EVFleet
Contributor
Aaand...Caribbean Explorer II is back diving! She is now on her second charter after the passage of hurricanes Irma and Maria, and the dive site reports from both Saba and St. Kitts are in. We're excited to report very little storm effect on most of our normal sites, and a few (Brimstone and Coconut Reefs in St. Kitts) that we don't often dive but were able to check last week!
Saba Dive Sites
Ladder Labyrinth is one our shallower sites that we use for the first check out dive of the week. Ladder Lab has slight damage from hurricanes Irma & Maria. There were a few barrel sponges and tube sponges broken, but overall the site is in good condition. Pederson Shrimp, Nurse Sharks, Turtles, Gobies, Blennies, Turtles and Southern Sting Rays were all seen at the site.
Tent Wall experienced very little damage. A light dusting of sand currently covers some of the top of the reef, but should dissipate quickly. The pinnacles just off the wall were not damaged and were beautiful to see. The wall itself was not damaged and was as beautiful as ever. Divers enjoyed Caribbean Whip Tail Sting Rays, Spiny Lobsters, Caribbean Reef Sharks, Turtles, Banded Coral shrimp and Pederson shrimp.
Tent Reef - the top of which is at 18 feet - sustained the most damage of all the sites. A significant amount of the coral was damaged, and a lot of the site was covered in sand. Tent Reef’s recovery will take time, but we look forward to watching the site recover – it’s a very interesting process to watch as it progresses!
Customs House was spared the wrath of the hurricanes. It is a deeper site, and remains a favorite for crew and guests. Nurse Sharks, Sting rays, Spiny Lobsters, Clinging crabs and Yellow arrow crabs were all sighted.
Diamond Rock - one of the most fascinating sites at Saba – experienced little if any damage. Aquatic life at Diamond Rock was plentiful, with Nurse Sharks, Sting Rays, schools of Sergeant Majors and Blue Striped grunts all in abundance.
Man-O-War Shoals was also largely spared, even though the very top of the site is fairly shallow. The site displayed an abundant amount of schooling fish, including Grunts, Sergeant Majors and Damsels.
Third Encounter, another marquee Saba dive site, is a blue water pinnacle dive and also was undamaged. Aquatic life found at the pinnacle were Caribbean reef sharks and Groupers, in addition to the very healthy reef structure.
Torrens Point’s condition was excellent. The swim thru, the reef and the aquatic life were astonishing as well. The guests even got to encounter their first octopus!
St. Kitts dive sites
Paradise Reef had only a few barrel sponges and tube sponges damaged. The reef was healthy and alive with Turtles, Lobsters, Eels, Crabs and the normal huge variety of reef inhabitants.
Anchors Aweigh, very close to Paradise Reef, also experienced minimal damage to some of the soft coral Anchors. It was a very beautiful dive!
Old Road Bay, a shallow dive site, experienced some damage from the storms. Barrel sponges and tube sponges were broken off and swept away. There were still a lot of soft coral not affected and the turtle grass escaped damage. There is still the normal variety of marine life - turtles, Spotted Eels, Spiny Lobsters, Striped Grunts, Gobies, Blennies and a variety of crabs were all noted.
Brimstone Reef, which we don't normally dive, was such a treat for the crew and guests. The reef and its inhabitants were all in excellent condition. The guests encountered 3 Caribbean reef sharks that followed them during the dive!
River Taw Wreck was slightly rearranged, but was still totally intact. The aquatic life was very healthy. The guests encountered Damsel fish, Sergeants Major, Spiny lobsters and Yellow Sting rays. As usual, guests were very pleased with the River Taw!
Bedroom Bay is a shallow site that’s protected by a high mountain range to the south, and was unaffected by hurricane Irma or Maria.
Monkey Shoals is shallow site 2 miles off shore. The site was found in pristine condition. The aquatic life, including turtles, Grunts, Damsels, Gobies, Lobsters and Crabs were all abundant.
Coconut Reef is in fabulous condition. The guests were entertained by Caribbean Reef Sharks, Spotted Eels, Spiny Lobsters and Clinging Crabs. The Sponges and Hydroids were a pleasant sight to see.
The Wreck of the Corinthian is always a favorite for the guests to dive on. Corinthian was an excellent dive, with nudibranchs, flamingo tongues, Gobies, Damsels and Sergeants Major swimming around the wreck. If any dive could be described as diving in an aquarium – this was it!
Old Anchor, with its soft coral and amazing aquatic life was a beautiful dive. The anchor was spared the force of Hurricane Irma and Maria, and the site was teeming with marine life.
Overall, the guests found both Saba and St Kitts dive sites to be in very good condition. The marine life was very abundant and the coral in very good shape everywhere except the shallowest dive sites. The weather this past week was just gorgeous, light winds and calm seas.
Saba Dive Sites
Ladder Labyrinth is one our shallower sites that we use for the first check out dive of the week. Ladder Lab has slight damage from hurricanes Irma & Maria. There were a few barrel sponges and tube sponges broken, but overall the site is in good condition. Pederson Shrimp, Nurse Sharks, Turtles, Gobies, Blennies, Turtles and Southern Sting Rays were all seen at the site.
Tent Wall experienced very little damage. A light dusting of sand currently covers some of the top of the reef, but should dissipate quickly. The pinnacles just off the wall were not damaged and were beautiful to see. The wall itself was not damaged and was as beautiful as ever. Divers enjoyed Caribbean Whip Tail Sting Rays, Spiny Lobsters, Caribbean Reef Sharks, Turtles, Banded Coral shrimp and Pederson shrimp.
Tent Reef - the top of which is at 18 feet - sustained the most damage of all the sites. A significant amount of the coral was damaged, and a lot of the site was covered in sand. Tent Reef’s recovery will take time, but we look forward to watching the site recover – it’s a very interesting process to watch as it progresses!
Customs House was spared the wrath of the hurricanes. It is a deeper site, and remains a favorite for crew and guests. Nurse Sharks, Sting rays, Spiny Lobsters, Clinging crabs and Yellow arrow crabs were all sighted.
Diamond Rock - one of the most fascinating sites at Saba – experienced little if any damage. Aquatic life at Diamond Rock was plentiful, with Nurse Sharks, Sting Rays, schools of Sergeant Majors and Blue Striped grunts all in abundance.
Man-O-War Shoals was also largely spared, even though the very top of the site is fairly shallow. The site displayed an abundant amount of schooling fish, including Grunts, Sergeant Majors and Damsels.
Third Encounter, another marquee Saba dive site, is a blue water pinnacle dive and also was undamaged. Aquatic life found at the pinnacle were Caribbean reef sharks and Groupers, in addition to the very healthy reef structure.
Torrens Point’s condition was excellent. The swim thru, the reef and the aquatic life were astonishing as well. The guests even got to encounter their first octopus!
St. Kitts dive sites
Paradise Reef had only a few barrel sponges and tube sponges damaged. The reef was healthy and alive with Turtles, Lobsters, Eels, Crabs and the normal huge variety of reef inhabitants.
Anchors Aweigh, very close to Paradise Reef, also experienced minimal damage to some of the soft coral Anchors. It was a very beautiful dive!
Old Road Bay, a shallow dive site, experienced some damage from the storms. Barrel sponges and tube sponges were broken off and swept away. There were still a lot of soft coral not affected and the turtle grass escaped damage. There is still the normal variety of marine life - turtles, Spotted Eels, Spiny Lobsters, Striped Grunts, Gobies, Blennies and a variety of crabs were all noted.
Brimstone Reef, which we don't normally dive, was such a treat for the crew and guests. The reef and its inhabitants were all in excellent condition. The guests encountered 3 Caribbean reef sharks that followed them during the dive!
River Taw Wreck was slightly rearranged, but was still totally intact. The aquatic life was very healthy. The guests encountered Damsel fish, Sergeants Major, Spiny lobsters and Yellow Sting rays. As usual, guests were very pleased with the River Taw!
Bedroom Bay is a shallow site that’s protected by a high mountain range to the south, and was unaffected by hurricane Irma or Maria.
Monkey Shoals is shallow site 2 miles off shore. The site was found in pristine condition. The aquatic life, including turtles, Grunts, Damsels, Gobies, Lobsters and Crabs were all abundant.
Coconut Reef is in fabulous condition. The guests were entertained by Caribbean Reef Sharks, Spotted Eels, Spiny Lobsters and Clinging Crabs. The Sponges and Hydroids were a pleasant sight to see.
The Wreck of the Corinthian is always a favorite for the guests to dive on. Corinthian was an excellent dive, with nudibranchs, flamingo tongues, Gobies, Damsels and Sergeants Major swimming around the wreck. If any dive could be described as diving in an aquarium – this was it!
Old Anchor, with its soft coral and amazing aquatic life was a beautiful dive. The anchor was spared the force of Hurricane Irma and Maria, and the site was teeming with marine life.
Overall, the guests found both Saba and St Kitts dive sites to be in very good condition. The marine life was very abundant and the coral in very good shape everywhere except the shallowest dive sites. The weather this past week was just gorgeous, light winds and calm seas.
