Tarpon Caves
Protected Area
Halfmoon Caye
Why dive here
With 213+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, dolphins, eagle rays, nurse sharks and sea turtles - Tarpon Caves offers some of Lighthouse Reef's richest diving. Water ranges 27-30°C, warmest August, September, October.
Tarpon Caves, over on Lighthouse Reef, is one of those dives that sticks with you. It’s a wall, mostly, but the real draw is the tunnel system. You drop into an entrance at 12 meters, then follow a vertical passage that opens up into a much deeper crevice, down around 30 meters. It’s a proper swim-through, not just a crack. The second chute leads you up, making for a nice ascent. We noticed fewer soft corals on the walls here compared to somewhere like Long Caye, but the hard coral structures felt more substantial. Keep an eye out for barracuda; they’re often quite curious here, following you along. It's a good pick for divers comfortable with enclosed spaces and deeper profiles.
Typical Tarpon Caves Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Deep dive (40m) - monitor air consumption closely. Advanced certification recommended.
Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.
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Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Tarpon Caves
Tarpon Caves Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Tarpon Caves, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (17.22, -87.61) (6km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
30°C
86°F · Range: 29.1–31.7°C
Current Speed
11.66 cm/s
Direction: NW (301°)
Chlorophyll-a
0.074 mg/m³
Very clear (oligotrophic)
Salinity
35.96 PSU
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)
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