Monkey Reef
María la Gorda · Cuba
A shallow coral plateau stretching between 8 and 22 m where nurse sharks rest in loose groups beneath plate coral overhangs and Atlantic goliath grouper hold station in the open like boulders come to life. The reef crest is dense with elkhorn and staghorn thickets sheltering queen parrotfish and French angelfish pairs, while sandy corridors between the coral heads concentrate yellowtail snappers in shimmering curtains. Benign conditions year-round make this the go-to site for open-water divers and underwater photographers seeking big-animal encounters without deep commitments.
Conditions
Depth
8 to 22 m
Open water and up
Current
Usually gentle
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) | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 20 |
| Current | Still | Still | Still | Still | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Still | Still | Still |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Nurse Shark
Last confirmed Jan 13, 2026 · 1 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
West Indian Fuzzy Chiton
Last confirmed Mar 18, 2025 · 7 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Loggerhead Kingbird
Last confirmed Mar 1, 2024 · 8 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Atlantic Sergeant Major
Last confirmed Mar 18, 2025 · 3 records
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Atlantic Blue Tang
Last confirmed Mar 10, 2025 · 1 records
Rare
Now and then
Atlantic Goliath Grouper
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Queen Parrotfish
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Caribbean Bluehead Wrasse
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Gear