Dive· Oracabessa· Other Caribbean
Oracabessa Bay Fish Sanctuary & Golden Clouds Reef
18° 24.7′ N · 76° 56.6′ W · approximate
A community-run fish sanctuary off Oracabessa, declared in 2010 at the urging of the Oracabessa Foundation and patrolled by local fishermen wardens. On its northern edge the Golden Clouds reef drops from walls at about 60 ft to beyond 150 ft, with overhangs and ledges, at the lip of the Cayman Trough.
Practical
Coordinate approximate: offset seaward from Wikipedia's sanctuary position (18 24 12N, 076 56 48W), which falls at the shoreline, toward the reef and north of the Oracabessa Harbour anchorage. Gazetted by the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries: no-take, enforced by the fishers' co-operative wardens. No public mooring positions are published, so do not anchor on reef; anchor in Oracabessa Harbour (see that entry) and dinghy out. The Oracabessa Foundation runs a small dive shop that helps fund the patrols. Wardens also release sea-turtle hatchlings from protected nesting beaches. Exposed to northers.
Best for
Wall diving and a working community sanctuary near Port Maria
Season
Calm trades only
Nearby
- Oracabessa Harbour0.4 NM away
- Port Maria Anchorage (Cabarita Island)3.8 NM away
- Foster's Cove Anchorage6.9 NM away
- Ocho Rios Dive Sites (Devil's Reef, Dickie's Reef, Ochi Wall & Katherine Wreck)8.5 NM away
- Ocho Rios Reefs: Conservation Zone A (Carib Trenches & Ocho Rios Reef)8.8 NM away
- Ocho Rios Marine Park Protected Area (Rules & Zones)8.9 NM away
- Ocho Rios Marina Basin & Fuel (no yacht marina)9.4 NM away
- Ocho Rios Anchorage & Port of Entry9.7 NM away