Buccoo Reef and Nylon Pool - Tobago's protected marine reserve

The Buccoo Reef and Nylon Pool.

The Buccoo Reef is one of the most accessible coral reefs in the Caribbean.
• It is a protected marine park located a short distance off Pigeon Point and store Bay beaches.
• The reef has a fascinating, colourful underwater life. World famous French oceanographer and explorer Jacques Cousteau visited Tobago's Buccoo Reef and rated it as the third most spectacular reef in the world.
• The Buccoo reef system is approximately 7 km² (30 mls.²) in area and consists of an arc of five reef flats that enclose a shallow reef lagoon and the Bon Accord Lagoon. There is patchy distribution mainly staghorn and star coral communities within the reef lagoon.
• The Bon Accord Lagoon is consists primarily of macroalgae and seagrass communities. The mangrove wetland fringing the lagoon is primarily red mangrove. Seaward of the reef flats, the fore-reef slopes to depths of 15-30 m. Brain coral, star coral, and elkhorn coral are the dominant coral species on the fore-reef.
• There are daily tours to the reef using glass-bottom boats these allow you to view the reef from inside.
• You are also given snorkel gear and allowed to swim briefly in some parts of the reef and the adjacent Nylon Pool.
• The Nylon Pool - so named by Princess Margaret on her visit there in 1962, is a shallow white sand area just behind the Buccoo Reef.

Hews Reef Tours

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• The waters of Nylon Pool are said to have the ability to rejuvenate anyone lucky enough to swim in it.
• In the 1930’s Cecil Anthony, a native son, was initially responsible for developing the glass bottom boat guided reef tours of the Buccoo Reef and Nylon Pool.
• Today because of the excessive exploitation, commercialization, pollution and the consequent destruction of this very fragile reef ecosystem, the entire area has been designated (1973) as the country’s only marine protected area under the Marine Areas Preservation and Enhancement Act of 1970.
• Criminal penalties are now available for any acts that contribute to the destruction of this irreplaceable natural wonder - The Buccoo Reef Marine Reserve.

Hews Tours operates the “Calypso Empress” providing guided glass bottom
boat tours of the Buccoo Reef, Nylon Pool and nearby No-Man’s Land.
They are very experienced and as trained professionals show great respect
for and interest in preserving Tobago’s treasured ecosystem.

Click Here to arrange your Buccoo Reef Tour