Babylon reef was among my favorite dives. With a maximum depth of 86 feet and an average of only 47 feet, we had plenty of time for happy surprises, including this beautiful loggerhead turtle startled from under a reef ledge. Its carapace was spectacular and virtually unmarked.

Babylon is a spur-and-groove formation reef but not in the traditional sense. Like the island of Saba, it is formed by lava flows from the now-dormant volcano. So, the dive hovers between alternating ridges of coral-covered lava and sand channels. Thankfully, we had over an hour of bottom time on this beautiful reef, too.