Painted Walls

The multicolored canyons provide unique swimming routes, making Painted Walls a delightful place to explore. As an extra plus, the sun keeps visibility up there quite high. When you're surrounded by stunning corals and a variety of aquatic life, you'll appreciate it much more.

The Painted Walls are formed by rugged underwater gorges, which are made even greater by the 10 to 45ft depth, which allows sunlight to bounce off the stunning array of multicolored coral. Intermediate to experienced divers will enjoy the huge diversity of species present off the southwest end of Dead Chest Island, including sponges, green turtles, and stingrays, to mention a few.

The northernmost valley between peaks leads to an arch leading into a small pool where Silversides congregate often, and a pair of silvery Tarpon awaits you at the swim-through. Nurse Sharks and Hawksbill Turtles are likely to be resting or wandering in the passages.

The pillar coral in Painted Walls has expanded from a few huge colonies to a dozen or more healthy patches, with one notably enormous colony on the southernmost crest. The reef shimmers in vibrant color when visibility is over 80 feet and the sun is shining brightly. You must have been gazing in the wrong direction if you don't spot a Hawksbill Turtle, Nurse Shark, or Green Moray Eel here.