Omega Reef
Body of Water:
Caribbean Sea
Max Depth: 18m
GPS Coordinates
Lat: 19.35635
Lon: -81.142567
Before dive boat captains on East End had the luxury of GPS and mooring balls, they would line up the boat with a palm tree on shore that had grown crooked and looked like the omega symbol to know they were in the right place.
Omega Reef starts strong right under the boat with a miniwall crammed with life. Its sheltered location allows coral and sponges to proliferate, even in the shallows. Less protected areas usually only have bare rock and hardpan where only the hardiest little sea fans typically survive the passing storms. At Omega Reef, however, the coral has far fewer problems. At just 25 feet in places, there is no loss of color from light absorption in the water, so the reef is a kaleidoscope of color!
If you can resist the temptation to spend your entire dive below the boat, Omega Reef offers a special two-for-one deal; head due north for just a few minutes, and you will arrive at the main wall at just 60 feet on top. Although this is not considered a 'true' wall dive, a leisurely cruise to the wall and back is a great way to explore the site. Look for the occasional Cero speeding its way through the water. Sometimes known as Kingfish, we wonder where these silvery streamlined guys are headed in such a hurry!