Monkey Head
Protected Area
Santa Rosa
Why dive here
With 217+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, humpback whales, orcas, sea turtles and pufferfish - Monkey Head offers some of Caribbean Coast's richest reef diving. Water ranges 29-31°C, warmest March, April, May.
Monkey Head is one of our go-to spots on the Caribbean side, a solid pinnacle dive that rarely disappoints. We love how the topography shifts here, from the deeper sandy channels where you’ll often find reef sharks just chilling, to the shallower coral-encrusted ledges absolutely swarming with fish. Maximum depth is a comfortable 19m, making it a great dive for most skill levels, though you’ll want to keep an eye on the current – it can pick up here. Our favourite part is cruising along the wall, keeping an eye out for the Speckled Scorpionfish, which are masters of disguise against the rock. You'll also see schools of Bumphead Parrotfish munching on the coral, their colours just popping against the blue. Visibility averages around 10m, sometimes better, so it's not a wide-angle dream, but it's perfect for focusing on the details. Look for the Spotted Snake-eels poking their heads out of the sand, or if you’re lucky, a Haller's Round Ray gliding past. It's a busy, lively dive, a real slice of the Caribbean reef.
Typical Monkey Head Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Nearest Dive Centres to Monkey Head
Dive shops near Monkey Head
BA
TikiHut Watersports Coco (located near Bosque del Mar hotel in playa Hermosa)
Rockdivers Pick up
Deep Blue Diving
Summer Salt Dive Center
Summer Salt
Reviews for Monkey Head
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Monkey Head
Monkey Head Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Monkey Head, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (9.78, -84.89) (48km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
29°C
85°F · Range: 27.9–31.1°C
Current Speed
5 cm/s
Direction: N (0°)
Chlorophyll-a
0.142 mg/m³
Clear water
Salinity
28.81 PSU
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)
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