Japanese Gardens
Tobago · Trinidad and Tobago
A labyrinth of shallow coral heads and swim-throughs blanketed in branching corals, enormous barrel sponges, and orange tube sponges that give the site its name. Biodiversity here rivals sites far more famous — frogfish, seahorses, and hawksbill turtles all use the complex structure as permanent habitat. The gentle current and mixed depth profile make it accessible to recreational divers while rewarding slower photographers who linger.
Conditions
Depth
5 to 20 m
Open water and up
Current
Can be moderate
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
10 to 18 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
25 to 29°C
3mm wetsuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 25 |
| Vis (m) | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 18 |
| Current | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Trinidad Motmot
Last confirmed Jul 7, 2026 · 31 records
Very likely
Most dives
Rufous-Vented Chachalaca
Last confirmed Jul 6, 2026 · 20 records
Very likely
Most dives
Anhinga
Last confirmed Jun 1, 2026 · 37 records
Very likely
Most dives
Tropical Mockingbird
Last confirmed Jul 7, 2026 · 28 records
Very likely
Most dives
Hawksbill sea turtle
Last confirmed Dec 23, 2024 · 2 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Giant barrel sponge
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Longsnout seahorse
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Splendid toadfish
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Gear