reef

Log This Dive

Hands Off (M)

We’ve always had a soft spot for Hands Off. It’s got a bit of a story, having been closed for a while to monitor diver impact, and that break did it wonders. Descending onto the reef, it’s immediately noticeable how healthy everything feels. You'll find yourself drifting along a slope that starts around 9 meters and just keeps going, though we typically bottom out around 23 meters here. The coral coverage is genuinely impressive. Big mounds of boulder brain coral dominate, and there are some gorgeous lettuce corals, too. We particularly love looking for the smaller stuff here – the little shark nose gobies perched on coral heads, or if you’re lucky, an apricot bass tucked into a crevice. Keep an eye out for island frillfins darting about. While it’s standard Caribbean fare with snappers and parrotfish, the sheer volume of fish like the round scad and herring can be quite something, sometimes creating a shimmering wall you swim right through. It’s a very relaxed drift, perfect for those who like to take their time and really explore the reef's texture rather than hunt for big pelagics, though we have occasionally spotted a passing eagle ray in the blue. For us, it’s a site that proves sometimes, a little break makes all the difference.