St. Eustatius · Caribbean Netherlands · Reef · Wall
Barracuda Reef
Barracuda over a volcanic mini-wall, in groups of five to twenty
Area photo: SV Zanshin · CC BY-SA 3.0
A long mini-wall of volcanic rock, overgrown with healthy coral and sponge, inside St. Eustatius's marine park. Vertical faces full of cracks and overhangs drop from a reef top at around 15 m to a maximum of 21 to 22 m, and the barracuda the site is named for hold over the ridge in groups of five to twenty.
Also known as Barracuda.
Where it is and how deep
17.4672° N, 62.9905° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
You go down the mooring line onto the reef and over the edge to work the deeper half first, cruising the wall to a maximum of about 21 m. The rock is old lava and the face is broken the whole way along by cracks and overhangs, with coral and sponge holding wherever the flow stood proud. Look into the gaps rather than past them: they are where the site keeps its animals, and the occasional nurse shark uses them.
The return leg runs back along the top of the reef at about 15 m, which stretches the dive out and puts the barracuda overhead - several groups patrol the ridge, five to twenty fish at a time, hanging into whatever water is moving. Finish above the mooring, where the shallow reef top gives you a safety stop with something to look at rather than three minutes of blue.
Marine life and season
- Barracuda
- Reef sharks
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Prime |
Season follows St. Eustatius: December to April is the drier stretch; August and September carry the hurricane peak, and diving may pause in September.
Know before you go
- The deeper leg reaches about 21 m and operators list the site as deep as 22 m; run the deep half first and watch no-stop time before turning shallow.
Questions divers ask
Are the barracuda reliable at Barracuda Reef?+
The site is named for them and guides report several resident groups, numbering from five to twenty fish, usually over the top of the ridge. A nurse shark is the occasional bonus, tucked into the cracks and overhangs on the deeper part of the wall.
How deep is Barracuda Reef?+
The deeper leg is dived to about 21 m and the return along the reef top runs at about 15 m; operators list the site at up to 22 m. That puts the main part of the dive past Open Water depth limits.
Sources
- Barracuda Reef - Dive Site — PADI
- Here are some more details on dive sites — Golden Rock Dive Center (archived)
- Dive Sites — Scubaqua
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An almost vertical drop at the island's southern tip
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Steep lava flows and narrow cracks dropping past 40 m
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