Palaster Reef - Barbuda
Magnetic Reefs offers a unique freshwater diving experience in Québec. Here, you'll likely encounter species like Rainbow Smelt, Cisco, and Lake Whitefish navigating the coral formations. It's a fascinating spot for divers keen to explore the less-common freshwater reef environments and observe species adapted to these cooler conditions.
- Location
- Barbuda, Antigua & Barbuda, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 17.526860, -61.747670
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: Palaster Reef
Best Time to Dive in Barbuda
The warmest water temperatures in Barbuda occur in January, averaging 27.0°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.0°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 27.0°C (air: 25.4°C)
- February: 27.0°C (air: 25.1°C)
- March: 27.0°C (air: 25.4°C)
- April: 27.0°C (air: 26.0°C)
- May: 27.0°C (air: 27.1°C)
- June: 27.0°C (air: 27.9°C)
- July: 27.0°C (air: 28.0°C)
- August: 27.0°C (air: 28.2°C)
- September: 27.0°C (air: 28.3°C)
- October: 27.0°C (air: 27.8°C)
- November: 27.0°C (air: 27.0°C)
- December: 27.0°C (air: 26.1°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Barbuda
- AMERSFOORT - 3m (wreck)
- Cobb Reef (reef)
- CROYDON - 5m (wreck)
- ELITE - 5m (wreck)
- Goat Reef (reef)
- Palaster Reef - 5-20m (reef)
- PIERRE KUYPER - 10m (wreck)
- POLROSA - 10m (wreck)
- RED JACKET - 9m (wreck)
- The Pillars of Hercules - 8-22m (cave)
- VICTOR - 5m (wreck)
Marine Life in Barbuda
Home to 157 recorded species including 142 reef fish, 5 other, 3 whales & dolphins, 2 sea snails & nudibranchs, 1 octopus & squid, 1 sharks & rays.
Notable Species
- Longspine Squirrelfish (Holocentrus rufus) - Reef Fish
- Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
- Dorado (Coryphaena hippurus) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish
- Spotted Lanternfish (Myctophum nitidulum) - Reef Fish
- Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Slippery Dick (Halichoeres bivittatus) - Reef Fish
- Fairy Basslet (Gramma loreto) - Reef Fish
- Mottled Conger Moray (Enchelycore nigricans) - Reef Fish
- Rosy Blenny (Malacoctenus macropus) - Reef Fish
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- Hind (Epinephelus guttatus) - Reef Fish
- Yellowtail Parrotfish (Sparisoma rubripinne) - Reef Fish
- Key Worm Eel (Ahlia egmontis) - Reef Fish
- Conklin's cardinalfish (Phaeoptyx conklini) - Reef Fish
- Spotted Goatfish (Pseudupeneus maculatus) - Reef Fish
- Lizardfish (Synodus intermedius) - Reef Fish
- Blue Parrotfish (Sparisoma chrysopterum) - Reef Fish
- Hamlet (Gymnothorax moringa) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Palaster Reef
Based on average water temperature of 27.0°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