Shoals may be hazards to navigation, but they are wonderful places to dive! These submerged sandbars, spits, and other geologic formations attract marine life in abundance, and they are often suitable for newer divers. You'll find shoals in lakes, rivers, and of course in oceans and seas; in fact, many of your favorite dive sites might be shoals or wrecks located on shoals - some of ours are! Here, we'll take a look at just five of the best shoal dives the world has to offer.
SS Stavronikita, Barbados
The SS Stavronikita is often referred to as the Stavro, and has been enjoying her final voyage at the bottom of the sea since being intentionally sunk in 1978, after suffering a fire during the early 1970's. This enormous Greek freighter is sitting upright, with keel at a depth of 127 feet, and her forward mast just 18 feet beneath the surface. Covered in a brilliant tapestry of sea whips, sponges, and soft and hard corals, including beautiful gorgonians, the Stavronikita is home to Blue Chromis, Red Hinds, Sergeant Majors, Tangs, and many other tropical fish; in addition, it is not uncommon to encounter barracudas, huge mackerels, and even sea turtles as you explore. This wreck offers 17 different dive profiles suitable to everyone from Open Water to Wreck Specialty divers; penetration opportunities are numerous, and all in all, this dive is one we give an A+.
Two Wrecks, Gibraltar
Gibraltar's Camp Bay is home to a number of artificial reefs, including several wrecks. For two wrecks on one dive, look no further than The 482 and The Batty, which are located at depths between 9 and 23 meters. This pair of cable laying barges were used in the nearby naval dockyard; their working lives were not terribly exciting. Today, you'll find an incredible amount of marine life in and around the wrecks. Look for moray and conger eels, big crabs and lobsters, blennies, cod, jacks, and many other fish as you enjoy a lengthy exploration. Penetration is possible, and thanks to shallow depths, newer divers are able to get a good look at the wrecks' outer aspects. If you plan to dive Gibraltar and can choose only a single site, this one is sure to please.
Anemone Reef, Phuket
An enormous limestone pinnacle that rises up from a depth of 30 meters to nearly brush the surface, Anemone Reef is located about a mile north of the fabled Shark Point. Also known as Hin Jom (underwater rock,) Anemone Reef is famed for the fields of brightly colored sea anemones that cling to every exposed surface, swaying in the current so that it appears you're diving next to a huge living being. In essence, the reef is alive - and so are all the creatures that visit in search of food and shelter. Huge schools of tropical fish, groupers, snappers, brightly colored clownfish, and bigger fish including tuna and barracuda can be seen here, in addition to the occasional reef shark or leopard shark. Watch for lionfish - they are sometimes seen here in groups of a dozen or more.
Brothers Islands, Egypt
Egypt's offshore islands, including the Brothers Islands, are protected as marine parks. Also known as El Akhawein, Brothers Islands are a pair of small islands located just about 5 minutes from one another, approximately 200 kilometers south of Ras Mohammed. Probably formed as the result of volcanic eruptions, these steep-sided shoals are cone shaped. Big brother Island is marked with a Victorian-era stone lighthouse, and Little Brother Island is teardrop-shaped. Deep walls covered in enormous gorgonians, soft corals, and huge gorgonians create a spectacular backdrop for dense schools of fish and the sharks that hunt them; here, you'll encounter grey reef sharks and silvertips, along with the occasional hammerhead, and during the Autumn and Winter months, many divers encounter rare Thresher sharks. Glassy sweepers, bright orange anthias, and lots of other small fish, crustaceans, and invertebrates do a good job of keeping divers entertained between shark sightings.
As an added bonus, Big Brother is also home to a pair of wrecks, including the Numidia (also known as the Railway Wreck and the Aida, which lie near one another and offer depths ranging from 8 to 60 meters. If you're lucky, you'll encounter huge groupers in and around the wrecks, along with a full cast of other vibrant Red Sea life.
Brady’s Corner, New Zealand
Brady's Corner is a fantastic dive site that goes by a few other names, including Gentle Forest and the Meditation Wall. Here, you'll find beautiful stands of kelp and a small wall so encrusted in lush anemone growth that you can barely see the rocks. While maximum depth here is just about 20 meters, don't let the site's shallowness keep you away. Black angelfish, John Dories, coral fish and demoiselles, wrasse, and nudibranchs populate every bit of the site.
In addition, there is a cave in the wall, which is known as Big Eye Cave; during the spring months, the cave is heavily populated with beautiful blue Bell Tunicates. The cave itself is wide enough to accommodate two divers, and extends for a distance of about 50 meters. A short distance away, a second wall drops away to a depth of about 30 meters and there are a few swimthroughs to wind your way through. If you enjoy diving with stingrays, come to Brady's Corner between January and February, as this is a major mating site - there are normally at least a few here all year long.
As you can see, shoals have a lot to offer! Whether you like wreck diving, or enjoy encountering masses of marine life, or if you're looking to encounter sharks such as those found at Aliwal Shoal in Africa, you'll find no shortage of wonders just waiting to be discovered a surprisingly short distance from the surface. No matter where you're planning to take your next dive vacation, be sure to take a look at our dive sites - then, try a shoal dive out for size!