Southwest Reef
Protected Area
Southwest New Providence Marine Managed Area
Why dive here
With 531+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales and lemon sharks - Southwest Reef offers some of Nassau & New Providence's richest reef diving. Water ranges 25-30°C, warmest July, August, September.
Southwest Reef feels like a proper Caribbean reef dive, a solid choice when you’re looking for something reliable out of Nassau. The corals here form interesting structures, making for good swim-throughs and plenty of nooks for critters to hide. We often spot schools of fusiliers here, along with barracuda watching from a distance, and the occasional tiger shark cruising by. It’s a good spot for a relaxed dive, suitable for most experience levels, especially if you’re keen on finding some of the shyer jawfish or cardinalfish tucked away.
Nearest Dive Centres to Southwest Reef
Dive shops near Southwest Reef
Stuart Cove's
Bahamas Aggressor
Bahamas Divers
All Star Liveaboards
Blackbeard Charters
Reviews for Southwest Reef
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Southwest Reef
Southwest Reef Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Southwest Reef, sourced from NOAA NDBC + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: 8723214 - Virginia Key, FL (295km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
29°C
84°F · Range: 25.1–31.5°C
Air Temperature
28°C
82°F
Current Speed
6.71 cm/s
Direction: NW (333.4°)
Chlorophyll-a
0.057 mg/m³
Very clear (oligotrophic)
Salinity
36.73 PSU
Wind Speed
4 m/s
7.8 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1014.6 hPa
Based on 5 years of monitoring data · Data sources: NOAA NDBC + Copernicus Marine (EU)
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