Dive in Corn Islands

Diving in Corn Islands

The Corn Islands are two Caribbean islands approximately 50 miles off the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua. Once ruled by the British, they are now part of the Autonomous Region of Nicaragua, and are largely self-governed. They are still un-spoiled by major development and "cruise-ship style" tourism, and have much to offer the adventurous traveler in the way of sights, accommodations, and natural beauty. The people here (who speak primarily English, as well as Spanish) are warm and friendly, and are genuine in their welcoming and helpful manner.

Little Corn Island, the most pristine and least developed of the two, isn't tarnished by the noise and congestion of cars. This works well here because the dive shop, the hotels, restaurants, and beaches, are all within easy walking distance of each other.

The island is protected on three sides by an intricate barrier reef system, which features a wide and healthy variety of corals, sponges and marine animal life. There are some 20 different dives sites located all around the island. The boat trip from the dive shop to the dive site takes between 5 to 15 minutes. Average depth is between 30 to 80 feet, which allows safe and long bottom times, which often go 55 minutes or longer, air supply permitting. Our conditions are excellent for the underwater photography enthusiast. Year round water temperatures average 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit) and visibility is around 50 feet.

Our underwater scenery is varied and diverse. White Holes, for example, is a dive off the north end of the island. There are white sands, huge stag horn coral formations, plenty of nurse sharks sleeping on the bottom, eagle rays, porcupine puffers, spotted drums and schools of many other Caribbean tropical fishes.There is Shark Hole where black tip, reef and bull sharks swim with you as you negotiate a network of caverns and swim-throughs underneath the reef. Tarpon Channel is a dive right in front of Casa Iguana. This cut through the reef has wild rock formations and overhangs, schools of eagle rays and lookdowns and, yes, Tarpon. On several occasions we've had close encounters with a large resident hammerhead shark and we even have the photos to prove it.Virtually every site provides the likelihood of spotting schools of barracudas, jacks, African pompanos as well as Big kingfish, permit, Cobia and more.

Travel to Corn Islands

Fifty miles northeast of the Atlantic Coast city of Bluefields, Nicaragua lies one of the Caribbean's forgotten tropical paradises: The Corn Islands.

The two Corn Islands, Big Corn Island and Little Corn Island are lush with exotic fruit trees, native palms and surrounded by white sand beaches. A haven for pirates and buccaneers in the 17th century, untold numbers of shipwrecks and treasures still lay scattered along the turquoise shores of The Corn Islands.

Little Corn Island is a small, remote Caribbean island, unspoiled by tourism and development. It is English speaking. There are no cars, no jet skis, little in the way of crass commercialism, nightlife and gift shopping. If you like places like Cancun and Freeport, this might not be a destination that would interest you.

The island's reef offers a variety of unique diving adventures, from caves and caverns to un-chummed shark encounters. There are beautiful corals and sponges, and virtually every reef fish classified as Tropical Caribbean.