Diving Green Turtle Cay

[abacoaster]

I am currently at Green Turtle Cay on a 2 week vacation. We have been here every year since 2001 and we love it! We rent a 20' boat with 150 HP motor to give us access to the wonderful sites nearby. I have used most of the reef bouys placed around the island by the Reef Relief folks, but I was wondering if anyone could provide me with some GPS cords for other great dive sites nearby. I read on one website about a sunken barge north of Crab Cay and also of a wreck north of No Name. Anyone know GPS cords for either of those? Much thanks for any info.

Abacoaster

[JJ]

I am sorry I can't answer your question, but I was wondering about the mooring buoys. Are they all in place? When we were there last summer, all of the ones north of Green Turtle around Manjack seemed to be gone. We did find the ones around No Name. Hoping they have been replaced.

[abacoaster]

We are going out for the first time today. We will try to report back. But I noticed last year also that many bouys were missing. I doubt they have been replaced.

[Silver Lining]

We dove GTC a few days ago and did not see any of the bouys in place. We anchored near the reefs while diving. The seas on the atlantic side have been a little rough the last few days but are suppose to get better in a day or two.

[gummy67]

The Dodge guide is loaded with places. I am not sure you will receive coords from anyone here. East of Manjack,Crab, Fiddle and GTC seems to be the place.

[Silver Lining]

To be honest we just head out to the atlantic side and there are lots of nice reefs for diving. Along GTC, no name and Guana there are many reefs. Looking at the Dodge guide or explorer charts you can see the best areas. I dont think any of the local dive shops give out the coordinates (at least we have not had much luck). You have to be pretty careful on entry and exit and read the water very carefully. It would be great if there was a resource with the coordinates of particularly good dive sites.

[JJ]

Those are the places, gummy, but there used to be mooring buoys there and maps that gave you directions for approach around the coral heads.to the buoys. These were great for visitors finding good snorkle/dive sites and helped protect the reef from damage from anchoring. it also keeps most visitors to these areas since they are so easily accessible, leaving the locals and the dive operators their special spots. I still don't understand the rhyme or reason for the removal of the buoys.

[abacoaster]

We were out at the Green Turtle reefs today. We looked for Noname Outer reef north. When we got there, we realized that something was wrong, because it was right off shore. Turns out the cords are wrong. They were the same as Noname inner reef. The bouy was there for the inner reef. We also found the bouy for Raven's Cliff. The diving was not that great there though. I will post if I find any other bouys later. These bouys were placed there by Reef Relief. They are listed at www.reefrelief.org but many of them are missing now. Not sure if some just broke loose.

[JJ]

I was told that they were vandalized.

[LaDonnaTN]

Hello! "The Cruising Guide to Abaco" does have some dive site mooring numbers, names and GPS coordinates in it, particulary around Great Guana and Fowl Cay Reef Preserve. It'll cost you about $25 and can either be purchased online in advance or at many locations once you get there. If you are running about in any boat, it is a handy guide to have onboard. We are usually on a chartered cat and always have a current edition with us, but we have also rented whalers on our visits to get around and found it extremely informative for general water depths, outcroppings, reefs, etc. We're looking forward to some great diving on our next visit late next week also! Too bad about the mooring buoys!

[buzzer]

Haven't used this but here. http://oii.net/dive/GreenTurtleCay.pdf Let me know if this is helpful.

[abacoaster]

We did not visit all the bouys, but I think they have all been replaced. Use this link http://www.reefrelief.org/projects/international/bahamas/gtcbuoys/GTC_page3.html
for the most up to date GPS info on the bouys.

[haziewaller]

Do you plan to post a trip report? We sure like to see reports & pix, especially us GTC freaks!! Where did you stay?

[bmcmanus]

We are going in 3 weeks and the diving bouys are always one of our favorite activities. Hopefully they have been replaced. Does anyone know for sure?

[Pile On]

We dove off Green Turtle in mid July and found only one buoy. It was hanging on a substantial line by a thread. I did'nt have any extra line with me at the time, or I would have made a temporary fix. The wind and waves drive the buoys to chafe on the rope, and it's only a matter of time. Seems like the line would do better if it had some chafe protection on it before it goes through the ball. Had a great time, loved the reef.

[abacoaster]

Here are some of the GPS points where we found bouys July 6-20 2008

N 26 44 58.4
W 77 16 24.0
This is a great dive site. About 60'


N 26 45 16.1
W 77 16 40.1


N 26 45 32.8
W 77 16 57.9


N 26 45 31.8
W 77 17 28.9