Coral Corner - Iron Bottom Sound
Halifax on Grenada’s southwest coast is one of those sites we always try to squeeze in, especially if we’re looking for a relaxed, shallow dive. It’s a wall, but not the dramatic, plummeting kind. More a gentle slope from around 8m down to 11m, then a drop to 19m, making it perfect for longer bottom times and less air consumption. We’ve had some fantastic luck here with frogfish – they seem to blend into the sponges and soft corals, but once you spot one, you start seeing them everywhere. Keep an eye on the outer wall where the bigger stuff tends to hang out; we’ve spotted tarpon cruising through and some truly substantial black groupers lurking in the shadows. Visibility averages around 7m, which isn't exceptional, but it means you're really focused on the details close by. Look for the blennies peeking out from their holes and the more unusual finds like sand stargazers buried in the substrate if you’ve got a keen eye. It’s a site for divers who appreciate the smaller, rarer critters and a leisurely pace over sweeping vistas.
- Location
- Iron Bottom Sound, Solomon Islands, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- -8.345300, 157.364600
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: Sasavele/NB
Best Time to Dive in Iron Bottom Sound
The warmest water temperatures in Iron Bottom Sound occur in January, averaging 30.5°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 30.5°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 30.5°C (air: 26.9°C)
- February: 30.5°C (air: 26.7°C)
- March: 30.5°C (air: 26.7°C)
- April: 30.5°C (air: 26.8°C)
- May: 30.5°C (air: 26.9°C)
- June: 30.5°C (air: 26.5°C)
- July: 30.5°C (air: 26.5°C)
- August: 30.5°C (air: 26.3°C)
- September: 30.5°C (air: 26.5°C)
- October: 30.5°C (air: 26.7°C)
- November: 30.5°C (air: 26.7°C)
- December: 30.5°C (air: 26.9°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Iron Bottom Sound
- Abyss’ Triggerfish (wall)
- Abyss’ Triggerfish
- Aichi D3A ’Val’ (Wreck) (wreck)
- Aichi D3A ’Val’ (Wreck) (wreck)
- Aussie Point (reef)
- Aussie Point (reef)
- Azumasan Maru (wreck)
- Azumasan Maru (drift)
- Baby Cakes Reef (pinnacle)
- Baby Cakes Reef (reef)
- Balydon Shoals (reef)
- Balydon Shoals (reef)
- Base 1 Muck Site (muck)
- Base 1 Muck Site (muck)
- Bell P39 Airacobra (Wreck) (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Coral Corner
Marine Life in Iron Bottom Sound
Home to 415 recorded species including 320 reef fish, 29 hard corals, 18 sea snails & nudibranchs, 16 sea cucumbers, 7 seagrass & algae, 5 clams & mussels.
Notable Species
- Blue-lined Surgeonfish (Acanthurus lineatus) - Reef Fish
- Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
- Blue and Gold Fusilier (Caesio caerulaurea) - Reef Fish
- Boring Clam (Tridacna crocea) - Clams & Mussels
- Orange-lined Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus) - Reef Fish
- Dusky Parrotfish (Scarus niger) - Reef Fish
- beautiful fusilier (Caesio teres) - Reef Fish
- Blue-lined Tang (Zebrasoma scopas) - Reef Fish
- Rainbowfish (Halichoeres hortulanus) - Reef Fish
- Redfin Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunulatus) - Reef Fish
- Burrowing urchin (Echinometra mathaei) - Sea Urchins
- Small giant clam (Tridacna maxima) - Clams & Mussels
- Kihikihi (Zanclus cornutus) - Reef Fish
- Latticed Butterflyfish (Chaetodon rafflesii) - Reef Fish
- Bleeker's Parrotfish (Chlorurus bleekeri) - Reef Fish
- Butterfly fish (Chaetodon vagabundus) - Reef Fish
- Black-barred Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigricauda) - Reef Fish
- Mimic Surgeonfish (Acanthurus pyroferus) - Reef Fish
- Triangular Butterflyfish (Chaetodon baronessa) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Coral Corner
Based on average water temperature of 30.5°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 30°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