Dive· Montserrat· Leeward Islands
Lime Kiln Reef Dive
16° 45.1′ N · 62° 14.0′ W · approximate
A shore-entry dive off the small beach below Salem onto a volcanic reef of coral-grown rock formations, where turtles are regular and dive listings describe warm gas bubbles seeping from the seabed.
Practical
Position approximate, a short swim off the OpenStreetMap-mapped Lime Kiln Bay beach (16.7510N 62.2328W). The Tourism Authority calls Lime Kiln good for shore dives and turtle watching. TripBase lists a maximum depth of about 18 m (60 ft) with volcanic rock formations and underwater hot springs giving off visible gas bubbles; that is an aggregator listing, so confirm with the operator. Most west-coast shelf dives on Montserrat stay shallow (a 2016 Undercurrent report logged mostly under 25 ft, max 39 ft, 40-60 ft visibility, water 86-89F). Dive it with Scuba Montserrat (Marine Village, Little Bay, +1 664 496 7807), who run walk-in shore dives; arrive by taxi from Little Bay with tanks, as anchoring off Lime Kiln is not a listed yacht option. Toilets and showers at the beach 7:00am to 6:00pm. Winter 'Christmas winds' and northerly swell can make leeward shore entries rough. Turtles (hawksbill, green, leatherback) most likely May to December.
Best for
Relaxed guided shore dive with turtles and volcanic seeps
Season
Calmest Apr–Nov; turtles May–Dec