Dive Sites
| Under the Water IntroductionAnguilla is fringed by coral reefs and has a number of small islets & cays dotted off the North Coast. There are a huge array of coral formations, walls, ridges ,canyons, tunnels, and trenches populated by common reef dwellers as well as the less common nurse sharks, rays, lobsters and turtles. There are at present 6 good wreck dives.The wide range of dive locations cater to experienced divers and novices with equal alacrity and several local dive operators to help you reach them. There are many ideal snorkelling locations close to the shore in calm water; it is well worth bringing your snorkel gear if you have it or hire some equipment from a local watersports operator. Anguilla has a 6 Marine Parks located at Little Bay, Shoal Bay (East), Junk’s Hole Bay, Sandy Island, Dog Island and Prickly Pear. These parks have permanent moorings that must be used and no vessels over 50 feet (17 metres) can moor on them. The rules are basic in the Marine Parks: preserve the environment by leaving all marine life undisturbed. Snorkellers can reach the Marine Parks at Little Bay, Shoal Bay (East) and Junk’s Hole Bay from the shore whilst those at Sandy Island, Dog Island and Prickly Pear require a boat ride in order to reach them. |  |
For a complete list of recommended snorkelling locations, see our Beaches, Beaches, Beaches… editorial. Dive shops run uncrowded operations and have and wealth of experience in these waters. You will be well rewarded, whether diving or snorkelling.
The following is a list of popular dive locations. New ones are being discovered and opened all the time, so ask one of the local dive shops about them. The dives are split into three categories based on a combination of Certification level and amount of experience, as follows:
- Open Water Certification, maximum dive depth 60 ft (18 m)
- Advanced Open Water Certification, maximum dive depth 60 ft+ (18 m+)
- Wreck Dives, maximum dive depths 60-80ft (18-25m)
| Open Water Certification Dives | |
| Dive Site | Comments |
| Captain’s Ridge | Dive depth 25-50ft (8-16m). Sandy Area surrounded by lush coral formations. Lots of schooling fish. Located on Sail Reef system. |
| Frenchman’s Reef | Dive depth 10-40ft (3-13m). Schools of reef fish on cliff edge. Excellent for novices and photographers. |
| Grouper Bowl | Dive depth 25-50ft (8-16m). Anguilla’s most beautiful hard coral formations. |
| Point Bay | Dive depth 40ft (13m). Beach night dive. Plenty fish plus lobster and crayfish. A must. |
| Sandy Deep | Dive depth 15-60ft (5-20m). Mini-wall carpeted in hard coral. Many fish plus the occasional sting ray. |
| Sea Fan Reef | Dive depth 45ft (15m). Forest of waving sea fans. Eels, Angel fish plus many others. |
| The Coliseum | Dive depth 25-50ft (8-16m). Lush hard coral formations. Many schooling fish. |
| The Trenches | Dive depth 60ft (20m). Dive between two coral ridges. Plenty to see, up one side and down the other. |
| Turtle Reef | Dive depth 30ft (10m). A beach/night dive where turtles feed. |
| Upper Flats | Dive depth 40-60ft (13-20m). Look for stingrays in the sand flats as curious groupers approach and barracudas look on. |
| West Point | Dive depth 45ft (15m). Drift dive along a cliff cove line. Enjoy the ride! |
| Advanced Open Water Certification Dives | |
| Dive Site | Comments |
| Author’s Deep | Dive depth 110ft (36m). Plenty black coral. Large pelagic fish sometimes seen. |
| Blue Angel | Dive depth 80ft (27m). A reef trail rich in Angel fish. |
| Coral Fields | Dive depth 85ft (28m). Diverse coral formations. Nurse sharks, rays & turtles. |
| Lobster Ridge | Dive depth 30-70ft (10-23m). Elkhorn coral formations plus lobster, spotted eels and abundant schools of fish. |
| Paintcan Reef | Dive depth 80ft (27m). Several acres of lush, diverse coral growth. Large pelagics sometimes encountered. |
| Prickly Pear | Dive depth 30-70ft (10-23m). A canyon characterised by ledges and caverns. Nurse sharks on sandy bottom. |
| Ram’s Head | Dive depth 25-85ft (12-28m). Caves, chutes and tunnels on a roller coaster trail. Barracudas, rays, octopi plus many more fish. |
| Sandy Island | Dive depth 30-70ft (10-23m). Known for its hard coral formations. |
| Sandy Canyon | Dive depth 90ft (30m). Meander through canyon whose walls reach within 25ft (8m) of surface. Lobsters sometimes seen. |
| The Grottos | Dive depth 60-80ft (20-27m). South side of Little Scrub has large grotto. North side has mini wall where you can see schools of yellowtail snapper and tarpon. |
| The Pedestals | Dive depth 50-90ft (17-30m). Huge corals form passageways where nurse sharks sleep and large grouper and rockfish hide. Spotted rays, Angel fish and lobster. |
| The Steps | Dive depth 30-70ft (10-23m). Large tunnels created by three immense tiers of coral formations and boulders. Eels and schools of fish. Deeper finds many large pelagics. |
| Wreck Dives | |
| Dive Site | Comments |
| Ida Marie | Dive depth 60ft (20m). Deliberately sunk 1985, 110ft (36m) freighter sits upright, semi-intact. Home to wide variety of schooling fish, plus other solitary species. Lobsters seen. |
| Oosterdiep | Dive depth 75ft (25m). Deliberately sunk in Road Bay in 1990. Sits upright and intact. Schooling fish and stingrays common. |
| M.V. Commerce | Dive depth 45-80ft (15-27m). Sunk 1986. Upright and intact on sandy bottom. Rays common. |
| M.V. Lady Vie | Dive depth 80ft (27m). Sunk 1990, upright & intact near Sail Reef system. |
| M.V. Meppel | Dive depth 80ft (27m). Sunk 1990. Upright and intact by Sail Reef system, Northeast corner. |
| M.V. Sarah | Dive depth 80ft (27m). Largest of the vessels sunk in 1990. Upright & intact. One excellent wreck dive. |
