Halfway Reef - Newfoundland

We love Rock Key for its sheer convenience, and it’s always a solid bet for a relaxed dive out of Key West. It’s a shallow spot, usually around 8-10 meters, making it perfect for longer bottom times and a great choice if you’re newer to diving or just want an easy cruise. The reef here is mostly low-profile coral formations, plenty of finger coral and some nice pillar coral stands that always catch our eye. Look closely in the nooks and crannies – we often spot Yellowhead Jawfish peeking out of their burrows and American Pugnose Pipefish doing their best impression of seagrass blades. Schools of French Grunts and Schoolmasters drift lazily over the coral, a constant, shimmering curtain of silver. We’ve even had the occasional Sandbar Shark cruise by on deeper visits. Visibility is generally good, often 15-20 meters, though it can kick up a bit after a strong southerly blow. We’d suggest going early in the morning to beat the boat traffic; it tends to get a little busy later in the day. It’s a really pleasant dive, calm and full of those smaller, often overlooked details that make the Keys reefs so rewarding.

Location
Newfoundland, Canada, North America
Coordinates
49.199880, -53.448040
Type
reef

Marine Protected Area: Deadman's Bay Provincial Park

Best Time to Dive in Newfoundland

The warmest water temperatures in Newfoundland occur in August, averaging 15.9°C. The coolest conditions are in March at 0.3°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 2.3°C
  • February: 1.1°C
  • March: 0.3°C
  • April: 1.3°C
  • May: 3.9°C
  • June: 7.3°C
  • July: 12.4°C
  • August: 15.9°C
  • September: 14.6°C
  • October: 11.9°C
  • November: 8.0°C
  • December: 4.6°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Newfoundland

Nearest Dive Centres to Halfway Reef

Marine Life in Newfoundland

Home to 72 recorded species including 35 reef fish, 13 whales & dolphins, 7 sharks & rays, 5 seagrass & algae, 3 sea snails & nudibranchs, 2 soft corals.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Halfway Reef

Based on average water temperature of 7.0°C, currents 2 cm/s.

  • Drysuit - water at 7°C demands a drysuit with thermal undergarments
  • Hood & Gloves (7mm+) - critical to prevent heat loss
  • 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