Page 438 - The Dutch Caribbean Isles

Marine life around the island includes blue crabs; banded coral
shrimp; spiny lobsters; Queen Conch & helmet conchs; Triton’s trum-
pets; long spined urchins; fireworms; sponges & cushion sea stars;
porcupine fish; barracudas; a spotted & plumed moray eels; spotted
& plumed scorpion fish; long lured frog fish; nurse sharks; a wide va-
riety of tropical fish; sea horses; and dolphins. In recent years there fore it sank. It didn’t make it, and is now laying in about 110 feet of
has been an increase in foraging Hawksbill and Green sea turtles and
the occasional Loggerhead as well that feed on the sea grass beds and
sponges.
SCUBA DIVING SITES
CREOLE ROCK - It is part of the French Marine Reserve and is a
protected area. Moorings are provided for dive boats to protect the
reef from anchor damage. Diveable in all conditions, this dive site has engine room. Lots of fish, good chance to see stingrays. Eel garden
produced some of the most amazing marine life. The best part of the
dive is the back of Creole Rock where the coral is fed by the rich At-
lantic waters, passing jacks, barracudas and eagle rays are an awesome
and regular sight.
LONG BAY REEF - Beautiful reef (maximum depth 57 feet) with lots
of caves and crevasses, good chance to find some good size King crabs
and lobsters. On top of the reef: big barrel sponges and a variety of
hard and soft corals. Lots of fish, good chance to spot turtles.
THE GREGORY (STERN) - This wreck dive, a flat bottom barge was
deliberately sunk to form an artificial reef. She turned upside down as huge green turtle. As the bridge itself isn’t very large, the diving cent-
she sank. Maximum depth about 55 feet. This is also a popular night
dive spot. Nice reef surrounding this wreck with big barrel sponges
and lots of marine life.
THE GREGORY (BOW) – This wreck dive, a flat bottom barge was
deliberately sunk to form an artificial reef. She turned upside down as
she sank. Maximum depth about 55 feet. This is also a popular night
dive spot. Nice reef surrounding this wreck with big barrel sponges
and lots of marine life.
FUH SHENG - The Fuh Sheng is a natural wreck. It is a Taiwanese
Fishing vessel that was trying to reach the island of Saint Martin be-
water. This is a site FOR sharks coming and as you are descending
down the line, it isn’t unusual to see a shark circling the wreck. The
actual wreck is laying on its side, and you can’t go inside it, but is does
attract a lot of life. There is eel garden just off of the bow. You have to
move really slowly, or else they duck down and hide in their holes.
THE PORPOISE - This is a tugboat that was sunk there on purpose,
lying on a sandy bottom at 90 feet deep. It’s slightly tilted towards her
starboard side. Beautiful gorgonians growing on it. Take a look in the
next to the wreck.
ISABELLA REEF - Old sailboat at about 90 feet deep lying on a sandy
bottom – lots of garden eels poking up their heads. Great reef close
by. Big schools of fish, moray eels, lobsters, beautiful healthy hard and
soft corals.
THE BRIDGE - It is a maximum depth of 50 feet and it is really four
dive sites in one. It doesn’t look so much like a bridge when you see it
underwater, it is more a mix of I-beams and unrecognizable slabs of
wood and metal. But, it has attracted a lot of life there, often a super
ers got together and scuttled three other smaller sailing vessels. These
wrecks have attracted a lot of life as well, especially lobsters and sting
rays all over. You are able to explore one wreck, then swim off into the
blue until the other wreck appears .