Right off our beach
Snorkeling Coral Gardens
Welcome to the Bight Reef, the coral reef that shares our name. Grab your mask after breakfast and you'll be floating above turtles and tropical fish a few minutes later. Here's everything we love to share with our guests.
From our beach
Just steps away
Reef length
About 350 ft from shore
Water depth
About 3 to 20 ft
Best conditions
Wind under 12 mph
Protected by
Princess Alexandra National Park
Great for
Beginners and families
Which reef is Coral Gardens?
Providenciales has a few well-known reefs, and guests often mix them up. Here's a quick guide so you know exactly where to go.
Our reef
Bight Reef (Coral Gardens)
The reef this guide is about. A single main ridge of coral runs out about 350 feet from the beach right in front of our resort, in calm, shallow water you can swim to from your beach chair.
A separate reef to the west
Smith's Reef
A different shore snorkeling site farther west near Turtle Cove. It's lovely too, but it's a drive away, so when guests say Coral Gardens, they mean the reef on our doorstep.
Way out by the ocean shelf
The barrier reef
The large reef far offshore along the edge of the ocean shelf, where the deep blue begins. You'll need a boat to reach it, and our reservations team is happy to recommend a snorkel or dive trip.
Getting there
It couldn't be easier. Walk down to our beach, look for the red marker buoys just offshore, and wade in. The reef starts in waist-deep water and runs out to about 20 feet at its outer edge.
Before you swim, stop by the information signs on the beach near the Coral Gardens beach access. They show a map of the underwater snorkel trail, a series of markers anchored to the sea floor that guide you around the outskirts of the reef and tell you about the coral and fish you're seeing.
Best time to go
The reef is at its best on calm days, when the wind is under about 12 mph. High tide usually brings the clearest water. If it's breezy on our side of the island, Sapodilla Bay and Taylor Bay offer calm water for a swim, and the reef will be waiting when the wind settles.
Snorkel gear is complimentary for all our guests, so there is nothing to rent or pack. Our beach attendant will have your chairs and umbrella ready for when you come back in.
What you might see
The fish here are used to visitors, so they often swim right up to say hello. Guests regularly spot:
- ●Green and hawksbill sea turtles
- ●Southern stingrays and spotted eagle rays
- ●Nurse sharks resting on the sand
- ●Stoplight and blue parrotfish
- ●Queen angelfish and butterflyfish
- ●Nassau grouper and yellowtail snapper
- ●Barracuda, trumpetfish and squirrelfish
- ●Spiny lobster and moray eels tucked into crevices
Under the surface
Caring for our reef
Coral Gardens is part of Princess Alexandra National Park, and we'd love for it to stay this beautiful for every guest who follows you. A few simple habits make a big difference:
Stay outside the buoy ring
The ring of buoys protects the most fragile coral. Enjoy the reef from the edges and along the snorkel trail.
Look, don't touch
Some of the coral is fire coral, which stings if you brush against it. Keep your fins up and give the reef a little space.
Wear reef-safe sunscreen
Mineral sunscreens and a rash guard keep you protected without harming the coral.
Take only photos
Fishing and taking conch, lobster, shells or coral are illegal inside the national park.
Mind the current
Currents here usually run parallel to the beach. Start your swim up-current so it gently carries you back.
Snorkel with a buddy
Especially with little ones. A snorkel vest makes it easy for kids to float and enjoy the view.
Wake up steps from the reef
Stay at Coral Gardens on Grace Bay and some of the best snorkeling in Providenciales is right outside your door. After your swim, enjoy lunch with your toes in the sand at Somewhere Café and Lounge.