Dive· Cayo Diablo· Virgin Islands (BVI, USVI and Spanish Virgins)
Cayo Diablo Reef (dive site)
18° 21.6′ N · 65° 31.8′ W · approximate
The reef fringing Cayo Diablo, the outermost sandy cay of La Cordillera, is one of the named boat-dive sites of the Fajardo operators, best known for green and hawksbill turtles over coral and sand.
Practical
Position is approximate: about 250 yards off the south side of the cay (cay outline from OpenStreetMap), not a surveyed mooring. Sea Ventures' PADI Travel listing names Cayo Diablo for sea turtles, and an agent listing for its Fajardo two-tank trip names Cayo Diablo as the example site among about six reef sites; Sea Ventures gives the Fajardo reef sites as 15 to 80 ft with 20 to 75 ft visibility, with brain, thumb and elkhorn coral, rays, barracuda, groupers and octopus. Coast Pilot 5: the cay is 5 miles southeast of Cabo San Juan, low with white beaches north and south, and the Hermanos and Barriles reef groups to the east have many reefs awash. Exposed and far from shelter: dive here with an operator or only in settled weather, never anchor on coral, and leave a boat tender aboard. La Cordillera Nature Reserve rules apply.
Best for
Turtle dives on the outer La Cordillera reef
Season
Calm, settled weather only