Anchor Reef - St. Vincent
Anchor Reef feels like a secret garden, a calm, shallow spot that really surprised us on St. Vincent. It’s got a lovely, gentle slope from about five meters down to eighteen, making it a perfect easy dive. We love the way the sunlight filters through the water here, illuminating not just the corals, but also a scattering of old anchors, remnants from the 18th century, which give the place its name. The reef itself isn't a dramatic wall, but it’s dense with life. We’ve spent ages just watching the Bladed Wentletraps navigate the corals, or spotting the silvery flash of Silver Mojarras darting between overhangs. Keep an eye out for the Slender Parrotfish, they’re often busy grazing, and if you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of a Glaucus, their delicate blue a real treat. This is our pick for a relaxed afternoon dive, maybe a second dive of the day, when you just want to soak it all in without fighting a current. It suits beginners perfectly, or anyone who appreciates a slower pace to really observe the smaller, quieter inhabitants of the reef.
- Location
- St. Vincent, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 13.160000, -61.230000
- Type
- reef
- Maximum Depth
- 5-18m
- Difficulty
- Beginner
Marine Protected Area: Young Island Wildlife Reserve
Best Time to Dive in St. Vincent
The warmest water temperatures in St. Vincent occur in January, averaging 27.8°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.8°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 27.8°C (air: 25.7°C)
- February: 27.8°C (air: 25.8°C)
- March: 27.8°C (air: 26.1°C)
- April: 27.8°C (air: 26.8°C)
- May: 27.8°C (air: 27.5°C)
- June: 27.8°C (air: 27.4°C)
- July: 27.8°C (air: 27.3°C)
- August: 27.8°C (air: 27.6°C)
- September: 27.8°C (air: 28.2°C)
- October: 27.8°C (air: 27.9°C)
- November: 27.8°C (air: 27.0°C)
- December: 27.8°C (air: 26.4°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in St. Vincent
- Almond Tree (cenote)
- Almond Tree (drift)
- Bequia Head (drift)
- Bequia Head (drift)
- BOSCO - 18m (wreck)
- Brown’s Bay (drift)
- Brown’s Bay (reef)
- Cathedral (wall)
- Coral Nursery (reef)
- Deep Boulders (reef)
- Devil's Table + dinghy mooring - 10-25m (pinnacle)
- ELIZABETH BOYE - 15m (wreck)
- Flat Rock (cave)
- LADY ANGELA - 0m (wreck)
- L’Anse Chemin/Long Point (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to Anchor Reef
Marine Life in St. Vincent
Home to 271 recorded species including 237 reef fish, 10 hard corals, 7 whales & dolphins, 4 sea snails & nudibranchs, 3 seagrass & algae, 3 sharks & rays.
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
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- Coney (Cephalopholis fulva) - Reef Fish
- Blueman (Scarus vetula) - Reef Fish
- Flamefish (Apogon maculatus) - Reef Fish
- Orca (Orcinus orca) - Whales & Dolphins
- Fire coral (Millepora complanata) - Jellyfish
- Hamlet (Gymnothorax moringa) - Reef Fish
- Devilfish (Ophioblennius atlanticus) - Reef Fish
- Slippery Dick (Halichoeres bivittatus) - Reef Fish
- Molly Miller (Labrisomus nuchipinnis) - Reef Fish
- Yellowhead Wrasse (Halichoeres garnoti) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Anchor Reef
Based on average water temperature of 27.8°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