This dive site, Coral Gardens, located on the south side of Great Dog Island, just off Virgin Gorda, is a local favorite renowned for its unique underwater art installations. Recently updated, it features three airplane wrecks cleverly designed to resemble sharks, creating an exciting and visually striking experience. Another highlight is “The Cathedral,” an installation crafted from retired mooring lines that has evolved into a sponge-adorned floating archway, offering a stunning swim-through opportunity and excellent photographic subjects.
Divers and snorkelers can expect to encounter a vibrant array of marine life typical of Caribbean reefs. Common sightings include barracudas patrolling the structures, graceful sea turtles, and a variety of colorful reef fish darting amongst the corals and installations. Look closely in the sandy patches for camouflaged flounder and the peculiar garden eels swaying gently from their burrows.
Coral Gardens is suitable for divers and snorkelers of all skill levels due to its shallow maximum depth of 14 meters and an average depth of 7 meters. The site offers excellent conditions for photography, particularly wide-angle shots of the wrecks and the archway, as well as macro opportunities for smaller reef inhabitants. Its calm conditions make it an enjoyable experience year-round, though the drier, cooler months from December to May often offer the best visibility and most comfortable surface conditions.
