Paradise

"Paradise" is a coral garden on an undulating plateau with several statuesque coral formations. It is a deep dive (to 30m) which can be made at any time of the day.

·  Location: Village Beach, adjacent to Coral Beach

·  Parking for private vehicles: Reef Hotel and Village Beach parking lot

·  Disabled access: Yes, a ramp provides access directly from the parking lot to the water.

·  Entry point: Ramp access to the water from the northernmost corner of Village Beach

·  About the dive: "Paradise" is a coral garden on an undulating plateau with several statuesque coral formations. It is a deep dive (to 30m) which can be made at any time of the day.
Visibility is generally good, currents normally southerly.

·  Dive Plan: Air can be saved by surface swimming to the site's buoy, marked by a blue and white flag.
Descend on the line of the buoy to the bow of the Satil wreck, where the coral plateau begins after about 10m of sea grass bed. Continuing northward the seafloor becomes more densely encrusted with corals.
A large yellow fan coral adorns the first large coral formation at the beginning of the route.
The coral bed covers a large area, so a circular route is advisable at the planned depth.
Upon returning, two options are available - either return to the bow of the Satil wreck and ascend on the buoy line to 5mm for a safety stop, or - with sufficient air - the dive may be continued up the western slope of the seafloor back to the beach.

·  Marine inhabitants: Anthias and Chromis of every variety, colour and size billow around the coral statues of Paradise.
Sea anemones with clownfish and transparent cleaning shrimps also abound, moray eels and octopi like to hide in the rich coral bottom. Cassiopeia can be seen camouflaged within the living garden.
Emperor Angelfish especially enjoy trailing behind divers at this site.

·  Useful equipment: A compass is recommended as the plateau can be disorienting, and a torch will bring out the vibrant colours of the sea floor

·  First Aid: At the offices of the nearby Marina

·  Safety Warning: Whilst on the surface, the red-and-white markers which denote the boat-free zone may also not be crossed.
This site is close to a water-activity zone.