Known as the Island of Spice, due to its spice crops that include nutmeg and mace, Grenada is a small island nation with a land mass of just 344 kilometers. With a tropical climate and an abundance of history, this beautiful group of islands is surrounded by exceptionally beautiful reefs and is home to a wealth of marine life. While there are several wrecks and a total of more than 30 dive sites available around Grenada, some of its reefs deserve special mention. Here are seven spectacular reefs – trying to choose a single favorite is next to impossible!
Red Buoy
Named for the nearby buoy that marks the entrance to St. George’s harbor, Red Buoy is a magnificent wall that begins 8 meters beneath the surface, and meets the ocean floor at a still easy depth of just 24 meters. Ideal for all divers, the site’s most amazing aspect is a group of over twenty admiralty anchors, many dating back to the 1800’s. Encrusted in the same coral and sponge that covers the rest of the wall, these anchors vary in size and are simply incredible to see. Watch for pelagic fish, a few smallish sharks, barracuda, and plenty of reef dwellers as you explore.
Shark Reef
Named for the nurse sharks that can usually be seen here, Shark Reef is located along the Atlantic side of Grenada, a little south of Glover’s Island. With exquisite brain and pillar coral formations, rugged rocks covered in soft coral and sponges, and maximum depth at 18 meters, the reef is beautifully lit from above. Subject to sweeping currents, it is also an excellent place to find green sea turtles and hawksbill turtles, big Queen triggerfish, and large southern stingrays. Due to challenging conditions, the site is reserved for experienced divers only.
Boss Reef
A huge reef with gently rolling mounds of rock, sandy valleys, and big areas of plate coral, Boss Reef extends all the way to five miles outside of Saint George’s harbor. An excellent place to encounter hawksbill and green sea turtles, big crabs, banded coral shrimp, and even huge green and spotted moray eels, the reef is good for several dives. One favorite spot is a big hole in depths from 14 to 18 meters, where you can find lots of barracuda. You can find nurse sharks and stingrays all along the reef, and with depths ranging from 6 to 24 meters, it’s a place everyone can enjoy.
Whibbles
Also known as Whibble Reef, this site features depths between 15 and 26 meters. Washed by currents much of the time, this deep reef is located further offshore than most other sites and is great for an exhilarating drift among spotted eagle rays, enormous schools of horse eye jacks, and lots of toothy barracuda. In addition, you’ll find hawksbill and green sea turtles, and beautiful parrotfish, creole wrasse, and other tropical species.
Southern Cross
Featuring a gentle, sloping profile and offering maximum depth at 20 meters, Southern Cross is Grenada’s southernmost reef. Exposed to sweeping Atlantic currents, it is an excellent place to encounter manta rays and eagle rays, schooling jacks and palometas, moray eels, lobsters, shrimp, and big shoals of snapper. Due to challenging conditions, the site is suitable for experienced divers only.
Northern Exposure
An excellent site for all divers, Northern Exposure begins along a shallow patch of sand where crustaceans, including huge conch, are abundant. You’ll find and eel garden at about 6 meters, and as you move along the reef, which slopes gently to meet the seabed at 23 meters, you will encounter an amazing array of fish and other marine life. Watch for porcupine fish, Spanish hogfish, and lots of yellowtail snapper, along with schoolmasters, creole wrasse, and parrotfish. An incredible coral garden that features big bouquets of azure vase sponges tops off the dive; be sure to look for stonefish, octopus, and shrimp.
Purple Rain
Named for the swathes of beautiful purple Creole wrasse that fill the water here, Purple Rain is a fantastic reef that extends from 6 to 25 meters beneath the surface. Covered in a mantle of soft coral, huge barrel sponges, and many other sponge and coral species, the reef is home to barracuda and hawksbill turtles, green sea turtles, southern stingrays, and lots of colorful tropical fish.
With excellent accommodations and amazing historic sites topside, plus several well-equipped dive operators, it is easy to see why Grenada is one of the world’s most popular places to dive. Be sure to make your reservations in advance, particularly if you plan to enjoy some of the more challenging sites further offshore. Even so, it is possible to get Grenada vacation packages on fairly short notice.