Boka Spelonk
An all
out spectacular dive with lots of stuff to check out along
the way.
Somewhat intimidating looking from topside but ever so
beautiful below the water. From 100 feet deep right into the
very shallows this dive will continue to amaze you with its
steep drop offs covered with macro algae, large coral
formations, beautiful colors, a cavern to swim into, lots of
fish and spectacular scenes of waves crashing onto the steep
iron shore line above, huge cracks to check out, large Giant
Barrel Sponges. We nick-named this site ‘the never ending
dive’ with so much to see at every level of the dive there
is no tank big enough!
The entry is either a 12ft. giant stride off the end of the
Boka or wade in through a large crack in the rock inside the
Boka which is also our exit.
The drop off starts very close to the shoreline and drops
down steep until it hits a large sand flat at 100 feet. The
coral formations are found growing in separate patches at
the bottom of the drop off in the range between 60 and 100
feet. Some of the corals are really large and have a
tendency to grow flat to catch the most sunlight. Large
Spiny Lobster are often found hiding under these corals.
The cavern is located at 60 feet and has a very nice coral
garden growing in front of it. This cavern is quite large
and it possible to swim into it and see what lives inside.
It is home to many small fish and other critters like shrimp
and occasionally something really nice like a Green Moray, a
Lobster or Nurse Shark. At the very back of the cavern there
is room to ascend a feet. You will find yourself right in
front of a large horizontal crack which provides you with a
good view over the coral reef in front of the cavern.
You will find many holes and ledges all along the 40 foot
range of the drop off. Use a light to explore the holes and
you will find many different fish, eels and creatures like
shrimp, lobsters and crabs as well as many types of juvenile
fish. Inside the holes you will also find the most beautiful
colors of encrusting sponge… red, blue, pink, orange,
yellow, purple, green… amazing!!
Also the shallows offer a large variety of stuff to do and
see. Check the fire coral patches for some unique crabs,
small fish, eels, octopus and shrimps. Many Blennies like
the Longhorn- , Seaweed- and the Rough Head Blenny live in
small holes in the bottom of the shallows. There are some
cracks and holes in the bottom where we often find many
juveniles as well as the illusive Black Brotulas! A very
large crack in the rock allows you to literally swim into
the island. Looking up in this part of the dive you will see
the waves crashing into the iron shore above sending down
whirls of foam like upside down mushroom clouds. Often large
parrot fish are grazing just under the breaking waves. It is
a mesmerizing scene.
Some out of the ordinary fish we see often on this dive are
Queen Trigger, Ocean Trigger, Mutton Hamlet, High Hat, Black
Brotula, Viper Moray, Green Moray, Southern Stingray,
Rainbow and Midnight Parrot Fish, Permit, Hog Fish and
Longhorn Blenny.
We recommend using Nitrox for this dive.
