Saba · Caribbean Netherlands · Reef
Hole in the Corner
Boulders down to sand at 23 m, elkhorn coral in the shallows
Area photo: Patrick Hawks · CC BY 2.0
Hole in the Corner is an east-coast reef where a series of large coral-encrusted boulders steps down to a sand bottom at 23 m. Hard and soft coral structures grow off the rock, schools of blue tang and chub hold over it, and a stand of elkhorn coral finishes the dive shallow. Spotted eagle rays cross in the blue off the reef.
Where it is and how deep
17.6187° N, 63.2262° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
The dive is on the east side of the island, where a series of large coral-encrusted boulders leads down to a sand bottom at 23 m. That sand is the floor of the site and the hard and soft coral structures on the boulders above it are the backdrop, so the route is a traverse along the boulder line rather than a drop to the bottom and back. The schools of blue tang and chub that live here hold over the same ground.
Work the soft corals on the way for the bearded fireworm that lives in them, and break off the rock now and again to look out into the blue, which is where the occasional spotted eagle ray passes. Save the last part of the dive for the stand of elkhorn coral: it is worth a careful look at the coral itself and at the small residents living in among it, such as the elkhorn coral crab, before going back up to the boat.
Marine life and season
- Eagle rays
- Reef fish swarms
- Macro critters
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good |
Season follows Saba: December–April offers the calmest seas for pinnacle access; September–October bring the highest hurricane risk.
Sources
- Hole in the Corner dive site — PADI
- Diving in Saba — Wikivoyage
More dive sites in Saba
Reef
A cave under the overhangs, and reef sharks out in the blue
Reef
A loaf-shaped reef with a roughtail stingray cleaning station
Pinnacle
A full circuit of the rock, then up the canyon on its northeast side
Pinnacle
A needle-thin pillar rising to 27 m, dived with Third Encounter
A shallow shoal off Torrens Point, capped at 25 m
Muck & macro
Open sand off the harbour, searched for batfish and blennies
Pinnacle
A narrow sponge ridge topping out at 33.5 m in open water
Pinnacle
A pinnacle at 27 m with outcrops at 37 m, dived for the sharks
Similar dives elsewhere
Up to ten reef sharks over a 15 m patch reef
A small coral island with a vertical wall, to 19 m
Overhangs and a gentle slope in 6 to 15 m off Cooper Island
A sloping mini wall from 10 m down to sand at 16–20 m