About Coral Gardens
Coral Gardens on Great Dog Island is a shallow, sheltered reef of staghorn and elkhorn corals interspersed with sand patches. The site teems with juvenile fish, angelfish, parrotfish and rays resting on the sand. Its shallow depth and protection from swell make it a favorite for training dives, snorkelers and long, relaxed bottom times. It is one of the prettiest shallow reefs in the BVI.
Highlights
Shallow sheltered coral gardenstaghorn and elkhorn coralsjuvenile fish, angelfish and raysgreat for training and snorkeling
Season calendar
Best months to dive here
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Off-Season
Dive site facts: Coral Gardens
- Depth
- 4–14 m
- Current
- No current
- Entry
- Liveaboard only
- Level
- Beginner
- Dive type
- Reef
- Region / port
- British Virgin Islands
- Coordinates
- 18.4917° N, 64.4500° W
Conditions & Currents
Guides normally rate the water movement here as next to no current. Dive profiles here run between roughly 4 and 14 metres, so plan your gas and no-decompression limits around the deeper part of the site. It is usually briefed as a dive for beginner divers. The site is reached by liveaboard, so entries are run from the tender or straight off the back deck. Tide, wind and season all shift the picture from day to day, so the crew's briefing on the boat always overrides any general description.
Why dive Coral Gardens from a liveaboard?
Coral Gardens is one of British Virgin Islands's signature dive sites. A liveaboard sleeps you on the water and puts you in the water for three to four guided dives per day, including dawn and night dives that day-boat operators rarely offer. You skip the daily commute back to port and reach quieter, less-crowded sites in the same region on a single trip.
Below are the liveaboards that include Coral Gardens on their British Virgin Islands itineraries.
Liveaboards diving Coral Gardens
These liveaboards may visit Coral Gardens on selected itineraries — the exact dive sites depend on departure, weather and conditions.
All Star Cuan Law
Virgin Islands
20 guests32 m
Dive sites similar to Coral Gardens
Same character, same waters — six more sites divers love for the exact same reasons.Compare seasons, access and liveaboard routes — then pick the site that fits your trip best.
© Esri — Maxar, Earthstar, GIS
The Chimney
British Virgin Islands
The Chimney on Great Dog Island is named after a dramatic swim-through arch and narrow canyon that divers ascend like a chimney.
- Suitable for
- Intermediate
- Current
- Mild
- Access
- Liveaboard only
- Depth
- 8–20 m
- Theme
- Reef / Swim through