6 of the best dive spots for beginners in Anguilla

Undisturbed and discreet, Anguilla sits in the eastern Caribbean Sea and stuns with a rare stillness that permeates both above and below the water. While experienced divers may flock to the warm waters of the Red Sea or the cooler depths of Byron Bay to catch sightings of the vibrant marine life in these places, recently qualified PADI divers should instead seek out the veritable paradise of Anguilla. Here, a tranquillity permeates that allows for true appreciation of the world beneath the surface, and you’ll meet shoals of angelfish, swim alongside green turtles and might even come face to face with a Caribbean reef shark or two.  

An island that feels untouched by the centuries, Anguilla has a serenity that extends deep within its waters, which makes these sites the perfect spots for new divers to stretch their fins and develop their confidence amid the gentle waves.  

1. Oosterdiep Wreck

Deliberately sunk in 1990 to form an artificial reef, the Oosterdiep is a Dutch cargo ship that lies 80ft deep, northwest of Meads Bay. It’s one of seven wrecks that can be found around the island and makes a great spot for beginners due to the sheer breadth of marine life that uses the ship for shelter and refuge. As you float around its perimeter, expect to come across garden eels, stingrays, angelfish, Atlantic spadefish, groupers and possibly even Caribbean reef sharks. It’s also frequently visited by green sea turtles, which tend to float slowly across its algae-slicked surface or rest in one of the hull’s discreet nooks. You need a Wreck Diver Certification to be able to dive inside shipwrecks, but a PADI Open Water Certification is fine to glide atop and around them.

2. Sandy Deep

Kaleidoscopic coral, billowing sea fans and an abundance of fish: Sandy Deep is the perfect place for new divers. Described as a ‘shallow’ site by locals, the reef offers a combination of coral gardens and deeper ledges, ranging in depth from 15-60ft. It can be found on the southern edge of the horseshoe-shaped plateau that surrounds Sandy Island, a small cay just off Anguilla’s coast. From green turtles and barracudas to parrotfish, trumpetfish and lionfish, the coral heads provide an ideal environment for fish to find food and protection, as well as to lay their eggs, meaning you’re certain to spot plenty during the dive. Crabs and lobsters tend to make appearances, too, so be sure to be on the lookout for claws amid the soft, peachy hues.

3. Kathlee H Wreck

The only non-intentionally sunken shipwreck on the island, the Kathlee H went down in 1993 after a fire on board got out of control. The freighter was left to burn itself out, and it sank just outside Road Bay. It lies at around 30-60ft below the surface. Upright and intact, the wreck now makes a great site for new divers to roam the underwater world: it’s easy to explore, not too deep and is teeming with marine life. Be sure to look out for the orange arrow crabs that tend to hide in the ship’s nooks and crannies, as well as French angelfish, lobsters, clownfish, sergeant majors and eagle rays.

4. Deep South Reef

Just across the water from the Oosterdiep Wreck, you’ll find a large, flat reef blanketed in hard and soft coral. This is Deep South Reef, a site with gentle currents and great visibility that reaches up to 80ft in depth, and which makes a great spot for those with an interest in both marine life and unique topography. Beginners, who can dive with a guide up to 60ft, will feel comfortable floating across the flat structure while admiring the variety of reef fish: angelfish, blue tang, barracudas, trumpetfish and nurse sharks are all frequent visitors here. What makes this site extra special, though, is its sandy bottom, which serves as a feeding ground for southern stingrays, and you’re almost certain to spy them flapping gently near the reef’s edge.

5. Anguillita

One for more adventurous divers — but still suitable for novices — Anguillita runs along the west side of a small cay at Anguilla’s western tip. It requires what the diving world calls a ‘drift dive’. This means that, rather than actively swimming, you’ll be carried along by a current, so it’s important to equip yourself with a signal flag or an inflatable marker tube so that you can signal once you begin to ascend. The site ranges from 20-80 ft in depth, and is lined with small, broken ledges that protrude from the seabed. It attracts a variety of marine life, including tarpons, stingrays and green turtles, as well as both Caribbean reef and nurse sharks.

6. Captain Turtle

Just as its name suggests, this site is popular among travellers for one thing: an abundance of turtles. Both hawksbill and green sea turtles tend to frequent this Shoal Bay site, as they’re drawn to the shallow water and seagrass bed, perfect for foraging. Soft coral fans and sponges frame Turtle Bay, which begins at around 20ft and reaches a maximum depth of 65. But it’s not just turtles that you’ll likely encounter here. Most of Anguilla’s abundant marine life — from neon-hued parrotfish to electric blue damselfish — enjoy these calm waters, too. The site is also particularly favoured by nurse sharks, who enjoy resting on the plateau, so make sure to keep a keen eye out.