Teardrop

There are MANY names for this site: Teardrop, Bath-and-Tennis, Ron's Rock - and many others that local divers came up with. Teardrop Reef begins as a contiguous bank reef, stretching parallel to the shore. Its relatively flat top lies at an average depth of about 50 feet (15 meters). Here, you’ll encounter a mosaic of small hard and soft corals, along with medium-sized barrel sponges. As divers explore the east side of the reef, they encounter the classic spur and groove formations common to seaward reefs in Palm Beach County. However, it’s the west side that truly captivates. Facing the shore, this section leads directly to Ron’s Rock—a collapsed cliff area adorned with caves and crevices formed by massive boulders. Marine life thrives here: schools of snapper, grunts, and parrotfish dart among the rocks, while lobsters seek refuge in reef cracks. But that’s not all! Sea turtles, Goliath grouper, and nurse sharks occasionally grace the undercut areas of the reef. Ron’s Rock is a bustling hub with cleaning stations, juvenile fish, and even the occasional barracuda or hammerhead shark. As we venture northward, open sand stretches across what divers affectionately call a “100-foot (30 meter) leap of faith.” Stingrays, garden eels, yellowhead jawfish, and porgies call this sandy expanse home. Beyond lies Middle Earth (or East-West Ledge), rising abruptly from the sand to a depth of about 48 feet (14.5 meters) before vanishing once more.