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Palaster Reef

Palaster Reef is an interesting dive, one that we’ve always enjoyed on Barbuda’s calmer days. It’s not a deep spot, mostly a gentle slope of hard coral formations, but that makes it ideal for really taking your time. We love drifting along the sand channels here, especially in the late afternoon. That’s when you often spot the little post horn squid, almost translucent, hovering just above the sand, or sometimes a red grouper eyeing you from under a coral ledge. What makes Palaster shine isn’t the big pelagics – you’re not likely to see a sperm whale here, despite what some older records might suggest – it's the sheer density of smaller, fascinating critters. Keep your eyes peeled for cardinal cones moving slowly across the substrate, or the tiny, intricate shells like the modest triphora clinging to coral. We’ve spent entire dives just in a 20-meter stretch, finding new things with every pass. It’s a photographer’s dream if macro is your game, and fantastic for newer divers who want to build their confidence without strong currents.