Giant Caribbean Barrel Sponge confirmed 6 months ago

Black Coral Garden

María la Gorda · Cuba

Widely considered the deepest accessible black coral forest in the Caribbean, this wall site plunges past 40 m where ancient Antipathes colonies form dense thickets — their wire-like branches hosting colonies of golden crinoids and tiny arrow crabs. The upper reef terrace between 12 and 25 m blazes with encrusting orange and purple sponges, schools of creole wrasse, and patrolling bar jacks. Visibility regularly exceeds 30 m, giving wide-angle photographers a compelling foreground against the deep blue wall.

Conditions

Depth

10 to 45 m

Advanced depths

Current

Can be moderate

Can pick up on the edge

Visibility

15 to 25 m

Clearest in the calm season

Water

24 to 30°C

shorty

Month by month

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Water (°C)	24	24	25	26	27	28	28	28	28	27	26	25
Vis (m)	25	25	25	20	20	15	15	15	15	20	25	25
Current	Gentle	Gentle	Gentle	Gentle	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Gentle	Gentle	Gentle