Cooper Island| Dead Chest | The Dogs | Ginger Island | Guana Island
Jost Van Dyke,Sandy Cay,Sandy Spit | Norman Island | Pelican Island
Peter Island | Salt
Island | Virgin Gorda
THE DOGS
Coral Gardens
Coral Gardens is a nice quiet dive site tucked into the eastern tip of the south side of Great Dog. As the name suggests, Coral Gardens boasts large beautiful coral formations. These consist primarily of mounds of boulder star coral and great star coral, well embellished with brain corals, tube sponges, sea fans and gorgonians. Another feature is the remains of a small inter-island commuter plane, all that is left of the plane is the fuselage (no wings, engines or seating inside) which creates a focal point for marine life (include a number of barracuda). The reef itself is very healthy, providing a home to a wide range of reef fish, lobster and the occasional nurse shark or turtle.
The Visibles
Situated off the West side of tiny Cockroach Island, this area is swept by current and so attracts a range of marine life. Glasseye snappers teem at the bottom of the pinnacle, along with tomtates, blue striped grunts and gray snapper. As the current picks up coming around the pinnacle, look out for schooling barracuda, horse-eye jacks along with occasional African pompano, permit and spadefish. The southern slope is thick with huge deep water gorgonians, flourishing sea fans and an abundance of sea life. At the point (about 80ft) there is a series of ledges, large overhangs and little caves. This area is just overflowing with all manner of fish, High hats, angel fish and large snapper are just some that may be spotted here. In the shallows closer to the island there is a fantastic maze of alleyways, tunnels, arches and boulders encrusted with sponges, corals hydroids and fire coral.
The Chimney
One of the most popular dives in this area, the chimney is really two dives in one. The Fish Bowl, so named for the number of friendly yellowtails, sergeant majors, parrot and other fish. This is a great spot for the novice diver. A little further a small canyon leads through one of the spurs coming off Great Dog. As you swim through, the top of the walls start to come together to form a large beautifully encrusted archway covered in multi-coloured sponges and cup coral. Once through the arch there is a steep walled narrow corridor which ends in a narrow crack, surrounded by unusual white sponges, through which you exit. The dive got its name from the exit which resembles a rock climbing formation by the same name.
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