Coral Gardens
Depth is the range from the top of the site to its usual maximum; "recommended cert" is the mainstream-agency level operators usually ask for, not a legal rule. Currents and visibility change daily — treat everything here as planning ranges.
Beneath the broader of the two Pitons, Coral Gardens spreads exactly what its name suggests: acre after acre of finger corals, brain corals, and boulder stars descending in tended-looking rows toward deeper water. The scale of the mountain overhead gives the dive its atmosphere, sunbeams angling down along Gros Piton's drowned shoulder, while parrotfish crunch audibly across the coral and chromis shimmer above it in green veils. It is an unhurried, confidence-building dive that guides also use on windless mornings for long photography sessions, with occasional visits from eagle rays crossing between the bays.
The moment you come for: Sprawling healthy coral fields under Gros Piton, easy atmospheric diving
Topography: Sloping fields of finger and boulder corals below Gros Piton
Know before you splash
Hazards: Afternoon wind chop can complicate pickups below the cliffs.
Permits & rules: Within the SMMA; fees apply.
Who you'll meet
Christmas Tree Worm
Great Barracuda
Hawksbill Turtle
Spotted Eagle Ray
For photographers
Wide angle: ★★★★☆ · Macro: ★★☆☆☆ — editors' 1–5 rating of what this site gives each style of shooting