Page 79 - Central America
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CALVINS CRACK - A plateau atop a shallow reef facing a wall, Cal- Water quality here can be poor due to land run off or from tidal ac-
vin’s Crack runs through the reef along narrows, widening to an exit tion. There are two walls to dive very close to the channel and caution
along the outer wall. The dive starts at 20 feet with a swim-through should be observed with the local boat traffic.
and gradually slopes off to a depth of 90 feet, exiting to the wall. There CHIMNEY’S - Moored in 25 feet, this site offers a shallow top with
are clusters of vase sponges, gorgonians, and brain and thin-leaf coral. sand patches and large coral boulders that reach to within 5 feet of the
This site is known for the elusive toad fish. Schools of silverside fish surface. The wall is steep and dramatic when it drops off.
congregate in the crack. Off of the wall, look for barracuda, hunting CHURCH REEF / CHURCH WALL - Common sea fans, large sea
jacks, and permits rods, sponges and is a great site for wide angle photography. Phenom-
CANYON REEF - a series of canyons starting shallow, and bottom- enal wall that should be dived more than once. Large barrel sponges,
ing out at about 60 feet, continuing on to a gentle slope punctuated sea fans and sea rods, along the black coral. Groupers, snappers and
with soft coral stands. Swim up and down the various canyons and other pelagic fish, might even see an eagle ray and nurse shark. Depth:
drift away, or follow the shallow reef back to the boat. Keep your eyes 15 – 150 feet.
out for eagle rays and other pelagics cruising over the sand slope, or COCO VIEW WALL - The reef top at this wall is thickly covered with
inspect the soft coral stands in search of that elusive seahorse. This is Lettuce, Staghorn, and Elkhorn corals. Keep your eyes open for the
a bunch of reef fingers slowly running into the deep so your profile resident green moray eel, often found swimming from CoCo View
takes you up and down at shallow enough depth that its a workable Wall to the Wreck of the Prince Albert. The shallow top, with its clean-
profile. ing stations, can offer hours of entertainment as you watch the variety
CARA A CARA - The dive with sharks in Cara a Cara is around USD of marine life come and go.
75 per person (1 dive). There is a briefing (in class) and then dive with CONNIE’S DREAM - This sloping drop-off provides tube and vase
the Grey Sharks. The dive time is around 35 minutes and the Dive sponges among both red and purple tube sponges, while a seemingly
Master feeds the sharks a bucket full of fish so the divers can see a live endless system of tall coral heads and deep sand channels fall into the
feeding frenzy. abyss. Large groupers and elusive seahorses are commonly sited here.
CASTLE CANYON - Moored in 20 feet. The reef top is shallow, yet Eels, groups of parrot fish and surgeon fish along the top of the reef.
thick, with lush covered points displaying sponges and gorgonian. Depth ranges from 25 to past recreational dive limits
CHANNEL SHORE - Located between CoCo View and Fantasy Is-
land resorts, you find easy access to a submerged DC-3 which lies in
about 30 feet of water and the wreck of the Prince Albert, a 140 island
freighter with an intact superstructure. The DC3 fuselage is intact.
