Point Cistern, Carriacou - Carriacou
Shark Reef, sitting off Grenada’s southwest coast, often delivers exactly what the name promises: sharks. We've often found small nurse sharks tucked into the ledges here, sometimes just a tail fin visible, other times lazily cruising by. It’s a shallow stretch of reef, around 10 to 18 metres, but don't let the depth fool you; there’s a lot to peek at. We always keep an eye out for the Masked Goby, tiny and often overlooked, and the oddly named Suspicious Lizardfish. The reef itself is a maze of nooks and crannies, perfect for spotting lobsters waving antennae from dark corners or king crabs scuttling away. Visibility averages around 17 metres, generally quite good, but the Atlantic influence can bring strong currents – we’re talking four knots sometimes. Dive operators are usually good about timing dives to avoid the strongest pushes, but be ready for a drift. It’s a lively spot, good for divers who enjoy taking their time and searching out the smaller stuff, with the added bonus of those nurse sharks.
- Location
- Carriacou, Grenada, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 12.479700, -61.496700
- Type
- reef
- Maximum Depth
- 5-20m
Marine Protected Area: Sandy Island-Oyster Bay
Best Time to Dive in Carriacou
The warmest water temperatures in Carriacou occur in January, averaging 27.6°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.6°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 27.6°C (air: 25.8°C)
- February: 27.6°C (air: 25.6°C)
- March: 27.6°C (air: 25.7°C)
- April: 27.6°C (air: 26.2°C)
- May: 27.6°C (air: 26.9°C)
- June: 27.6°C (air: 27.0°C)
- July: 27.6°C (air: 27.1°C)
- August: 27.6°C (air: 27.4°C)
- September: 27.6°C (air: 27.9°C)
- October: 27.6°C (air: 27.8°C)
- November: 27.6°C (air: 27.1°C)
- December: 27.6°C (air: 26.5°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Carriacou
- A World Adrift Underwater Sculpture Park (drift)
- A World Adrift Underwater Sculpture Park (reef)
- Barracuda Point, Carriacou (reef)
- Barracuda Point, Carriacou (reef)
- Barrel, Carriacou (reef)
- Barrel, Carriacou (pinnacle)
- Black Rocks, Carriacou (reef)
- Black Rocks, Carriacou
- Bogles Ridge (reef)
- Bogles Ridge (reef)
- Coral Nursery, Carriacou (reef)
- Deep Blue, Carriacou (reef)
- Jack-A-Dan, Carriacou (drift)
- Jack Iron Point, Carriacou (reef)
- La Jetée, Carriacou (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Point Cistern, Carriacou
- Deefer Diving - ["PADI"]
- Deefer Diving Carriacou - PADI
Marine Life in Carriacou
Home to 296 recorded species including 258 reef fish, 13 hard corals, 11 whales & dolphins, 3 seagrass & algae, 2 jellyfish, 2 sea snails & nudibranchs.
Notable Species
- Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
- Finger Coral (Porites porites) - Hard Corals
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
- Sheephead (Microspathodon chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
- Sammy Johnson (Scarus taeniopterus) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish
- Blueman (Scarus vetula) - Reef Fish
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- Coney (Cephalopholis fulva) - Reef Fish
- Flamefish (Apogon maculatus) - Reef Fish
- Hamlet (Gymnothorax moringa) - Reef Fish
- Devilfish (Ophioblennius atlanticus) - Reef Fish
- Fire coral (Millepora complanata) - Jellyfish
- Molly Miller (Labrisomus nuchipinnis) - Reef Fish
- Slippery Dick (Halichoeres bivittatus) - Reef Fish
- Lawyer (Halichoeres radiatus) - Reef Fish
- French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Point Cistern, Carriacou
Based on average water temperature of 27.6°C.
- 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