Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary

A 22-square-mile protected live-bottom reef about 16 miles east of Sapelo Island and 40 miles from Savannah, one of the largest nearshore sandstone reefs in the southeastern US. Ledges and rocky outcrops in 55-75 ft of water carpeted with soft corals, sponges and tunicates host more than 200 fish species, sea turtles and seasonal sharks. Anchoring is prohibited, so all dives are live-boat drift dives timed close to slack tide; the southern third of the sanctuary is a research area closed to diving.