South West Bay Reef
Corn Islands · Nicaragua
A gently sloping fringing reef that wraps the sheltered southwestern flank of Little Corn Island, remarkable for the sheer density and health of its staghorn and brain coral colonies. Nurse sharks rest in the sandy channels between coral heads while eagle rays cruise the mid-water above. The absence of dive boat traffic means coral cover here rivals sites in far more famous destinations.
Conditions
Depth
5 to 22 m
Open water and up
Current
Usually gentle
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
18 to 28 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
26 to 30°C
3mm wetsuit
Your chances of seeing each animal
Nurse sharkVulnerable
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Spotted eagle rayEndangered
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Queen angelfishLeast concern
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Caribbean reef sharkEndangered
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
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