The Tunnels
A shallow coral garden where crevices, canyons, and fissures create a maze of natural passages perfect for relaxed exploration.
The Tunnels offers Cat Island divers a contrast to the deep walls offshore, presenting a shallow coral garden at just 30 feet where natural crevices, canyons, and fissures create an intricate maze for exploration. The site showcases the gentler side of Cat Island diving, with passages sized for comfortable swimming and depths that allow generous bottom time.
Located near Greenwood Beach Resort, The Tunnels serves as an ideal introduction to Cat Island's underwater world or a relaxed second dive after deeper wall exploration. The coral garden structure supports healthy reef fish populations, while the swim-through passages add architectural interest to every dive.
The passage system
A series of crevices and fissures cut through the coral formations, creating natural swim-throughs that wind between coral heads. The passages vary in width but remain comfortable for divers, with natural light visible throughout.
Canyon sections add vertical relief, with coral walls rising above sandy channels. The combination of swim-throughs and open canyons creates route options for each dive, rewarding exploration and return visits.
Coral and fish life
The coral garden supports healthy hard and soft coral growth typical of Cat Island's protected reefs. Sea fans and gorgonians wave in gentle current, while brain corals and star corals build the structure that creates the passage system.
Reef fish populations are dense, benefiting from the structural complexity that provides both feeding and shelter opportunities. Butterflyfish, angelfish, and parrotfish are common, while groupers and snappers occupy the larger crevices.
Diving conditions
The 30-foot maximum depth creates conditions suitable for Open Water certified divers and allows extended bottom time for photography and exploration. The site is typically calm, protected from ocean swells by its nearshore location.
The Tunnels works well as a first dive for visiting divers acclimating to Bahamian conditions, or as a second dive when nitrogen loading from deeper wall sites requires shallower profiles.
Getting there
The Tunnels is accessed from Greenwood Beach Resort on Cat Island's southeastern coast. Cat Island is reached by air from Nassau to Arthur's Town or New Bight airports. The dive site lies close to shore, making it accessible even when conditions limit offshore wall diving.
Frequently asked questions
- How difficult are the swim-throughs?
- The passages are comfortable for divers of all experience levels, with natural light visible throughout. No cave or cavern training is required. Basic buoyancy control is sufficient for safe navigation.
- Is The Tunnels good for beginners?
- Yes, the 30-foot depth, calm conditions, and interesting topography make this an excellent site for newly certified divers. The swim-throughs add excitement without technical demands.
- What marine life will I see?
- Healthy reef fish populations include butterflyfish, angelfish, parrotfish, groupers, and snappers. The structural complexity of the coral garden creates abundant habitat, resulting in diverse marine life encounters.
Nearby
Third Basin Wall
A nearly vertical drop-off plunging from 110 feet into darkness, adorned with giant sponges and ancient black coral bushes.
ExploreOceanic Whitetip Drift
Blue-water encounters with the legendary oceanic whitetip shark, a once-common pelagic predator now rarely seen except in these protected Bahamian waters.
Explore