El Coral

This dive site has two main characteristics. The first is its main lava tongue, which has a teardrop shape and ends at its base at 30 meters depth, in a huge sandy area. Once we are done exploring the lava tongue, the second feature of this place is the large patches of Caribbean Palythoa coral that covers the bottom at a depth of around 15 meters.

The marine life at this location is among the most diverse in all dives on the east side, including the scarce Caribbean Palythoa coral zones. This hard coral is formed by small polyps that adhere to the rocks on the bottom, completely covering the entire area, and has the great peculiarity of harboring the tiny Harlequin Crab, which has its favorite hiding place within these polyps. Around the lava tongue, we can find Seabreams, Salemas, Groupers, Parrotfish, Triggerfish, Wrasses, Moray eels, Rays, Cocks, Barracudas, Snappers, large Groupers, a small colony of garden eels in the sandy area, and black coral grown in the deepest points.

Because it is located on the east side just out of the Mar de las Calmas Marine Reserve, these dives can only be done when wind and waves are very mild, as this area of the island is directly exposed to the trade winds. With the right weather conditions, access is super easy from the boat, and visibility underwater is usually between 10 and 30 meters.

Any diving certification is accepted at this spot. Less experienced divers can visit the lava tongue up to 18 or 20 meters deep and observe the coral-covered area. Advanced licenses are allowed to descend to 30 meters and visit past the sandy area and into the slope covered with black coral as well.