Marys Place

Mary's Place is a coral reef site with a broad shallow plateau at about 10 m that abruptly gives way to a deep fissure and a sheer vertical wall plunging to roughly 35–40 m. The walls are heavily encrusted with black coral, sea fans and large sponges, while the plateau is carpeted with soft corals; extensive swim-throughs, overhangs and crevices give parts of the site a cavern-like feel. The site is popular and frequently dived, with reef fish such as Creole wrasse, spotted drum, snapper and grouper and crustaceans like Caribbean spiny lobster commonly encountered. Access is by dive boat only. The site reaches a maximum depth of about 40 m, with an easier shallow plateau near 10 m suitable for open-water-level divers but full descents into the canyon intended for advanced divers; narrow swim-throughs and deep passages require good buoyancy control and comfort in overhead-like environments. Visibility is typically around 20 m or more and the water is warm (mid-20s °C). Because the site is on the south coast, surface conditions can be rough in normal trade winds, so operators run this dive when northerly winds make conditions calm for smooth entry and exit.