Cherry Hill - Southwest Coast

Golden Gates gives you a pretty wall dive, dropping from about 5 metres down to 22. It’s well-decorated with soft corals, particularly those yellow ones that light up nicely when the current picks up. We’ve found diving it on an incoming tide really brings out the colour, and that’s when you’ll see the most action from schooling barracuda and reef sharks. Keep an eye out for smaller stuff too, we’ve spotted Adorned Dwarfgobies and Ghost Cardinalfish tucked away. It’s a good spot for both wide-angle reef shots and getting close with a macro lens. Visibility averages around 16 metres, decent but not always perfectly clear.

Location
Southwest Coast, Grenada, Caribbean
Coordinates
12.060300, -61.760800
Type
reef
Maximum Depth
2-30m

Marine Protected Area: Molinier-Beausejour

Best Time to Dive in Southwest Coast

The warmest water temperatures in Southwest Coast occur in January, averaging 27.4°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.4°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 27.4°C (air: 25.9°C)
  • February: 27.4°C (air: 26.0°C)
  • March: 27.4°C (air: 26.2°C)
  • April: 27.4°C (air: 26.9°C)
  • May: 27.4°C (air: 27.5°C)
  • June: 27.4°C (air: 27.3°C)
  • July: 27.4°C (air: 27.2°C)
  • August: 27.4°C (air: 27.6°C)
  • September: 27.4°C (air: 28.3°C)
  • October: 27.4°C (air: 28.0°C)
  • November: 27.4°C (air: 27.1°C)
  • December: 27.4°C (air: 26.5°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in Southwest Coast

Nearest Dive Centres to Cherry Hill

Marine Life in Southwest Coast

Home to 267 recorded species including 231 reef fish, 13 hard corals, 10 whales & dolphins, 3 seagrass & algae, 2 jellyfish, 2 sea snails & nudibranchs.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Cherry Hill

Based on average water temperature of 27.4°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

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the typical depths for scuba diving near Cherry Hill?
Cherry Hill offers a versatile depth range, starting in just 6 feet (2 meters) of water and gradually dropping to over 100 feet (30 meters). This makes it suitable for a wide array of divers, from those exploring the shallow reef to those venturing into deeper sections. The site's varied topography ensures there's always something new to discover across its diverse depths of 2-30 meters.
What kind of marine life or underwater features can divers expect to see at dive sites around Cherry Hill?
Divers at Cherry Hill can expect to encounter a rich variety of marine life and coral formations. The shallows are home to abundant Porites corals and regrowing Elkhorn corals, while deeper areas feature beautiful seaplumes and other hard corals. Keep an eye out for fascinating creatures like nudibranchs, stingrays, and barracudas, as this site showcases almost all that Grenada has to offer underwater.
How difficult are the diving conditions for scuba divers in the Cherry Hill area?
The diving conditions at Cherry Hill are generally considered to be of intermediate difficulty. This makes it an excellent site for divers who have some experience beyond their initial certification. While it offers depths up to 30 meters, the site is also accessible for snorkelers and less experienced divers in its shallower sections.
What is the best time of year to go scuba diving in the Cherry Hill region for optimal conditions?
Unfortunately, the provided data does not specify the best time of year for optimal diving conditions at Cherry Hill. For general information on seasonal diving conditions in the region, we recommend consulting our When to Dive guide for Grenada.
What scuba diving certifications are required to dive at sites accessible from Cherry Hill?
The provided information does not explicitly state specific scuba diving certifications required for Cherry Hill. However, given its intermediate difficulty and depths ranging from 2 to 30 meters, an Open Water Diver certification would generally be sufficient for exploring many parts of the site. For deeper sections, an Advanced Open Water certification would be beneficial.
What are the usual water currents and visibility conditions like for diving near Cherry Hill?
Divers at Cherry Hill can typically expect good visibility, with an average of 15 meters (approximately 50 feet). The provided data does not include specific details regarding usual water currents at this site. It's always advisable to check with local dive operators for real-time conditions before your dive.