recommendations for night dive SMB area

[ranchonodinero]

Looking for some recommendations for a good night dive in the seven mile beach area for a trip in June. This will be our first night dive, so it probably won't take much to make it exciting.

Thanks,

 

[Alex777]

For your 1st night dive, I suggest going to Turtle Reef (Macabuca) with a guided group. There are DM-led night dives there almost every night. I see Happy Fish Divers and Dive-Shuttle there all the time. Dive-Shuttle is at info@caymandiveshuttle.com

 

[scubadada]

+1 for Turtle Reef, did my 1st night dive there in 1997 when it was part of Divetech. I don't think you necessarily need to go with a guided group, way to many lights and distractions for me. The navigation is simple, right or left (I like right), swim along the mini-wall, turn around and swim back. There is a great cavern of Tarpon to the left, not far from the entry, you can end with that on the same dive. Food and drink at Macabuca would be a good way to end the night. Before my wife and daughter started diving, they used to eat at Cracked Conch and get take out for me and my son, that was deluxe.

Good diving, Craig

 

[Doctorfish]

I agree, Turtle Reef is a great night dive ( and day dive ), I'd suggest you do it as a day dive and then come back at night. Ladder access, lighted entry/exit, shower and dip tank. Just let Olin Miller know that you are going for a night dive and he will leave tanks out for you if you have a tab there. North is generally better than South from the entry for a night dive if the current allows. The tarpon will be out hunting and not in the cavern. . Save some air to explore the cut near the entry. I've seen octopi, and squid there in the shallows. For a first night dive, good idea to have a dive master/guide for a briefing and general comfort. Even though the navigation may seem easy in the daylight, it's easy to get disoriented at night. Particularly if there is a bit of current. Sunset reef is a pretty good night dive as well but IMO, not as good as turtle reef. I've dived it for years and never tire of the site. If the weather is calm and the winds light, Cobalt Coast miniwall is a very good night dive as well. Lots of choices.

 

[ranchonodinero]

Thanks for the recommendations! I've been watching the web cam for the Macabuca bar and you can see divers walking with tanks. I think our first dives may be there as I thought it would be a great place to go to check buoyancy and get wet since we haven't been diving in about 10 months. During the first part of our trip we will be staying on the East end, then a few days in the Seven Mile Beach area.

 

[ranchonodinero]

Did my first night dive. Used ocean frontiers on the East end. Got to use my new light from dive right in scuba too. Light is incredibly bright and worked flawlessly. The dive was only in 25 feet of water and is inside the reef. It went amazingly well until our group was harassed by a lone dolphin. Yep, just about everyone in the group was hassled by him. Let me tell you the surprise I got when I thought my dive buddy was elbowing me-i gave a sharp elbow back and turned my light in time to see a dolphin. The sharp elbow sent him off and he vanished. We continued the dive and he returned after a few minutes. Even though it was pitch black, we could still see him. He was very animated and I'd have to say agitated-they are incredibly powerful and fast . A night dive I'll always remember.

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