Long Island
Bahamas · Atlantic Ocean
Long Island anchors its diving reputation on Dean's Blue Hole, the world's deepest known saltwater blue hole at 202 metres, a pilgrimage site for freedivers and a hauntingly beautiful dive for scuba divers down to recreational limits. The surrounding barrier reef walls and shallow coral gardens offer pristine conditions far from the crowds of Nassau.
How this reef is doing
ⓘ How we measure thisReef state
Live coral covers 11% of this reef. The water is warmer than usual right now, so expect some pale coral.
Coral cover
Fish life
Heat
Warmer than usual right now, but not hot enough to bleach.
Fishing
Open to fishing, and the water is fairly quiet.
Sources · AGRRA and GCRMN reef surveys · NOAA Coral Reef Watch · Global Fishing Watch and reef gravity
Coral cover over time
Live coral cover, by survey year
Across 11 survey years from 2007 to 2019, live coral cover here has risen from 10% to 11%. Every point is a real survey reading, never a projection.
Live coral cover, percent by year
| Year | Coral cover |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 10% |
| 2008 | 11% |
| 2009 | 11% |
| 2011 | 10% |
| 2012 | 14% |
| 2013 | 9% |
| 2015 | 10% |
| 2016 | 12% |
| 2017 | 11% |
| 2018 | 9% |
| 2019 | 11% |
What you will see
26 species across the dive sites here
Green sea turtle
Seen 1 month ago
at Stella Maris Reef
Least concern
Ocean triggerfish
Seen 1 month ago
at Conception Island Wall
Least concern
Bananaquit
Seen 1 month ago
at Dean's Blue Hole
Least concern
Caribbean Land Hermit Crab
Seen 2 months ago
at Dean's Blue Hole
White-Tailed Tropicbird
Seen 2 months ago
at Conception Island Wall
Least concern
Osprey
Seen 3 months ago
at Dean's Blue Hole
Least concern
Great barracuda
Seen Apr 2025
at Shark Reef
Least concern
Yellowtail snapper
Seen Dec 2024
at Dean's Blue Hole
Brown Anole
Seen Mar 2024
at Dean's Blue Hole
Least concern
Black grouper
Seen year round
at Conception Island Wall
Near threatened
Caribbean reef shark
Seen year round
at Dean's Blue Hole
Endangered
Elkhorn coral
Seen year round
at Stella Maris Reef
Critically endangered
Giant barrel sponge
Seen year round
at Conception Island Wall
Lemon shark
Seen year round
at Shark Reef
Vulnerable
Nurse shark
Seen year round
at Stella Maris Reef
Vulnerable
Queen angelfish
Seen year round
at Dean's Blue Hole
Least concern
Spotted eagle ray
Seen year round
at Stella Maris Reef
Endangered
Tarpon
Seen year round
at Dean's Blue Hole
Vulnerable
Bull shark
Seasonal visitor
at Shark Reef
Vulnerable
Coney
Rare sighting
at Conception Island Wall
Least concern
Pluma Porgy
Rare sighting
at Stella Maris Reef
Least concern
Rock Beauty
Rare sighting
at Conception Island Wall
Least concern
Slender Filefish
Rare sighting
at Conception Island Wall
Least concern
Tiger Grouper
Rare sighting
at Stella Maris Reef
Western Atlantic Trumpetfish
Rare sighting
at Stella Maris Reef
Near threatened
Yellowhead Wrasse
Rare sighting
at Stella Maris Reef
Least concern
Dive sites
Dean's Blue Hole
tarpon · caribbean reef shark · yellowtail snapper · queen angelfish
Stella Maris Reef
nurse shark · spotted eagle ray · elkhorn coral · green sea turtle
Conception Island Wall
caribbean reef shark · black grouper · giant barrel sponge · ocean triggerfish
Shark Reef
lemon shark · bull shark · caribbean reef shark · great barracuda