Hermitage reef lies along the eastern side of Man-O-War Bay, Charlotteville, adjacent to Hermitage Bay. With no coastal development nearby, this coral reef is home to the endangered branching Elkhorn corals in the shallows. Farther down the reef slope, giant mountain star coral colonies extend from 7 m to 15 m in depth, creating underwater structures for numerous marine creatures.
HERMITAGE REEF, TOBAGO
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This remote bay is adjacent to Castara Bay. It is usually accessed for diving by boat. Cotton Bay consists of a series of submerged rocks for an amazing swim through for divers and hideout for marine life. Encrusting and boulder corals grow along these giant submerged rocks that descend to great depth.
Mt Irvine Bay is a popular spot for surfing and diving in southwest Tobago. Mt Irvine reef, also known as the Flying Dutchman, extends out to the eastern headland. This fringing reef transitions from soft coral to hard coral as you move out from the bay. The back end of Mt Irvine reef is Mt Irvine Wall, which has a few swim throughs and overhangs where schools of fish hang out.
Just off Plymouth Point (adjacent to the Plymouth recreational grounds), this well-developed spur and groove reef is dominant in sea plumes and sea rods.
Arnos Vale Bay on Tobago’s Caribbean coast is a popular snorkel and diving destination, including night diving in the bay. The Arnos Vale reef extends outward from the bay along the eastern and western fringes, where the reef grows on submerged rocks. Divers can swim through channels covered in corals, sea fans and sponges.
Pirates Bay reefs consist of two small patch reefs located on either side of Pirates Bay in Man-O-War Bay, Charlotteville. This shallow coral community grows over sunken rocks. The reef is home to encrusting fire coral and hard corals, numerous long-spined sea urchins and sea rods. Many reef fish and juvenile marine turtles visit these reefs.
Diver’s Dream consists of a series of shallow reef banks found 4 km off the south coast of Tobago between Trinidad and Tobago. The banks are covered by giant barrel sponges that thrive in the high currents. Encrusting coral and macroalgae are also prominent at this site. The banks are often visited by pelagic marine life, such as turtles, sharks and barracuda.