Tag Archives: Caribbean

General

Scuba diving in Barbados

Barbados is an island country in the Caribbean and, like many other islands in the area, it has a lot to offer to scuba divers. This coral island is about 34 by 23 kilometers (or 21 by 14 miles) and has the population of about 280 000 people.

South coast of Barbados, West Indies.
South coast of Barbados (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Dive sites

You will find dive sites all along the west coast. There are also several sites along the east coast: starting near the easternmost point of the island — the East Point Lighthouse — and stretching several kilometers north.

Map of Barbados
Map of Barbados (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Reef diving in Barbados is best done by boat. The reefs are several hundred meters from the shore and, in some places, they can be out as far as three kilometers (two miles).

Wreck diving in Barbados

If you want to go wreck diving in Barbados, Stavronikita is a must-see.  It is a 365 foot cargo ship that lies some 400 meters from the shore on the west-coast. While “the Stav” is arguably the most impressive wreck in the waters of Barbados, you may find the Carlisle Bay Marine Park even more intriguing. The park has 6 ship wrecks in close proximity and on a single dive you can visit more than one of them.

Dive operators

There are at least two local dive operators, Barbados Blue and Eco Dive Barbados on Barbados. The cost of diving in Barbados is reasonable even though it is definitely the lowest in the Caribbean.

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Destinations & Sites

Diving holidays: Saba

Saba from ISS
Saba from ISS (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Saba, an island in the Caribbean, was incorporated into the Netherlands in 2010. It is a home for about 2000 people. It is also a scuba diving heaven.

The 13 square kilometer (5 sq mi) islands can boast of 29 of dive sites and, if you are on a larger vessel, even more.

A view on the village of Windwardside, from th...
A view from the summit of Mt Scenery at Saba. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If Saba is your next diving holiday destination, you can expect warm water year around (26-28 C or 77-88 F ). Unless there is heavy rain or swells, the visibility is from 20 meters (60 feet) upwards.

Saba’s coastline has been shaped by volcanic activity and it is therefore not suitable for shore diving.  There are three licensed dive operators to choose from with a variety of vessels to take you to the dive sites.

Even though Saba is part of the Netherlands, it is good to know that English is the principal language used on the island and the official currency is US Dollars, not Euros.

The local tourist bureau web site is a good place to start planning your diving holiday at Saba

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Destinations & Sites

Diving holidays: Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands are not only a popular travel destinations in the Caribbean but they are generally considered one of the best diving holiday destinations in the world. But what makes them so special for divers?

The Cayman Islands are a popular vacation destination for divers and non-divers alike. It is easy to see why. Photo credit: James Willamor via photopin cc
The Cayman Islands are a popular vacation destination for divers and non-divers alike. It is easy to see why.
Photo credit: James Willamor via photopin cc

Between the three islands — Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman — there are some 365 dive sites with moorings.

The most remarkable site at Little Cayman is arguably the Bloody Bay Wall.  The wall extends some 2 kilometers (6000 feet) below you but it is the abundant marine life around and on the wall itself that is most likely to catch your attention.  The shallowest point of the wall starts at about 6 meters (18 feet) so even  novice divers can visit it.  In 1999, a group of photographers created the Bloody Bay Wall Mural: a life-sized image that shows a 20 feet by 60 feet section of the Bloody Bay Wall.

Cayman Brac has a lot of opportunities for reef, wall and wreck diving alike. A must-visit site is the wreck of MV Captain Keith Tibbetts also known as Frigate 365.  Cayman Islands government purchased this 95 meters (311 feet) long ship  in 1996 and it was then scuttled to create a dive site. In a major storm in 2004 the ship broke two. The still impressive wreck is the home for myriads of marine species ranging from nudibranchs to barracuda.

English: Divers and snorkelers are able to int...
English: Divers and snorkelers are able to interact with wild stingrays at the Stingray City Sandbar – Grand Cayman (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Most divers visiting Grand Cayman want to dive at Stingray city. The site is just 4 meters (12 feet) deep and swarming with southern stingrays. The sheer number of them makes this dive a unique experience. And talking about unique experiences, do not forget to dive through winding ravines of the Maze, another popular dive site around Grand Cayman.

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Destinations & Sites

Diving Holidays: Saint Kitts and Nevis

Chances are that you have not visited Saint Kitts and Nevis , a Caribbean  country of two islands. You may, however, want to add it to your “must visit” list of diving holiday destinations particularly if you are looking for experiences “off the beaten path”.

A view from St. Kitts towards Nevis
A view from St. Kitts towards Nevis.
photo credit: CJ Sugg via photopin cc

In winter you can expect water temperature around 25°C (78°F) and around 28°C (84°F) in summer.

The variety of marine life is large. You may come across sea turtles, yellowtail snappers, spiny lobsters and octopuses as well as barracudas or the occasional Caribbean reef shark.  Some 200 wrecks in the area are sure to pamper even the most demanding wreck divers.

There are several scuba outfits that can take you to the dive sites and, if you are a beginner, you can also take your first diving course on the islands to kick-start your diving career.

The location of the Federation of Saint Kitts ...
The location of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
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