Page 89 - Central America
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PARRTO TREE - The reef top ranges from 10-20 feet and is covered PINNACLES - This dive site has excellent conditions & visibility.
with Lettuce, Staghorn, and Elkhorn, forming hedges separated by There are striking canyons running through the reef & large coral
deep cuts. There are dramatic ledges and overhangs at this site. The boulders to swim around. This site always has many spotted drums,
island shelf is well defined in this area and there are two shelves to often a toadfish & maybe nurse sharks & turtles can be seen. Depth:
explore. Lettuce coral, shrimp, tunicates, and sea horses will be seen 15 – 60 feet.
between the sand chutes. Water clarity in this area is subject to wave PUNCHER’S PARADISE - The patch coral, you will find several clean-
action and visibility decreases the closer you get to the channel. ing stations of cleaner shrimp waiting in corkscrew anemones. Often
PETER’S PLACE - is known for its diverse variety of fish and the mini there are various types of groupers, including the Nassau grouper be-
wall that rises from a depth of about 40 feet. From 50 feet down the ing groomed here. This is also a great spot to see the smooth trunkfish
wall is vertical with some wonderful corals, barrel sponges, tube cor- blowing divots in search for food in the sand. A gradual decline to
als, gorgonians. In amongst the corals are crab, huge parrotfish, eels. the ocean affords a great habitat for the southern stingray and spotted
Triggerfish, black durgon and sea fans mark this mini wall. Near the eagle ray. Depth: 35 – 90 feet.
deeper ledge are pillars of coral. Grouper, parrotfish, angelfish, tang, PUNTA BLANCA WALL - Punta Blanca has a large sand patch at
and yellow snapper will greet you during the daylight. Night dives 35ft making it ideal for the first dive of the holiday to ease back into
will be rich with colors from sponges and giant spider crabs. Eels, diving, whatever your experience level. The wall often has schools of
brittle stars, basket stars, octopuses, and flounders will greet you in jacks and barracuda. Depth: 60 – 100 feet.
the evening.
PILLAR CORAL - Surrounded by Overheat Reef to the south, and ROCK STAR – Located on the north side north resulting in very few
the El Aguila wreck to the north, Pillar Coral is named after a coral shops dive it – it’s a little too far from West End/West Bay, and pretty
pinnacle that juts out off the wall, topping off at about 27m/90ft. An far for the dive shops farther east. Named after some hard-partying
excellent drift dive in either direction, towards the El Aguila wall, or homeowners at Palmetto Bay Plantation, Rockstar has incredible to-
the Overheat shallows. Better for intermediate or experienced divers pography – trenches, pinnacles, shear vertical walls and lush soft coral
for the full complement, but can easily be tailored to more novice di- gardens. Free-swimming nurse sharks, morays, spotted eagle rays and
vers. The mooring rests in about 20 feet of water and leads to the wall seahorses can be found here. Pods of wild dolphins are often sighted
on a gradual decline. The wall is nearly vertical at most places and during the boat ride.
provides housing for eels, clinging crabs, clams and oysters. Depth: SANDY BAY - The reef wall is about 300 meters beyond the beach.
15 – 120 feet. This should be considered an advanced dive due to the distance of the
kick-out.
