Ocean’s Paradise - St. Kitts
River of Sands is one of those sites we always recommend, especially if you’re looking for something a bit different than the usual wall dive. It’s got this incredible sandy slope that funnels down, carving what really does look like a river in the seabed, all the way to a main drop-off. We love swimming through those narrow channels, following the sand, often spotting razor fish darting back into their burrows as you pass. The topography here is the real star – a fascinating mix of sunlit sections and these darker, hidden gaps along the wall, full of overhangs and ledges. We've found everything from tiny Blackfin Blennies perched on coral to robust Boulder Brain Corals on the shallower bits. The deeper sections often hold some interesting Angelfish and Yellowtail Parrotfish. It’s a sheltered spot too, so currents are usually mellow, making it a great place to really take your time and explore those nooks and crannies. If you enjoy intricate reef architecture and hunting for smaller, more camouflaged critters, this site is a standout.
- Location
- St. Kitts, St. Kitts & Nevis, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 17.257200, -62.720000
- Type
- reef
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 Ocean’s Paradise
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 Ocean’s Paradise
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