Great Tree Cay - Corn Islands
North Reef in Québec offers a cool, calm dive, a surprising freshwater encounter. You won't find tropical colours here, but instead, a unique opportunity to spot fish like Rainbow Smelt and Lake Whitefish navigating the quieter parts of the reef. We've often seen Mottled Sculpins tucked into crevices, blending perfectly with the rocks. It’s a great spot for divers looking for something a bit different, a chance to appreciate a freshwater ecosystem often overlooked, particularly good for those who enjoy slower, more observant diving.
- Location
- Corn Islands, Nicaragua, Central America
- Coordinates
- 12.433333, -83.416664
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: Cayos Perlas
Best Time to Dive in Corn Islands
The warmest water temperatures in Corn Islands occur in January, averaging 28.3°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 28.3°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.3°C (air: 26.7°C)
- February: 28.3°C (air: 26.4°C)
- March: 28.3°C (air: 26.7°C)
- April: 28.3°C (air: 27.3°C)
- May: 28.3°C (air: 27.7°C)
- June: 28.3°C (air: 27.4°C)
- July: 28.3°C (air: 27.4°C)
- August: 28.3°C (air: 27.6°C)
- September: 28.3°C (air: 27.8°C)
- October: 28.3°C (air: 27.5°C)
- November: 28.3°C (air: 27.0°C)
- December: 28.3°C (air: 26.9°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Corn Islands
- ATLANTIC FREEZE - 0m (wreck)
- Baboon Cay
- Baboon Cay (reef)
- Blowing Rock - 10-35m (reef)
- Blowing Rock (reef)
- Boden Reef (reef)
- Cave (wreck)
- Cayo Forster (reef)
- Cayo Forster (reef)
- Cayo French Man (reef)
- Cayo French Man (reef)
- Cayo Little Tyara (reef)
- Cayo Little Tyara (reef)
- Cayo Noreste (reef)
- Cayo Noreste (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Great Tree Cay
Marine Life in Corn Islands
Home to 209 recorded species including 173 reef fish, 21 hard corals, 3 other, 3 sharks & rays, 3 sea snails & nudibranchs, 2 starfish.
Notable Species
- Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
- Lettuce Coral (Agaricia agaricites) - Hard Corals
- Finger Coral (Porites porites) - Hard Corals
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- Sheephead (Microspathodon chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- Cola (Ocyurus chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
- Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
- Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) - Hard Corals
- Great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa) - Hard Corals
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- Massive Starlet Coral (Siderastrea siderea) - Hard Corals
- Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
- Butterfly (Chaetodon capistratus) - Reef Fish
- Spot Snapper (Lutjanus mahogoni) - Reef Fish
- Sammy Johnson (Scarus taeniopterus) - Reef Fish
- Angelfish (Pomacanthus paru) - Reef Fish
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Lesser Starlet Coral (Siderastrea radians) - Hard Corals
- Schoolmaster (Lutjanus apodus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Great Tree Cay
Based on average water temperature of 28.3°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