Don’t get no grief on Jackson Reef
© Chad Clark 12-6-00
Above the water, slowly decaying on the north side of Jackson, sits the wreck of the Lara. This Cypriot merchant ship which hit the reef in ’85 obviously missed the lonely red beacon flashing to the east, patiently signaling the shipping lane. Below water however, the current swept Jackson Reef has more to offer.
The south side has a few moorings left, (diveguides remember the rule: 3 boats to a mooring), and is sheltered from the weather. This results in far too many boats for the size of the site but hey, that’s what popularity is all about. Malesh, there are as many dives here as there are degrees on a compass. The easiest one is from the shamandura and left along the steep walled south side with its abundance of soft and hard corals, gorgonians and a funky red anemone at 27m. The shallow plateau on the west lies from 7m down to 20m and is a bountiful fire and sand coral garden, home to scorpionfish, moray eels and a host of reef fish riding the current. Watch out though. This current can be strong, and if caught unprepared you may find yourself out in the blue heading for Aquaba. Weather permitting, the shadowy north wall has a topographical beauty all of its own which appeals to both divers and turtles alike, but getting back on the boat when it’s rough out there is akin to climbing up a guillotine on springs. The eastern side can sometimes offer a fast drift for the experienced diver. In fact, that’s the whole point. Current means nutrients, nutrients mean little fish, little fish mean bigger fish, ad infinitum. Hanging off the east out in the current are the sharks, especially during the summer and in the December mating season. Grey reef, whitetip and hammerheads cruise around in the blue, shooting in to feed on the schooling fish next to the reef. Don’t worry though. They don’t eat divers, the tanks make them fart.