Cades Reef

Best months: Dec–Apr

Protected Area

Cades Bay

Why dive here

With 229+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales and orcas - Cades Reef offers some of Antigua South Coast's richest reef diving. Water ranges 27-30°C, warmest August, September, October.

Best timeDec–Apr

WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit

Marine lifeBarracuda, Dolphins, Dwarf Minke Whales, Humpback Whales and Orcas · 229+ species recorded

Water27-30°C · warmest August, September, October

CharacterReef dive

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

Cades Reef. Now, this is what we mean when we talk about Caribbean diving. It’s a proper barrier reef, running for miles, and we always suggest hitting a few different spots along its length. We usually head out in the morning, when the light really punches through the water, especially over the shallower patches. What you get here is pure, unadulterated reef action. We've seen schools of snapper so thick they cast shadows, and the barracuda here are some of the biggest we’ve encountered in the Lesser Antilles – proper torpedoes just hanging in the blue. Keep an eye out for the smaller stuff too; those tiny Pearl Blennies are always a joy to find peeking out of the coral. The drift along the wall is gentle most days, making it a relaxing dive but still engaging enough that you feel like you’re really covering some ground. It’s a great pick for intermediate divers who want to immerse themselves in a healthy, sprawling reef ecosystem without battling big currents.