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Anguilla waters are home to many created and natural dive and snorkel sites. The created dive sites are an artificial reef complex designed by the sinking of wrecks that form cavities for sea life. A number of these sites are close to shore and also excellent for snorkeling.
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Dive Site and Wreck Moorings
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Mepel
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Sarah
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Lady Vi
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Commerce
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Ida Maria
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Oster Diep
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Cathley H
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Paintcan Reef
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Deep South
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Dougies Corner
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Sandy Deep
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Sandy Shallow
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No Name
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Prickly Pear
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Grouper Bowl
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Sandy Canyon
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Ritas Wall
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Little Bay
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Frenchman's Reef
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Authors Deep
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The Coleseum
Scuba
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Sandy Island: Depth 30-70 ft. This site is noted for the profusion of Sea Fans and an abundance of soft corals. Snorkel trips available from Sandy Ground.
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Sandy Deep: Depth 15-60 ft. The mini-wall here drops off abruptly from 15ft to 60ft on a sandy bottom. There is abundant fish life and hard corals along the wall of this site.
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Wreck of Ida Maria: Depth 60ft. Deliberately sunk to create a wreck dive site in 1985, this 110 ft freighter is semi-intact and upright on the bottom. Deteriorating due to weather.
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Authors Deep: Depth to 110 ft. There are several deep dives in this area and black coral is abundant. Large Pelagics are sometimes seen in this area.
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Paintcan Reef: Depth 80 ft. Several acres of coral growth with excellent visibility.
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Wreck of Oosterdiep : Depth 75 ft. This vessel was sunk in June 1990 as part of the Road Bay Clean-Up Program. It is already home to large numbers of schooling fish and Stingrays are usually seen. It is intact and upright on the bottom.
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Frenchmans Reef: Depth 10-40 ft. Schools of reef fish in habit this cliff edge border strewn site. It is excellent for novices and photographers.
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Prickly Pear: Depth 30-70 ft. A beautiful underwater canyon characterized by ledges and caverns.
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Grouper Bowl: Depth 25-50 ft. This site, part of the sail reef system, is home to some of Anguilla's most beautiful hard coral formations.
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The Coliseum: Depth 25-50ft. This is another site on the sail reef system with a sandy area surrounded by lush hard coral formations.
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Sand Canyon: Depth 90ft. This deeper dive meanders through an underwater canyon whose walls come to within 25ft. of the surface.
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Wreck of M.V. Sarah: Depth 80ft. This is the largest vessel sunk as part of the Road Bay Clean-Up in June of 1990. She is intact and upright on the bottom.
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Wreck of M.V. Meppel: Depth 80ft. The third vessel sunk as part of the Road Bay Clean-Up. She is intact and upright on the bottom just inside the sail reef system North-Eastern corner.
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Wreck of M.V. Lady Vie: Depth 80ft. The forth vessel sunk in June 1990, she too is intact and upright on the bottom and is located not far from the sail reef system.
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Wreck of M.V. Commerce : Depth 45-80ft. Sunk in 1986, she has an abundance of fish life on and around her. She is intact and upright on a gently sloping bottom.
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Little Bay: Depth 15-30ft A calm, sheltered site ideal for training and night dives. It is a nursery area for small fish. Also good for snorkeling.
Snorkeling
These snorkel sites are available directly from land, beach or a short boat trip.
Shoal Bay East: Depth shore to 10 ft. Calm and sheltered cove with direct access from the beach, Shoal Bay is probably the easiest location for snorkeling. A number of equipment rental businesses along the beach allow you to rent gear by the hour or day. The reef is colorful, full of friendly fish and easy to get to from land.
Little Bay: Depth shore to 15 ft. Difficult to access from land, Little Bay is best approached using the boat service at Crocus Bay. Carl will take you to the beach and from there you can snorkel on both sides. The water is generally very calm and there are plenty of fish and colorful coral all along the rock cliffs.
Sandy Hill Bay: Shore to 30 ft. Drive right to the beach and the tiny reef starts right at the shore line. Great spot for beginners. The reef is a nursery area for reef fish and covered with a gentle green blanket. Short cliff wall not far from shore is home to many varieties of reef fish.
Elsie Bay: Shore to 30 ft. Difficult to find, this beach is just north of Little Harbour. The water is usually calm and there are small reef foundations right off shore. Swim out a little further to find a vast area of fallen Elkhorn coral. The current can get strong in this area.
Sandy Island: Shore to 30 ft. A short boat trip will take you to Sandy Island a small cay off the coast of Anguilla. Go to Sandy Ground on the beach in front of Johnno’s to get a boat to Sandy Island or Prickly Pear Cay. Snorkel right off the shore. There is also a small beach bar for lunch.
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