San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize

Pillar Coral

Pillar Coral is a gentle reef dive named for the unusually tall and dense colonies of pillar coral (Dendrogyra cylindrus) that dominate this stretch of the barrier reef north of San Pedro. Pillar coral is in serious decline across the Caribbean due to stony coral tissue loss disease and is on the IUCN Red List as critically endangered, making the remaining tall pillars at this site particularly noteworthy. The reef top sits in 8 to 12 metres and the surrounding coral garden slopes gently to about 22 metres at the wall edge. Massive star coral, brain coral, plate coral and giant barrel sponges accompany the pillars. Reef life includes queen angelfish, French angelfish, midnight parrotfish, yellowtail snappers, blue chromis, rock beauty, banded butterflyfish, secretary blennies, spotted morays and lobsters. Hawksbill turtles graze the sponges, and southern stingrays rest in the sand patches. Currents are mild, visibility 15 to 25 metres. Excellent for new divers and photographers.