Sint Maarten · Sint Maarten · Reef · Wreck
Isabella Reef
A 22–29 m reef with a small wreck, the island's deep-training site
Area photo: Gillfoto from Juneau, Alaska, United States · CC BY-SA 4.0
Isabella Reef is a coral reef lying between 22 m and 29 m, with a small wreck on it that gives the site its name. No part of the reef is shallower than 22 m, and it is a popular site for Deep Diver training. Jacks, grey sharks and hawksbill turtles are the listed sightings.
Where it is and how deep
18.0239° N, 63.1177° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
The descent is the first thing to plan, because the top of the reef is at 22 m and there is nothing shallower to pause on. Go down the line to the reef and settle at the shallow end before moving off. The site is a coral reef running from 22 m to 29 m with a small wreck sitting on it, and the wreck is the natural first target: it is the feature that named the site, and it gives a fixed point to navigate from at the start of the dive.
From the wreck, follow the reef down its slope towards 29 m and then work back up along it. Jacks, grey sharks and hawksbill turtles are all listed for the site, so watch the water over the reef as well as the coral. This is the site the shops use for Deep Diver training, and the same rules apply for everyone: bottom time at 22 m to 29 m is short, gas goes quickly, and the turn point should be agreed before you descend. Ascend on the line with a safety stop.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Unidentified small wreck
- Type
- Small vessel, not identified
- Cause
- Not published
- Lies
- On the coral reef between 22 m and 29 m; the wreck gives the site its name
Marine life and season
- Trevally & jacks
- Reef sharks
- Sea turtles
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime |
Season follows Sint Maarten: Conditions vary little through the year; Jun–Nov is hurricane season and Dec–Apr plus Jul–Aug are the crowded months.
Know before you go
- The reef starts at 22 m and reaches 29 m, so there is no shallow section to extend the dive; keep to the plan for depth, gas and no-decompression time.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Isabella Reef?+
The coral reef lies between 22 m and 29 m, which is why it is used for Deep Diver training and suits Advanced divers rather than Open Water divers.
Sources
- Isabella reef — Scubago
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