Barracuda Shoals - Long Island
Barracuda Shoals is one of those sites we always suggest early in a trip, especially if you're getting your sea legs back. At just 10 metres, it's a relaxed dive, but don't mistake shallow for uninteresting. We've often found large schools of barracuda hanging just under the boat, using it for shade, before they peel off into the blue. On the reef itself, look for nurse sharks napping on the sandy patches, and big schools of goatfish and snapper moving together. It's a great spot for an easy-going dive with plenty of resident fish life.
- Location
- Long Island, Bahamas, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 23.610000, -75.879800
- Maximum Depth
- 10m
- Difficulty
- Beginner
Marine Protected Area: Jewfish Cay Marine Reserve
Best Time to Dive in Long Island
The warmest water temperatures in Long Island occur in September, averaging 30.1°C. The coolest conditions are in January at 25.1°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 25.1°C
- February: 25.3°C
- March: 25.5°C
- April: 26.9°C
- May: 28.1°C
- June: 29.2°C
- July: 29.9°C
- August: 30.0°C
- September: 30.1°C
- October: 29.1°C
- November: 27.5°C
- December: 26.0°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Long Island
- Angelfish Blue Hole - 30-50m (cenote)
- Black Forest - 10-25m (reef)
- CAPTAIN MOXEY - 2m (wreck)
- CARIBBEAN EXPRESS - 10m (wreck)
- Columbus Point
- COMMERCIAL DISPATCH - 5m (wreck)
- Connected dott - 10-20m (reef)
- Deans Blue Hole (cenote)
- Deep South Reef (reef)
- Dive Exuma
- Grandma s Secret Garden (reef)
- Great Cut
- Greenwood Reef (reef)
- Halloween Reef (reef)
- HMS CONQUEROR - 2m (wreck)
Marine Life in Long Island
Home to 366 recorded species including 321 reef fish, 15 hard corals, 7 whales & dolphins, 6 sea snails & nudibranchs, 5 sharks & rays, 4 other.
Notable Species
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish
- Bony-eared Assfish (Acanthonus armatus) - Reef Fish
- Saddled Blenny (Malacoctenus triangulatus) - Reef Fish
- Blackcheek Blenny (Starksia lepicoelia) - Reef Fish
- Conklin's cardinalfish (Phaeoptyx conklini) - Reef Fish
- Goldspot Goby (Gnatholepis thompsoni) - Reef Fish
- Yellowhead Wrasse (Halichoeres garnoti) - Reef Fish
- Spaghetti Eel (Moringua edwardsi) - Reef Fish
- Rosy Blenny (Malacoctenus macropus) - Reef Fish
- Rusty Goby (Priolepis hipoliti) - Reef Fish
- Blackfin Spiderfish (Bathypterois phenax) - Reef Fish
- Sharpnose Pufferfish (Canthigaster rostrata) - Reef Fish
- Fairy Basslet (Gramma loreto) - Reef Fish
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- Tripod Spiderfish (Bathypterois grallator) - Reef Fish
- Slippery Dick (Halichoeres bivittatus) - Reef Fish
- Long-fin Smooth-head (Conocara macropterum) - Reef Fish
- Flamefish (Apogon maculatus) - Reef Fish
- Sand goby (Coryphopterus glaucofraenum) - Reef Fish
- Graysby (Cephalopholis cruentata) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Barracuda Shoals
Based on average water temperature of 27.7°C, currents 12 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°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