Turtle Reef - Lighthouse Point

[JJPCheers]

Are Tutle Reef and Lighthouse point the same shore dive? I have read so many reviews and I'm confused. If they are not the same, which is better and easier to get in/out? I read something about Divetech and Sun Divers to rent tanks and to hire a guide. I have emailed Divetech but cannot find a website for Sun Divers.

 

[diversteve]

No they're different. Turtle Reef is the dive off the Cracked Conch restaurant, Lighthouse Point is the dive off Lighthouse Point Condos.

Turtle Reef used to be managed by Divetech a few years ago, now it's run by Sun Divers. So any reference you're seeing here or elsewhere to Divetech at Turtle Reef is old.

I don't think Sun Divers has a website - at least not one I've been able to find. Google Ollen Miller Sun Divers for contact info.

Both are easy entries - there's a dock with ladder at LH Point and a stair/ladder at Turtle Reef. If you view the Cracked Conch website - a couple of the views in the rotating header show the ladder/cove. One of the last images shows it clearly.

The shore diving part of the Divetech website shows Lighthouse Point and the dock there.

The ladder at Turtle Reef lets you into a small, shallow cove - the ball for the mini wall is about 40 yds. out IIRC. I haven't dove Lighthouse Point so don't know the conditions there.

For perspective - here's a Google Earth view. I included Cobalt Coast and the Turtle Farm for reference. I relied on someone else for the Lighthouse Point location but it seems correct. The deep blue strip running parallel just offshore is the min-wall. The darker deep blue area farther out is the wall. It's farther than it looks.

 

[Doctorfish]

Turtle Reef is one of the best dives on GC period.There is always a lot of marine life because of the nutrients. Navigation and entry/exit are easy. Going south on the dive, there is a cavern with 20-30 tarpon in it. Going North, a lovely mini wall with lots of sponges and diverse fish. I've seen turtles, rays, goliath grouper, green morays and all of the usual smaller caribbean fish at this site. Olin Miller is a bit gruff but he runs a great operation at Sundivers. When you get out of the water, there is a lovely outdoor bar and restaurant (Macabuca) right there if you need refreshment. Lighthouse Point, run by Divetech, is a nice site as well but IMHO does not come close to Turtle Reef. Cobalt Coast is a very good shore dive as well, but is a longer swim and is weather dependent as it is on the North.

 

[JJPCheers]

Thank you. Is Turtle Reef worth doing 2 dives or best to do 1 there and then go someplace else?

 

[billinwilliamston]

Thank you. Is Turtle Reef worth doing 2 dives or best to do 1 there and then go someplace else?

You can certainly do two (or more) dives at Turtle Reef without much duplication. I would do the main wall on one and the mini wall on the other. The main wall is a fairly good swim, but (to me anyway) worth it.

One advantage to Lighthouse Point is there is a line running from a buoy out to the main wall. You can pull yourself along and save quite a bit of air and it's a lot easier than a surface swim. There isn't much to see on the trip out other than a large number of (I think) garden eels.

 

[JJPCheers]

Do you know how far Turtle Reef is from Lighthouse point? (driving time) If they are not too far maybe we will do Turtle Reef in the morning then grab some lunch there then move on to Lighthouse point.

 

[PhilC]

They are less than 1/2 mile apart so maybe three minutes drive between the two if it takes you a long time to back out of your parking spot?

 

[JJPCheers]

That's funny! Sounds like a perfect day. We will do both and grab some lunch in between.

 

[billinwilliamston]

Speaking of Lighthouse Point, we spotted this guy hanging out along the wall there at about 95 feet yesterday afternoon. It's hard to tell by the picture, but it was by far the largest I've seen in, or out, of the water. Unfortunately, neither my bride nor I were qualified to do much more than look at it and, of course, report it when we got back to shore. Sorry the picture isn't very good, the view screen on my camera is fading fast, so it's very point-and-pray these days.

 

[Whatgoesdown]

Ollen doesn't believe in technology much so the website is a piece of history. You can email him at sundivers@candw.ky and while it occurs to me - for instruction at Turtle Reef, contact John at Happy Fish, he does have a website!