La Jaula

La Jaula — The Cage — is a submerged coral structure named for the way its tall coral columns and arching spur-and-groove formations create cage-like compartments through which Caribbean reef sharks move with ease. The site is noted for having the highest consistent shark count in Jardines de la Reina, with individual sharks that have been photo-ID catalogued for over 15 years and are demonstrably unfazed by divers. The reef itself is a model of Caribbean reef health: intact branching acroporid corals, dense schools of grunts and snappers over the spurs, and large Nassau grouper holding territory in the grooves. Crocodiles occasionally enter from the nearby mangrove channel and have been observed resting on the sandy floor between coral heads.