Playground
DEPTH: 15-70 FEET (5-21 M)
LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE
From the calm sandy anchorages on
the south side of Green Cay and nearby tranquil Sandy
Spit, the sea floor is completely covered with hard
corals and gorgonians. Parrotfishes, squirrelfishes
and occasional reef squid enjoy the calm here. Look
for a large formation of pillar coral and a series
of huge boulder/pinnacles on the exposed north side.
They are covered with marine growth: hard and soft
corals, delicate branching hydroid fans, and brightly
colored sponges. Overhangs are filled with fishes -
sweepers, juvenile angelfishes, glassy minnows and
fairy basslets. Lots of marine life live in the protected
areas at the base of some of the boulders are little
hollows and depressions formed between the boulder
and the bedrock.
Schools of barracudas patrol the
outskirts. Black margates and other grunts and snappers
occupy the spaces between the rocks and skittishly
slink away upon your bubbling approach. Turtles are
often seen paddling between the pinnacles. Large dog
snapper and individual jacks scour the reef searching
for unwary prey. A school of horse-eye jacks hovers
in the water column along with a stately eagle ray.
Creole wrasse and bright porkfish add a splash of color.
Text extracted from Diving
British Virgin Islands
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