Cockburn Town, San Salvador, Bahamas

Black Forest

Black Forest is a wall dive off the western coast of San Salvador, named for the dense colonies of black coral that decorate its deeper sections. Divers descend onto the reef plateau and follow the wall vertically as it drops past recreational limits. Black coral trees become more abundant below 25 meters, and the wall is also festooned with large barrel sponges, deep-water gorgonians, and tube sponges. The island's exposed oceanic location delivers consistently exceptional visibility — typically 30 to 40 meters — and brings frequent pelagic encounters: Caribbean reef sharks, eagle rays, large groupers, and the occasional silky shark. The wall extends along much of the western coast, with multiple well-known dive sites strung along it. Currents are usually mild but the deep profile demands good gas management and advanced training. San Salvador is one of the more remote Bahamian dive destinations, with limited resort access and excellent water quality.