two Unique Airplane Wrecks in Aruba was written by Nevin for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

The Hilma Hooker was a 236 foot long cargo vessel and was built in Holland in 1951. The ship was passing by Bonaire in 1984 when it encountered some rudder problems and was towed to the Bonaire Pier for assistance. Customs and authorities immediately had the ship searched when the captain could not provide the proper papers, and they discovered 25,000 pounds of marijuana hidden between false bulkheads onboard. The drugs were confiscated and the ship remained tied to the pier for months while the authorities tried to track down the owner of the vessel.

As the ship was evidence in a legal case against the owners of the vessel for drug trafficking, the vessel could not be touched despite several pleas and pettitions by divers to have the ship sunk as a dive attraction. After many months of being tied to the pier with no maintenance, it’s weak hull began to have some minor leaks and take on water. In September 1984, the authorities fearing that it would sink, consulted local divers and the Tourist Bureau and towed the Hilma Hooker to  permanent anchorage just off the shore where if the ship would sink, then there would be minimal affect to ship’s navigating the reef and coral damage.

The Ship eventually sunk in early September 1984 and came to a rest at 90 feet of water falling sideways on to her starboard side. Divers immediately flocked to the wreck, which unfortunately was never made diver friendly as it wasn’t intentionally sunk.  Local dive operators got together and made the wreck safe for recreational divers, by cutting the doors, breaking cables and drilling holes in the vessel to allow the air to escape.

The location of the wreck makes this dive easily accessible from the shore and requires 5-6 minutes of swimming toward the buoys first before descending to the wreck’s hull which is just 60 feet below the surface. Visibility is supposedly incredible throughout the year and a large variety of fish and larger barracuda have made the wreck their home.

Beginners can remain at 60 feet near the Hull of the wreck, and intermediate divers can explore the open passageways at 70 feet or so. Wreck penetration is reserved only for the very experienced divers, owing to the depths involved and condition of the wreck itself. The ship has several dangerous areas such as the engine rooms and large open cargo holds where visibility is poor and floating debris still poses a risk to divers. Divers planning to explore the deeper sections of the Hilma will need dive lights, and Nitrox Divers can use EAN32 Nitrox mixes which are available at the island.

Overall the Hilma Hooker is a must do dive for anyone visiting the divers paradise of Bonaire. Watch out for your air and bottom time, as the minutes fly like seconds once down there exploring this massive ship, and be prepared for the reasonably long surface swim.

photos from flickr by: kah_adiving, sniffette, aa7ae, Dan Hershman,

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Dive the Wreck of the Hilma Hooker Bonaire was written by Nevin for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

Scuba Diving in Roatan is perhaps the simplest thing to do as the Island is completely surrounded by coral reefs and hosts over 132 frequented dive sites and the opportunity to explore several more unexplored sites and reefs as well.

Coral Reefs
For divers that want to explore the reefs around the Island, they will not be disappointed. The sheer variety of different coral that grows in each location north, west or south is simply staggering and you never tire or visiting different sites.. One can easily explore nursery reefs or the deeper reefs with pelagic fish such as Sharks, Snapper and Barracuda. Roatan is particularly known for its Black Coral and azure vase sponges that seem to be abundant in the surrounding reefs

Wall Diving
Roatan is perhaps the Caribbean’s wall diving capital with thousand foot walls, ledges and drop-offs only a short distance away, surrounding the islands. These walls are covered with spectacular soft coral, barrel sponges, larger fish like Grouper and Barracuda, hawksbill turtles and eagle rays gliding by.  The walls are peppered with fissures, cracks, ledges and overhangs that would literally take months to explore. For those who aren’t too keen on wall diving, there are several mini-walls and pinnacles that make great sites for beginners to build up their confidence.

Cavern Diving
The reefs around Roatan as festooned with shallow caves, caverns and swim-throughs. A series of natural cracks in the reef that lead towards the wall drop-off known as the “canyonlands” make a spectacular diving experience.  Another site known as the Dolphin Den, is a cave-like swim-through is a maze of tunnels where one can find morays and nurse sharks. In fact there are so many caverns, swim-through and overhead environment sites that one could easily spend their entire trip just exploring these.

Wreck Diving
Interestingly enough, despite having some of the most spectacular natural coral reefs and wall diving in the Caribbean, Roatan has a fair number of wreck diving sites which include some vessels intentionally sunk for scuba diving. The biggest most popular wreck is a 300 foot freighter known as the Odyssey, which was intentionally sunk for Scuba Diving, after the ship having caught fire became unusable, and was donated to the government. Other wrecks include the Dixon Cove wrecks,  The Prince Albert, El Aguila and the 1912 Wreck.

So if you’re looking for that perfect dive destination offering you a diverse range of scuba diving sites ranging from Wrecks, Reefs, Wall Diving and Caverns, look no further than this hidden gem of an Island, Roatan, where you can experience some of the best diving in the world.

photos from flickr by: alfonsator, John in LA, matt coats, g-na

Roatan a Diver’s Dream Come True was written by Nevin for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

Saba’s Marine park was established in 1987 soon after Sister island Bonaire had officially designated its marine park in 1981 to control diver impact, fishing and protect the pristine marine ecosystem. Today it is one of the best marine parks in the world, winning several honors for its promotion of research and education of the reef. The Park extends around the entire island from the shore down to a depth of 200 feet and is divided into different zones.

Diving in Saba is an unparalleled experience. There are three well-experienced and fully equipped local dive shops on shore that work with the Marine park manager in collecting data and ensuring compliance to the parks rules and zoning.  The Island has its own four person hyperbaric chamber donated by the Dutch navy, to treat diving accidents and decompression sickness. All diving is done in the protected zones of the marine park and no anchoring is allowed. There is a system of mooring buoys set up at each dive site where dive boats can anchor and there are 30 mooring buoys representing the 30 odd dive sites ranging in depths from 15 to 120 feet. The marine park charges a $4 fee per diver which is used to maintain and improve the Saba Marine Park. A majority of the dive sites are located towards the South West Caribbean facing portion of the island while there are a few sites in the Atlantic facing side as well.

Saba is a great place to spot some of the larger pelagic  fish such as Sharks, Barracuda, Jacks, snapper and Grouper and there are certain dive sites such as Saba’s famous pinnacles that to allow you to do just that.  The Volcanic origins of the island have also left divers with some spectacular lava tubes, swim-through’s, caves and hot-springs that are a spectacular sight.  There are also dive sites that are so abundant with marine life that almost every kind of fish and marine creature in the Caribbean can be found here in one location which is almost a sensory overload for divers.

Saba is truly the Unspoiled Queen of the Caribbean and a must visit destination for any scuba diver.  The LeisurePro Travel Portal currently offers diver’s a 7 night’s stay travel package to Saba as one of their featured deals which offers a great itinerary custom designed for divers.

photos from flickr by: alfonsator, peacenik1, underwatertourist

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Dive Saba in the Dutch Caribbean was written by Nevin for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

St. Kitts and Nevis are two separate islands often referred to together as they are separated by a narrow channel that is only two miles apart making it easy for tourist to visit both islands in one trip. Both the Islands have their own airports offering connections to both the US mainland, Europe and South America making them easily accessible.

The Island of Nevis is just 36 square miles and its center rises upwards to a dense cloud forest. At the center of St. Kitts the larger of the two sister islands, stands the spectacular, cloud-fringed peak of Mount Liamuiga a dormant volcano that also covered by dense tropical forest.

As a dive destination both Islands offer stunning unparalleled dive sites, with over 70 dive sites around Nevis alone. Famous for its enormous Pillar coral, tube sponges,  all kinds of diving is available here enough to please even the most choosiest divers, from wrecks, wall diving, coral reefs, thermal vents, cave diving to watching whale migrations from up close.

‘The Thermal Vents’ is a must visit dive site for anyone visiting St. Kitts or Nevis, and comprise of a reef that begins at 35 feet and plunges to 95 feet, covered in black volcanic trees. Divers can visit this underwater thermal vent where 100 F/38C water spews from the bottom which is a unique experience in itself. Some of the largest lobsters and arrow crabs inhabit this site

‘Devil’s Caves’ is another spectacular 40 foot dive located at the southernmost point of Nevis. Divers can navigate through caverns and overhangs teeming with marine life such as, Nurse Sharks, stingrays, lobster and Blue Tangs.

“River Taw Wreck” is a the remnants of a 144 foot long, wreck of an inter island freighter sunk  in 50 feet of water in 1985 and has been split into two by hurricane Hugo. Encrusted in coral this dive site is home to scores of turtle, squirrel fish, snappers and rays, and makes an excellent night dive.

The Narrow channel, which is the two mile stretch of water that separates St. Kitts from Nevis is also a spectacular dive site to see nurse sharks, white tips and other marine life that inhabit ‘the waters around ‘Booby Island’ which is a tiny island in the channel. Turtles are simply abundant around the island, and if you dive at night you’ll probably see them fast asleep tucked somewhere along a wall.

During the months of January to April Nevis is visited by humpback whales and dolphins.  Several Dive Operators offer Whale & Dolphin Safaris where you get a chance to snorkel or dive with these magnificent creatures.  Often hydrophones are dropped in the water to listen for the clicks, whistles and singing of the whales.

If you’re looking for a Caribbean dive holiday that includes stunning rain forests, mountains, secluded beaches, pristine coral reefs and two Islands for the price of one, look no further than the Island of St. Kitts and Nevis, and we’re sure you’ll not be disappointed.

Leisurepro Travel now offers scuba packages at both St. Kitts and Nevis at attractive prices

* Photos from flickr by: J. Stephen Conn , Nick Hobgood, Márcio Cabral de Moura

Dive the Caribbean at St.Kitts and Nevis was written by Nevin for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

Located just 12 miles off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Cozumel is the largest island in the Caribbean. The island is a mere 28 miles / 9 meters long and 10 miles / 2 meters wide and is surrounded by gorgeous reefs and pristine clear waters. Cozumel is actually a conglomeration of many different coral formations and personalities, as a series of separate reefs make up the over 20 highly popular diving areas of Cozumel, including a labyrinth of tunnels, dramatic swim through’s and canyons lying amidst the towering coral plateaus teeming with marine life.

The two main coral reef systems surrounding Cozumel are the Colombia and Palancar reefs which house many of the islands favorite dive sites. Easily accessible with plateaus beginning in waters only 30 feet (9 meters) deep, Cozumel reefs boast of abundant underwater sea life and brilliant colors, often referred to by many scuba divers as some of the best Scuba diving of their lives. Famous for its drift diving, currents range from gentle 1/2 knots near some dive sites to fast, strong currents only for experienced adventurous drift divers. The night diving here too is incredible.

For beginners to intermediate divers, the Chankanaab Lagoon is one of the most popular sites on the island. Divers and snorkelers can observe small coral and limestone formations at just 6 to 30 feet (2 to 9 meters). A unique experience is the mixing of cold fresh water that flows out of the limestone caves called cenotes on top as you can still feel the warm salt water below. A very popular spot for night diving. Other novice dive sites include- Paradise Reef, Las Palmas Wall, Balones of Chancanab, Shallow Palancar and more.

For divers who like a little challenge, Cozumel has a host of dive sites suitable for the experienced. Popular for it’s impressive wall dives with brilliant colors and sea life that have people raving about it, there are some stunning drop-off worth fighting the currents to see.The Wall at the Santa Rosa Reef begins at 50 feet and drops straight away into the deep blue. A brisk current accompanies you as you spot great beds of tunicates, immense sponges, huge overhangs of stony corals and impressive caves and tunnels. Easily one of the most popular deep drift dives of the Island, eagle rays and turtles are often spotted here as well as large groupers. Another of Cozumel’s most popular deep dives is the Palancar Caves because of its deep buttresses, tunnels, caves and big caverns that sit along the edge of a sloping wall. The currents are usually mild, but marine life is abundant.

The “Punta Sur” dive site is particularly popular among experienced divers and especially underwater photographers for its incredible topography. Due to the site’s southern location tot he island the conditions can be rough with fast running midwater currents that can cause one to miss the dive site entirely! The most famous section of this site called the “Devil’s Throat”, starts inside a coral swim through. After descending into the opening of a dark narrow tunnel at 90 feet you are suddenly welcomed into a sunlit opening at 130 feet on the wall overlooking the abyss. The ‘Columbia Deep’, ‘Maracaibo Wall’, ‘Punta Tunich’, ‘Yucab (Virgin) Wall’, ‘Barracuda’s Wall’ and the “Mountains” of San Juan are other challenging sites for advanced divers.

Cozumel even offers a Wreck Dive – the C-53 Xicotencatl. Sunk in the year 2000 just outside of Balones de Chankanaab, on a sandy plain between Tormentos & Chankanaab,the C-53 is 184 feet long & 33 feet wide and consists of 4 decks.

Touted as one of the “best dive locations in the world”, a variety of underwater wonders awaits you at Cozumel, home to the only inland coral reef formation in the world. A Scuba divers mecca, Cozumel has the best diving the Caribbean has to offer and will not disappoint, that we assure!

*Photo Credits: photos by Frank Peters, Scubaben, CasaDeQueso, bbialek905 on flickr

Paradise Reefs: Diving in Cozumel, Mexico was written by Noreen for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

The area was originally nick-named by snapper fisherman as the“Texas Flower Gardens”, due to the colorful coral that was visible from the surface and chunks of colorful coral and sponges that were snagged by the lines and nets of fisherman in the area. In 1992 the two larger reefs, the East Flower Garden and the West Flower Garden were designated National Marine Sanctuaries, and the third, the Stenton Bank in 1996.

Home to over 21 species of coral, 170 species of fish and over 300 species of reef invertebrates, the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary is a utopia for Scuba Divers. The East and West Flower Gardens are teeming with large boulder corals, primarily brain and star corals, and have several large rays, skates, manta rays, whale sharks and loggerhead turtles. Dive boats can anchor to the one of 5 buoys in the area, and if you anchor to the crest of the salt dome, a diver can swim in any direction and explore the 360 degree fields of coral.  Depths in the Sanctuary range from a shallow of 20m (65 feet) to 130m (424ft) deep with Visibility ranging from 75-150 feet (23-45 m).

The Stenton Bank is a smaller dome, with four buoys to anchor to, located much closer together. The water gets deep fast as the coral banks drop off sharply into the Gulf and has only 1 percent of its total area within the recreational diving limit of 130 feet (39 m). However the Stenton Bank has been described by scuba divers as akin to diving on the moon. Eel, urchins, shrimp, lobsters and shellfish are numerous, and the occasional Manta Ray or turtle gliding by isn’t uncommon. Other large fish such as scorpionfish, barracuda, jacks and groupers are found everywhere.

There are several commercial dive charter operators take divers out to the Flower Garden Banks but two boats that regularly set course to Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary,are the M/V Spree and the M/V Fling 100ft both liveaboards that arrange 2-3 day excursions from Freeport Texas that can carry groups of up to 28 divers. The dives at the Texas Flower Gardens are recommended for intermediate and advanced divers owing to the steep drop-offs and varying depths, no special scuba diving equipment is necessary to dive at the site.

photos by: NOAA’s National Ocean Service

Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, Texas was written by Nevin for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World