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Map of Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary
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Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary

Georgia, United States
AOW suggested17–23 m (55–75 ft) depthBoat entry3mm wetsuit typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary at a glance

Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary is an advanced boat dive site in Georgia, United States with depths of 16.8–22.9 m (55–75 ft). Typically most favorable Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Black sea bass, Manta ray, and Nudibranch. Recent reports put the water around 22°C (72°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

No window today· next: Tue 7:00–18:00 · moderate

Forecast for this hour · 20:00 · run 8 h ago
3.1 m (10.2 ft)waves — about three meters expected (waves — about ten feet expected)

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 22°C · seasonal avg 23°C ( · Forecast 72°F · seasonal avg 74°F)

Site hazards: Strong offshore currents, unpredictable visibility (sometimes under 15 ft), jellyfish, live-boating ascents in open water, 8-10 ft coastal tidal swings complicating navigation

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

SunNo window

2.7 m waves · 27 kn wind (9.0 ft waves · 27 kn wind)

MonNo window

2.5 m waves · 23 kn wind (8.3 ft waves · 23 kn wind)

Tue7:00–18:00 moderate

1.9 m waves · 19 kn wind (6.3 ft waves · 19 kn wind)

WedNo window

2.1 m waves · 22 kn wind (6.7 ft waves · 22 kn wind)

Thu16:00–18:00 moderate

2.0 m waves · 23 kn wind (6.5 ft waves · 23 kn wind)

Fri7:00–13:00 moderate

1.5 m waves · 21 kn wind (5.0 ft waves · 21 kn wind)

Sat7:00–18:00 moderate

1.3 m waves · 18 kn wind (4.3 ft waves · 18 kn wind)

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

Every forecast dive window each day, site-local time, from wave and wind forecasts. Numbers under each bar are daylight averages.

First light 6:09 · Sunrise 6:33 · Sunset 17:40 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 2.5 km from site · updated 25 Oct, 12:22 GMT-5

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary

Forecast · NOAA tide model

Tide & slack timing

Loading tide predictions

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

Dived here today — did the forecast match?

What Divers Say

Known for: Black sea bass, Nudibranch, Greater amberjack
Best time: Late spring through summer in calm weather, timed to the slack-tide window

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

  1. January, 78% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 12°C (54°F), waves have typically been 0.8 m (2.6 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  2. February, 69% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 14°C (57°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (2.9 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  3. March, 72% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 17°C (63°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (2.9 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  4. April, 84% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 21°C (70°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (2.9 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots
  5. May, 83% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 25°C (77°F), waves have typically been 0.8 m (2.6 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots
  6. June, 84% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 28°C (82°F), waves have typically been 0.8 m (2.5 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots
  7. July, 94% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (86°F), waves have typically been 0.7 m (2.2 ft), wind has typically been 15 knots, historically most favorable
  8. August, 81% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (86°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (2.9 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots
  9. September, 67% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (81°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.6 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  10. October, 61% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 23°C (74°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.7 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots
  11. November, 72% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 20°C (67°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (2.9 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots
  12. December, 61% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 15°C (58°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.3 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots

July has typically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life seen at this site

Species noted at this site — not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

Rough labels: “Commonly seen” usually means two or more recorded sightings near this site in public dive logs (GBIF), “Occasionally seen” one; “Seasonal” and “Rarely seen” come from dive-guide research. Not a measured rate.

The underwater calendar

When these animals are most recorded around US & Canada — Atlantic coast — from open sighting data, not a promise.

Watch the whole year animate on the Migrations map

Fills & rentals nearby

No dive shops mapped within 25 km (16 mi). Know one? Add it to the map.

Data updated June 2026

Site details

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.

boatdriftreef

Strong offshore currents, unpredictable visibility (sometimes under 15 ft), jellyfish, live-boating ascents in open water, 8-10 ft coastal tidal swings complicating navigation

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