Page 116 - Central America
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DIAMOND CAYE – It is the spectacular coral reefs surrounding Dia- MADELINES & MADELINES E - a large sandy area surrounded by
mond Cay that give it its gorgeous shape and contour, and as luck a reef wall on both sides. If you take your time and look carefully in
would have it, they also help protect its acre-and-a-half the sandy areas you may be able to find Seahorses, Upside Down Jel-
from any inconveniently large waves or storm surges. The reef pro- lyfish and Flounders. For the trained eye this is an ideal location to
vides shelter to a glorious array of marine life including exotic fish and search for sand-loving sea slugs like the Headshield Sea Slug. Look for
sea turtles, making this a diver’s and snorkeler’s paradise. Spotted Drums, Parrotfish and schools of Blue Tangs. The outer buoys
STINGRAY POINT - wide sand channel separates two reefs and the provide a location befitting a deep dive 98ft (30+meters),
sand slopes down to about a 130ft (40+ meters). The buoy is at about JACK NEIL POINT - great long, shallow dives along the tongue-and-
15ft (4.5m) on the top of the reef. The reef drops from the Island so it groove formations of hard and soft corals. At the western end of the
gets extremely shallow going towards the shore. The coral at Sting Ray reef here, sightings of hawksbill and green turtles are common. The
Point is some of the healthiest on the island, and with the existence site hits sand at about 90 feet. This is a great site to view Southern
of picturesque pillar coral. On the reef, look for Eagle rays, Parrotfish Stingray and Spotted Eagle Rays. Photographers will enjoy the “mac-
and lots of Lobsters. ro” marine life found in a perfect depth to make your safety stop.
CABANAS - The Cabanas are favorite dive sites just in front of Uto- MITCHEL’S POINT
pia’s shore. Cabana is Spanish for bungalow and the site is named for SWIN JACKSON POINT
the small cabana sized coral heads. This fringing reef area begins at LITTLE BIGHT/LB E/LB W / LITTLE BRIGHT POINT/ LITTLE
15 feet and gradually drops to 90 feet. This is an excellent multi-level BIGHT - A wide sand channel starts from the beach and slopes its
dive featuring great soft coral formations. Look for NudiBranch and way down growing wider and wider. At about 10ft (3meters), an ac-
Sea Slugs in this area. tual reef wall appears and it runs downward on both side of the wide
BLACK HOLE - enormous schools of pelagics teem in this, the best channel. The shallow area near the beach makes a great base for con-
example of Utila’s sea mounts. fined water training, but also the skill portion of entry-level scuba
BIG ROCK & BIG ROCK E - The top of the reef is at about 15ft (4.5m) training. The sand at Little Bight is a great place to find Flounders,
and the sand slops down to 130+feet (40+ meters) relatively fast. A Garden Eels and Seahorses. Along the reef wall you will see Trumpet
stunning wall dive and you can also look for the swim through direct- fish, Angelfishes and often large Dog snappers.
ly under the second buoy. Big Rock is ideal for Seahorses and if you
are lucky you may find one of the tiny Pipe Horses near the Pinecone
algae. In the sand you may find the Upside-down jelly fish and a vari-
ation of different reef fish along the wall.
