One of the newest and hottest Caribbean Diving Destinations, Little Corn Island is one of the two Nicaraguan Corn Islands, which are located about 43 miles off the country’s Mosquito Coast. Thick staghorn and elkhorn coral formations teeming with incredible marine life, plus unbeatable prices and friendly locals have made this a mecca for divers from all over the planet. If you long to encounter eagle rays, hammerheads, nurse sharks, and other big marine life, look no further! There are more than 20 dive sites to experience in the area; here are just five of the most popular.
Shark Hole
Also known as The Tunnels, Shark Hole is an amazing site with swim through tunnels lit from above, through skylight like openings in their ceilings. Easily accessed via boat, and located only 10-15 minutes from resorts, the site is suitable even for less experienced divers, as maximum depth is just 12 meters. More experienced divers like to make this dive in conjunction with nearby Grant’s Cave, as a drift. Home to glassy sweepers and other small fish, the site is also an excellent place to encounter Caribbean Reef Sharks, eagle rays, and stingrays, along with colorful reef species that inhabit the coral and sponges which proliferate all over the site. Excellent for wide angle photography, this site is a favorite with everyone who visits.
Blowing Rock
After a boat ride that can sometimes take as long as an hour to complete, Blowing Rock, which breaks the surface, is a welcome sight to behold. Well worth the amount of travel time it takes to reach, the site is simply amazing and is usually done as a two tank dive with a surface interval onboard the boat. With maximum depth at 24 meters, and home to the occasional mahi mahi, along with plenty of horse-eye jacks and toothy barracuda, the islet is almost like a huge pinnacle, and is composed of volcanic rock. You’ll find moray eels here, along with lots of angelfish, butterfly fish, parrotfish, and other colorful reef occupants; plus there are usually eagle rays and stingrays here, not to mention nurse sharks and reef sharks.
White Holes
A shallow site with maximum depth at just 8 meters, White Holes is simply spectacular. Featuring staghorn and elkhorn coral which thrives in shallow water, the site features three sand patches that act as stages where nurse sharks and eagle rays can almost always be seen putting on a show. In addition to these superstars, you’ll find barracuda and triggerfish, along with stingrays, plenty of colorful reef fish, lots of crustaceans, and the occasional passing sea turtle. As the site is shallow, it is often visited by snorkelers, and it makes an excellent second or third dive. Don’t let its depth or its popularity keep you away; marine biologists have named its elkhorn coral as some of the healthiest ever found in the Caribbean. Watch for blue tangs, sometimes in schools, as you explore.
Yellowtail
Located only a short distance from shore, Yellowtail features a maze of sandy-bottomed channels bordered by coral walls, with a few archways you can pass under if you like. Here, you’ll find triggerfish and drumfish, beautiful blue tangs and yellow butterfly fish, lots of angelfish, and loads of glassy sweepers, not to mention queen triggerfish, schooling jack and silver cobia, lots of nudibranchs, and plenty of grunt, durgeon, and the yellowtail snapper which give the site its name. In addition, divers sometimes encounter a resident pod of dolphins, plus there are often nurse sharks and eagle rays in the area. Watch for little Caribbean reef sharks and barracudas as well, and don’t forget your camera – the coral and sponge growth here is simply magnificent, as are all the creatures that thrive in the shelter the reef provides. Excellent for all divers, the site features maximum depth at just 18 meters.
Tarpon Channel
If you hope to encounter hammerhead sharks while at Little Corn Island, Tarpon Channel is without a doubt, the best place to do just that. Dive operators have identified a group of four great hammerheads that often visit the site specifically to feed on the many stingrays that inhabit it. Even without the hammerheads, the site is magnificent. Here, you’ll find massive coral walls with tunnels and caves that beg exploration, plus there are eagle rays, huge midnight parrotfish that scrape at the coral as they graze, and plenty of other colorful species everywhere you look. The tarpon are here too; often hunting from the glassy sweeper schools that inhabit the site’s many hidden recesses. While maximum depth here is 22 meters, there is plenty to see in shallower water, with some of the best features being located between 10 and 17 meters. Not for beginners, but definitely suitable for intermediate divers and better, this site is certain to be one you’ll remember for a long time.
Visiting the Corn Islands is easy, thanks to daily connecting flights from Managua, which is served by US and international flights. From there, you can get to Big Corn Island with ease, and it’s just a short boat trip to Little Corn Island after that. Diving is available year round, and visibility tends to be very good. There are a few different dive operators to choose from, as well as some fantastic resorts with a variety of accommodations that cost as little as $10 per night in some cases, and less than $100 per night average. You and your favorite dive buddy can easily enjoy this trip on a budget and still enjoy some world class diving; certainly a rarity in this day and age! Be sure to learn all you can about the area in advance and as there are no banks on Little Corn Island and credit cards are not yet widely accepted, be sure to bring enough money to cover your expenses while on island; most businesses do accept US Dollars or local Cordobas. With just a little planning, this could very well become one of the most memorable dive vacations you ever take.