Diving does not get any
better! The Conception Island Wall rates - by agreement of many of the
world's most prominent divers - among the very best of nature-provided
dive sites. It is 100% pristine, not ravaged by man, neither by nature
itself. Coral formations - hard and soft - and sponge life, are dramatic,
perfectly colourful, simply beautiful. Fishlife is abundant, specimen are
bigger and more perfect than by normal averages.
This wall is located a short
distance from the southern half of the Island's lee shore. Actually, swimming,
or snorkeling, to/from shore, is easily possible. It measures some 2 miles
in length, as far as its best features are concerned. On top of the final
90' ledge sit gigantic coral heads, each one or two providing an entire
dive's reef site. All around, drop-offs, caves, tunnels, overhangs and
individual ledges beckon the inquisitive diver onwards - or inwards. Colours
range supreme. Damage is non-existent. Normal - and rich - reeflife is
regularly enlivened by the appearances of 'big stuff': Routinely, you will
see some 3 - 4 or more reef sharks cruising by, again and again. You will
hardly complete one dive without having run into one - or some - big turtle,
Loggerhead, or Green - most likely. The serenely staged passing-by of a
Mako Shark will not be a surprise. Herds of Giant Blue Parrot Fish will
vie for your camera's aims. And - yes - here we have seen, on occasions,
Whaleshark! What a thrill that is! Truly unforgettable.
The tops of the coral heads
are found at 45 to 55' - and 70' is the best average dive depth. At 90',
you can drop below the final wall's edge ... and increments provide steps
at about every further 30'. And it's all straight down...
Conception Island enjoys
the protection of being a Nature Park - above and underwater. It is a bird
breeding Island - and has a maze of inland shallows, in which turtles spend
parts of their juvenile seasons in big numbers. The Island is uninhabited.
When spending time at anchor, and ashore, one can undertake short excursions
into shallow wrecksites, into numerous, beautiful beach coves, and to the
site of a long ago abandoned, tiny plantation. There are numerous shallow
snorkel reefs close to shore, all with easy anchorage.
From its north-westerly
point, famous Southhampton Reef runs, almost unbroken, some 9 miles toward
the north. With short-distanced depths of from 20, in stages, to 90', it
provides seemingly unlimited and wild dive excursion options. And - wrecks
galore! Small and old, big and not-so old. The "Southhampton", giving this
treacherous reef its name, has never been found yet. Stella Maris Diving
regularly features a shallow wreck of a large steel-freighter, flattened
by time, but all in one piece. A great dive, to be performed after the
wall dive!
