reef

Log This Dive

Cayo French Man

North Reef is one of those places that just feels right, even before you drop in. It's got that quintessential Pacific Northwest vibe, a bit moody on the surface but full of quiet drama below. We love hitting this site on a calm morning, just after the tide turns. Drop down and you're immediately in a different world – the light filters through the kelp canopy, painting shifting patterns on the rocks. This isn’t a vibrant coral reef in the tropical sense; it’s a rugged, temperate system, packed with invertebrate life. We’re always impressed by the sheer density of species here. You'll spot pale moonsnails inching across the substrate and green sea urchins tucked into crevices. Keep an eye out for giant octopus; we’ve had some truly memorable encounters with them here, sometimes just a pair of eyes watching you from a den. The sunflower stars are enormous, sprawling across the rocks like something out of a sci-fi film. And if you’re lucky, really lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of an orca pod passing by offshore. The currents can pick up, so it's best for divers comfortable with a bit of a drift, allowing you to really soak in the busy reef walls.