Rock Side - St. Vincent

Tafraka is one of those sites we always try to hit when we're in Halmahera, especially early in the morning. It’s only a five-minute boat ride, so you can be in the water just as the sun really starts to wake up the reef. The site slopes gently down to about 25 metres, and it’s an easy dive, perfect for getting back into the swing of things or just enjoying a relaxed float. Our favourite thing here is the sheer density of the small stuff. We often see huge schools of bullet mackerel and Indian mackerel swirling around, a shimmering wall of silver that parts as you swim through it. The staghorn and lettuce corals here are in excellent shape, providing plenty of nooks and crannies for things like ghost cardinalfish to hide in. We’ve also had some truly special encounters with dugongs here – not every time, but often enough that it’s worth keeping an eye out in the seagrass beds, particularly if you're there at first light. You'll also spot numerous parrotfish munching on the coral, bristletothed surgeonfish darting about, and the occasional turtle gliding past. It's a delightful, gentle dive that consistently delivers lovely moments.

Location
St. Vincent, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Caribbean
Coordinates
13.245100, -61.276300

Marine Protected Area: LaPaz Rock 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

Nearest Dive Centres to Rock Side

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

Recommended Packing List for Rock Side

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