Black Jack Hole - Tobago
Black Jack Hole is one of those sites that just feels right, especially if you catch it when the trevally are in. We've seen schools of blackjack fish so thick here in late spring and early summer, they turn the water dark. It’s an exhilarating wall dive, dropping to about 21 metres, perfect for experienced divers who appreciate a good current and bigger fish action. Even without the trevally, the reef itself is beautiful. Large sea fans and sponges coat the slope, creating plenty of hidey-holes. We often spot green morays peering out, and the Nassau groupers here are particularly chunky. Keep an eye out for spotted eagle rays gliding past in the blue, and if you’re lucky, a blacktip shark might cruise by. The visibility is usually excellent, around 20-25 metres, making for some epic wide-angle photo opportunities. We’d suggest diving this one early in the morning, before the dive boats from Crown Point arrive, to really soak up the atmosphere. It’s a site that always delivers something exciting, a real highlight of Tobago diving.
- Location
- Tobago, Trinidad & Tobago, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 11.293500, -60.497600
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: Buccoo Reef
Best Time to Dive in Tobago
The warmest water temperatures in Tobago occur in January, averaging 28.1°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 28.1°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.1°C (air: 24.4°C)
- February: 28.1°C (air: 24.3°C)
- March: 28.1°C (air: 24.6°C)
- April: 28.1°C (air: 25.1°C)
- May: 28.1°C (air: 25.6°C)
- June: 28.1°C (air: 25.4°C)
- July: 28.1°C (air: 25.4°C)
- August: 28.1°C (air: 25.8°C)
- September: 28.1°C (air: 26.5°C)
- October: 28.1°C (air: 26.1°C)
- November: 28.1°C (air: 25.3°C)
- December: 28.1°C (air: 24.8°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Tobago
- ADVENTURER 1 (POSSIBLY) - 5m (wreck)
- AGHIA ANASTASIA - 36m (wreck)
- ATHELBRAE - 6m (wreck)
- BALABAC - 3m (wreck)
- BALTIC RESCUER - 7m (wreck)
- BCSL ENDEAVOUR - 26m (wreck)
- BEER CAT - 7m (wreck)
- BIRD OF PARADISE - 5m (wreck)
- Black Jack Hole (wall)
- BONANZA - 0m (wreck)
- CAPTAIN HOWARD - 22m (wreck)
- CITY OF CORINTH - 34m (wreck)
- COROMOTO I - 25m (wreck)
- DAMIEN - 3m (wreck)
- DEAN TERRILL (POSSIBLY) - 7m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to Black Jack Hole
- Dive Shop
- Tobago Dive Experience - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in Tobago
Home to 344 recorded species including 323 reef fish, 5 other, 4 whales & dolphins, 4 sharks & rays, 2 hard corals, 2 sea snails & nudibranchs.
Notable Species
- Goldspot Goby (Gnatholepis thompsoni) - Reef Fish
- Molly Miller (Labrisomus nuchipinnis) - Reef Fish
- Hamlet (Gymnothorax moringa) - Reef Fish
- Spinyhead Blenny (Acanthemblemaria spinosa) - Reef Fish
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish
- Saddled Blenny (Malacoctenus triangulatus) - Reef Fish
- Slippery Dick (Halichoeres bivittatus) - Reef Fish
- Harlequin Bass (Serranus tigrinus) - Reef Fish
- Flamefish (Apogon maculatus) - Reef Fish
- Cook (Holocentrus adscensionis) - Reef Fish
- Yellowhead Wrasse (Halichoeres garnoti) - Reef Fish
- French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
- Devilfish (Ophioblennius atlanticus) - Reef Fish
- Dusky Cardinalfish (Phaeoptyx pigmentaria) - Reef Fish
- Conklin's cardinalfish (Phaeoptyx conklini) - Reef Fish
- Rusty Goby (Priolepis hipoliti) - Reef Fish
- Colon Goby (Coryphopterus dicrus) - Reef Fish
- Clown Wrasse (Halichoeres maculipinna) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Black Jack Hole
Based on average water temperature of 28.1°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