Mayreau Gardens: Coral Reefs and Drift Diving Between Mayreau and the Tobago Cays

Mayreau Gardens is one of the outstanding underwater destinations of the southern Grenadines, an expansive coral reef formation lying off the eastern coast of Mayreau between the island and the Tobago Cays. Rather than a conventional beach or harbor destination, Mayreau Gardens is all about what lies beneath the surface: coral formations, colorful sponges, tropical fish and exceptionally clear Caribbean water. The Tobago Cays Marine Park specifically identifies Mayreau Gardens as an excellent coral reef site with abundant fish and colorful sponges.

The reef is particularly renowned for scuba diving. Discover SVG describes Mayreau Gardens as an expansive coral formation that produces an excellent drift dive, with marine life including crinoids, garden eels and flamingo tongues. The wider waters around Mayreau and the Tobago Cays contain some of the most extensive and developed coral reef systems in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

For yacht charter guests, Mayreau Gardens fits naturally into a day exploring Mayreau and the Tobago Cays. A yacht can overnight around Salt Whistle Bay or Saline Bay, then head toward the protected waters east of Mayreau for snorkeling or a professionally guided dive before continuing toward Horseshoe Reef, Baradal and the central Tobago Cays. It is one of the best locations for adding a serious underwater experience to a southern Grenadines itinerary.

Mayreau Gardens lies offshore from Mayreau's windward coast, midway between Mayreau and the nearby Tobago Cays. This is reef territory rather than a marked harbor, so captains should navigate with current charts, good daylight and particular attention to coral heads and shallow areas. The surrounding region forms part of the Tobago Cays Marine Park, which encompasses coral reefs, seagrass beds, islands and a large sand-bottomed lagoon.

Yachts should not attempt to navigate casually across the reef itself. The Marine Park imposes a maximum speed of five knots and prohibits anchoring in coral or seagrass. Where moorings are provided they should be used, while any permitted anchoring must be restricted to suitable sandy areas.

Mayreau Gardens is not a conventional yacht anchorage. Its primary value is as a coral reef, snorkeling and scuba-diving site, and dropping an anchor into the reef would risk damaging the habitat. Tobago Cays Marine Park regulations specifically prohibit anchoring on coral and seagrass beds.

For most charter itineraries, the better approach is to base the yacht at Salt Whistle Bay, Saline Bay or an authorized mooring within the Tobago Cays and visit Mayreau Gardens for watersports. Scuba diving within the Marine Park must be carried out with staff from a registered local dive operator or dive shop, so charter crews should arrange dives accordingly.

Mayreau Gardens forms part of the remarkable marine environment surrounding Mayreau and the Tobago Cays. The protected area supports coral reefs, sea turtles, conchs, lobsters, seagrass beds and a wide variety of Caribbean reef species. Conservation rules prohibit fishing, collecting coral or marine life, damaging coral and discharging wastewater within the park.

Divers can also combine Mayreau Gardens with the nearby Purunia Wreck, a 140-foot British gunship that sank in 1918 off Mayreau's western coast. Together, the reef gardens and wreck make Mayreau one of the strongest scuba-diving stops on a Grenadines yacht charter.