Hello - I've narrowed down our hotels to Carib Inn, Sand $, Eden Beach or Sun Oceanfront Apts. How are the house reefs off of each of these places? Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance!
Melissa

Everyone's opinion on a good house reef will differ according to what the individual looks for and wants to see. Some love the coral and some just want to see some fish. That is a loaded question if you ask me. The best reefs I have snorkeled are not a house reef. I would never book my vacation on the basis of a house reef unless I planned never to leave that place for any other sites.

Melissa, hopefully you will be renting a vehicle and trying some of the many and varied dive sites. Having said that here is a short description of each of the house reefs you mentioned: Carib Inn is mostly sandy bottom to the drop off. Slope is gradual with patches of coral formations. Sand $ house reef is Bari Reef where you will find a huge variety of fish. Slope has a nice variety of coral as well. Eden beach is the home of the underwater cam (as well as the beach cams). We have found some interesting fish in the coral rubble here. You can also access the wreck "Our Confidence" from Eden. Diving in front of SunOceanfront means being aware of any boat traffic but this is a fun place to dive as you can do your shallows under all the boats and around the moorings where we always find great fish. Thanks for asking the question -- gave me a good excuse to pull out my log book!!

Hi Melissa,

Eden Beach is great for snorkling there are numerous fish just a few yards from the shore, plus the fish under the jetty. The shore is actually a small ledge ranging from 1-4 feet drop. Under the ledge may be found lots of sheltering fish like the common Snook.

Its also a great place to night snorkel, the Snook will follow your lights around and you will often see Spiney Lobsters.

Here is a small pre-view, I can count at least 10 different species and this is only a few yards from shore and about 10 feet deep.



Dave

The house reef at the Plaza Resort (Eighteenth Palm) is very good for snorkelers, probably better than at the Sand Dollar. Best spot is from the small pier at the south side of the beach, continuing south toward the inlet. It gets better, he further on you go. In one outing, I counted over 90 different kinds of fish (juveniles, male and female counted separately). It's amazing what you will find. Near the inlet you will find some big stuff in the deeper water.

I go to the Plaza reef even when I am not staying there.