Windmill Shallows - Southwest Coast
The Asphalt Pile Reef off North Carolina offers a unique look at artificial reef development. We found scattered asphalt chunks forming a series of small, low-lying structures, attracting a surprising amount of invertebrate life and small schooling fish. It’s a good spot for macro enthusiasts and those interested in how artificial reefs mature in temperate waters. This site is generally a relaxed drift, suitable for most experience levels.
- Location
- Southwest Coast, Grenada, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 12.035100, -61.780500
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: Grand Anse
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
- 1 / 4 Wreck (Stern Courier) (wreck)
- 1 / 4 Wreck (Stern Courier) (reef)
- Anina (Wreck) (drift)
- Anina (Wreck) (wreck)
- BIANCA C - 48m (wreck)
- Bianca C (Wreck) (reef)
- Bianca C (Wreck) (wreck)
- Bianca C Wreck - 30-50m (wreck)
- Black Forest - Grenada (reef)
- Black Forest - Grenada (reef)
- Boss Reef (reef)
- Boss Reef (wreck)
- Boulder City - Grenada (reef)
- Boulder City - Grenada (reef)
- Buccaneer Molinere Bay (Wreck) (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to Windmill Shallows
- Aquanauts Grenada - SSI, Diveheart
- Dive Grenada
- Sandals La Source - ["PADI"]
- Scuba West Indies - ["PADI"]
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
- Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
- Finger Coral (Porites porites) - Hard Corals
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
- Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - 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
- Fire coral (Millepora complanata) - Jellyfish
- Hamlet (Gymnothorax moringa) - Reef Fish
- Coney (Cephalopholis fulva) - Reef Fish
- Flamefish (Apogon maculatus) - Reef Fish
- Molly Miller (Labrisomus nuchipinnis) - Reef Fish
- Slippery Dick (Halichoeres bivittatus) - Reef Fish
- Devilfish (Ophioblennius atlanticus) - Reef Fish
- Lawyer (Halichoeres radiatus) - Reef Fish
- Greenblotch Parrotfish (Sparisoma atomarium) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Windmill Shallows
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