Rio Dulce Reef - Caribbean Coast
You won't find the dramatic drop-offs or pelagic action of some other Caribbean spots here. Rio Dulce Reef is a mellow, shallow dive, usually between 3 and 12 meters, right where the freshwater river meets the sea. This mix of water makes for a unique, slightly brackish environment, which means the corals are different. We see a lot of small invertebrates, things like little post horn squids often darting about, and the occasional blackbelt cichlid navigating the low-lying coral formations. It's a great spot for beginners getting comfortable with buoyancy or anyone looking for a relaxed dive with something a little out of the ordinary.
- Location
- Caribbean Coast, Guatemala, Central America
- Coordinates
- 15.830000, -88.740000
- Type
- reef
- Maximum Depth
- 3-12m
- Difficulty
- Beginner
Marine Protected Area: Río Dulce
Best Time to Dive in Caribbean Coast
The warmest water temperatures in Caribbean Coast occur in January, averaging 27.7°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.7°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 27.7°C (air: 25.3°C)
- February: 27.7°C (air: 25.4°C)
- March: 27.7°C (air: 26.6°C)
- April: 27.7°C (air: 27.6°C)
- May: 27.7°C (air: 28.5°C)
- June: 27.7°C (air: 28.1°C)
- July: 27.7°C (air: 27.6°C)
- August: 27.7°C (air: 27.6°C)
- September: 27.7°C (air: 27.8°C)
- October: 27.7°C (air: 27.3°C)
- November: 27.7°C (air: 26.1°C)
- December: 27.7°C (air: 25.1°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Caribbean Coast
- BB-17 - 12m (wreck)
- CHAVIN - 9m (wreck)
- Gladden Spit (reef)
- Gladden Spit (reef)
- HERCULES - 12m (wreck)
- HYBUR 8 - 15m (wreck)
- JUSTO RUFINO BARRIOS II - 10m (wreck)
- KARINA I - 10m (wreck)
- Laughing Bird Caye
- Laughing Bird Caye Slope
- MISS TAMMY - 3m (wreck)
- Pompion Wall - 45-70 feet (wall)
- SAMANTHA - 3m (wreck)
- Seal Cays (reef)
- South Water Caye
Nearest Dive Centres to Rio Dulce Reef
Marine Life in Caribbean Coast
Home to 459 recorded species including 380 reef fish, 32 hard corals, 12 other, 8 sharks & rays, 6 sea urchins, 5 sea snails & nudibranchs.
Notable Species
- Redear Herring (Harengula humeralis) - Reef Fish
- Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
- Thin leaf lettuce coral (Agaricia tenuifolia) - Hard Corals
- Grunt (Haemulon plumierii) - Reef Fish
- Fray (Jenkinsia lamprotaenia) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
- French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
- Yellowtail Parrotfish (Sparisoma rubripinne) - Reef Fish
- Blue Parrotfish (Sparisoma chrysopterum) - Reef Fish
- Threespot Damselfish (Stegastes planifrons) - Reef Fish
- Schoolmaster (Lutjanus apodus) - Reef Fish
- Massive Starlet Coral (Siderastrea siderea) - Hard Corals
- Cola (Ocyurus chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- Broad Shad (Gerres cinereus) - Reef Fish
- Slippery Dick (Halichoeres bivittatus) - Reef Fish
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Rio Dulce Reef
Based on average water temperature of 27.7°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