Nags Head - St. Kitts
Nags Head is one of those easy-does-it dives we often point new divers towards, but it still holds plenty of interest for us seasoned folk too. Dropping down to a comfortable 18 metres, you’re greeted by sprawling brain corals – some truly massive – and a general sense of calm. We always keep an eye out for the Common False Moray tucked into crevices, they’re surprisingly shy, but patient observation usually pays off. You’ll spot a good number of Hinds and Hamlets patrolling the reef, and the Triggerfish here often seem less skittish than elsewhere. What we really love about Nags Head is its reliability. It’s almost always calm, making for a relaxed dive where you can truly slow down and absorb the details. Look closely for the Aegean Nut Clams, or the subtle beauty of a Slate-pencil Urchin. It’s an ideal site for anyone building confidence, or for photographers who want to take their time getting that perfect shot of a Spotted Trunkfish without battling current.
- Location
- St. Kitts, St. Kitts & Nevis, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 17.250000, -62.620000
- Type
- reef
- Maximum Depth
- 5-18m
- Difficulty
- Beginner
Marine Protected Area: Marine Management Area
Best Time to Dive in St. Kitts
The warmest water temperatures in St. Kitts occur in January, averaging 27.1°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.1°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 27.1°C (air: 25.1°C)
- February: 27.1°C (air: 24.8°C)
- March: 27.1°C (air: 25.1°C)
- April: 27.1°C (air: 25.7°C)
- May: 27.1°C (air: 26.9°C)
- June: 27.1°C (air: 27.6°C)
- July: 27.1°C (air: 27.6°C)
- August: 27.1°C (air: 27.9°C)
- September: 27.1°C (air: 27.9°C)
- October: 27.1°C (air: 27.6°C)
- November: 27.1°C (air: 26.8°C)
- December: 27.1°C (air: 25.9°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in St. Kitts
- ALBERTINA - 6m (wreck)
- Anchor Point - 18m
- Anchors Aweigh
- Big Rock Market - 20m
- Camps Reef - 5-20m (reef)
- CHARLES L BROWN - 40m (wreck)
- Charles L. Brown, wreck - 26m (wreck)
- Chien Tong, wreck - 24m (wreck)
- CHRISTENA - 22m (wreck)
- Coconut Tree Reef - 3-12m (reef)
- Coral Nursery - 16m (reef)
- Customs House - 25m
- Diamond Rock - 24m (pinnacle)
- Double Wreck - 19m (wreck)
- DUNDALK - 4m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to Nags Head
Marine Life in St. Kitts
Home to 393 recorded species including 318 reef fish, 27 hard corals, 11 other, 7 whales & dolphins, 7 sharks & rays, 6 crabs & lobsters.
Notable Species
- Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
- Great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa) - Hard Corals
- Lettuce Coral (Agaricia agaricites) - Hard Corals
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
- Coney (Cephalopholis fulva) - Reef Fish
- Massive Starlet Coral (Siderastrea siderea) - Hard Corals
- Grooved brain coral (Diploria labyrinthiformis) - Hard Corals
- Sheephead (Microspathodon chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
- Boulder Brain Coral (Colpophyllia natans) - Hard Corals
- Sammy Johnson (Scarus taeniopterus) - Reef Fish
- Butterfly (Chaetodon capistratus) - Reef Fish
- Blackfish (Melichthys niger) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
- French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) - Reef Fish
- Hogfish (Bodianus rufus) - Reef Fish
- Angelfish (Holacanthus tricolor) - Reef Fish
- Graysby (Cephalopholis cruentata) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Nags Head
Based on average water temperature of 27.1°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