Shark Hole - Corn Islands
The Tian Xiang is the newest addition to Mauritius’ artificial reef programme, and we’re pretty excited about it. Sunk in 2015, this fishing vessel sits upright at 36 metres, making it a proper deep dive. Dropping down, the first thing you notice is the sheer size, a dark shape emerging from the blue. It’s got a good penetration route, too. We’ve enjoyed exploring the bridge and engine room, feeling the cool hush inside, though always with a good light. What really makes the Tian Xiang special for us is how quickly it's become a thriving habitat. Already, its railings are thick with honeycomb corals and swaying staghorn. You’ll weave through clouds of yellowstriped cardinalfish, and we’ve spotted plenty of orbicular batfish circling the mast. Keep an eye out for the resident reef margin blennies peeking from crevices – they’re our favourite. It's a prime spot for experienced divers looking for a challenging wreck and a glimpse into how quickly a new reef can form.
- Location
- Corn Islands, Nicaragua, Central America
- Coordinates
- 12.291200, -82.969400
- Type
- wreck
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 Shark Hole
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 Shark Hole
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