Horse Shoe Reef - Antigua South Coast

Russell Reef, up in the Pacific Northwest, really delivers when you’re looking for a proper cold-water fix. Forget the tropical heat, this place is all about that dramatic, moody vibe we love. Dropping into the green embrace, you’re immediately struck by the sheer scale of the anemones; we’ve seen fields of white-plumed anemones here that honestly look like a ghostly underwater meadow. Keep an eye out for those colourful nudibranchs, especially the clown nudibranchs, their vibrant orange pops against the emerald backdrop. We always suggest going on a calm day; even a gentle swell can make the entry a bit surly. The real magic happens when you slow down and scour the rock faces. You’ll find the slender blade shrimp here, practically invisible until you really focus, and we’ve had some fantastic encounters with big skates cruising along the bottom. The sunflower stars are a personal favourite, massive and majestic, moving with an eerie grace. It's a site that rewards patience and a keen eye, definitely one for those who appreciate the subtle beauty of a temperate reef.

Location: Antigua South Coast, Antigua & Barbuda, Caribbean
Coordinates: 17.026220, -61.714240
Type: reef

Marine Protected Area: Nelson's Dockyard

Best Time to Dive in Antigua South Coast

The warmest water temperatures in Antigua South Coast occur in January, averaging 27.2°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.2°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 27.2°C (air: 25.5°C)
February: 27.2°C (air: 25.3°C)
March: 27.2°C (air: 25.6°C)
April: 27.2°C (air: 26.3°C)
May: 27.2°C (air: 27.4°C)
June: 27.2°C (air: 28.1°C)
July: 27.2°C (air: 28.1°C)
August: 27.2°C (air: 28.3°C)
September: 27.2°C (air: 28.2°C)
October: 27.2°C (air: 27.8°C)
November: 27.2°C (air: 26.9°C)
December: 27.2°C (air: 26.1°C)

Nearest Dive Centres to Horse Shoe Reef

Antigua Scuba School
Divecarib - ["PADI"]

Marine Life in Antigua South Coast

Home to 234 recorded species including 201 reef fish, 7 other, 5 whales & dolphins, 4 sea snails & nudibranchs, 4 hard corals, 2 sea urchins.

Notable Species

Dorado (Coryphaena hippurus) - Reef Fish
Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
Longspine Squirrelfish (Holocentrus rufus) - Reef Fish
Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish
Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) - Reef Fish
Butter Hamlet (Hypoplectrus unicolor) - Reef Fish
Mottled Conger Moray (Enchelycore nigricans) - Reef Fish
Key Worm Eel (Ahlia egmontis) - Reef Fish
Flamefish (Apogon maculatus) - Reef Fish
Bastard soldierfish (Myripristis jacobus) - Reef Fish
Sharpnose Pufferfish (Canthigaster rostrata) - Reef Fish
Caribbean Chestnut Moray (Enchelycore carychroa) - Reef Fish
Lizardfish (Synodus intermedius) - Reef Fish
Rosy Blenny (Malacoctenus macropus) - Reef Fish
Slate-pencil Urchin (Diadema antillarum) - Sea Urchins
Goldspot Goby (Gnatholepis thompsoni) - Reef Fish
Yellowtail Parrotfish (Sparisoma rubripinne) - Reef Fish
Slippery Dick (Halichoeres bivittatus) - Reef Fish
Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish

Recommended Packing List for Horse Shoe Reef

Based on average water temperature of 27.2°C.

Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°C water needs minimal exposure protection
Mask - essential for every dive
Fins
BCD - buoyancy compensator
Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories