Shark Hotel - Sandy Island
Shark Hotel is exactly what it sounds like, a large sandy patch where nurse sharks often gather to rest. It’s a shallow dive, 19m, making it ideal for beginners or those looking for a relaxed bottom time. Visibility here is generally good and the site offers a solid chance to observe these docile sharks up close in their natural habitat. We’d suggest this spot for anyone keen on a calm, easy dive with a high probability of a shark encounter.
- Location
- Sandy Island, Anguilla, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 17.988800, -63.053600
- Maximum Depth
- 19m
- Difficulty
- Beginner
Marine Protected Area: Sandy Island
Nearby Dive Sites in Sandy Island
- Baleine de Gros Ilet - 17m
- Banc Médée - 7m (pinnacle)
- Basse Espagnole - 14m (reef)
- Carib Cargo (Wreck) - 20m (wreck)
- CATHELEY H - 13m (wreck)
- Caye verte - 17m (reef)
- Charly shoal - 17m (reef)
- Chico 1 - 19m
- Chico 2 - 19m
- Chico 3 - 19m
- Circus - 18m
- Coralita - 17m (reef)
- Cow and calf - 16m (pinnacle)
- DIANA V - 1m (wreck)
- DOOSTER-DEB - 0m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to Shark Hotel
Marine Life in Sandy Island
Home to 297 recorded species including 247 reef fish, 13 hard corals, 10 other, 6 whales & dolphins, 5 crabs & lobsters, 3 seagrass & algae.
Notable Species
- Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
- Harlequin Brittle Star (Ophioderma appressum)
- Boulder Brain Coral (Colpophyllia natans) - Hard Corals
- Spinyhead Blenny (Acanthemblemaria spinosa) - Reef Fish
- Rusty Goby (Priolepis hipoliti) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish
- Great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa) - Hard Corals
- Goldspot Goby (Gnatholepis thompsoni) - Reef Fish
- Sheephead (Microspathodon chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- Sharpnose Pufferfish (Canthigaster rostrata) - Reef Fish
- Spiny Brittle Star (Ophiocoma echinata)
- Yellowhead Wrasse (Halichoeres garnoti) - Reef Fish
- Island Goby (Lythrypnus nesiotes) - Reef Fish
- Slender Filefish (Monacanthus tuckeri) - Reef Fish
- Slippery Dick (Halichoeres bivittatus) - Reef Fish
- Angelfish (Holacanthus tricolor) - Reef Fish