Wildlife· Sandy Island (Carriacou)· Windward Islands
Sandy Island Oyster Bed MPA Reef Life
12° 29.2′ N · 61° 29.2′ W · approximate
The reefs of Carriacou's marine park, which runs from Tyrrel Bay past the Sisters Rocks and Mabouya to Sandy Island. Expect hawksbill and green turtles, nurse sharks, eagle rays and stingrays, with schools of silversides in summer.
Practical
Coordinate is approx: a point in open water between Sandy Island and Mabouya, about 300 m from the OpenStreetMap coastline, chosen to represent the reef area rather than any one site. Wikipedia lists what divers often see around Carriacou: nurse sharks, barracudas, stingrays, spotted eagle rays, and hawksbill and green turtles, plus schools of silversides in summer and humpback whales passing in late spring. Dive Carriacou says 15 of its 30-plus sites lie inside the MPA, including four wrecks and the Sisters Rocks, with 'wrecks, colourful reefs, canyons, pinnacles and life'. It also runs Green Fins reef-care practices and Reef Buddy coral nurseries. Noforeignland cruisers report clear water and good snorkelling with abundant marine life at Sandy Island. Rules: no anchoring at Sandy Island; use the park moorings (fees in the separate MPA Fees entry). Divers pay a daily MPA surcharge through their dive shop; Dive Carriacou's pages quote both US$2 and US$3.50 (2025), so check the current amount. No-take: don't touch coral or harvest anything inside the park.
Best for
Turtles and reef fish on a snorkel or dive
Nearby
- Mabouya Garden Dive Site0.2 NM away
- Sandy Island Garden Dive Site0.2 NM away
- Boris Tug Wreck0.3 NM away
- Sandy Island (Carriacou)0.3 NM away
- Sandy Island Moorings0.3 NM away
- Sandy Island Oyster Bed Marine Protected Area (SIOBMPA) Fees0.3 NM away
- Sandy Island Snorkel0.3 NM away
- Sharky's Hideaway Dive Site (Mabouya)0.3 NM away