Scuba diving in the Caribbean

[romualda]

Where is the best SCUBA diving on the Caribbean? I have only been in Florida, so I am looking to try something new.

[romualda]

We are a family of serious divers and go all over the world. The best place in the Caribbean is St. Lucia. We love it. One of the best parts is that many of the great reefs are located just off the beach. So no one had to end up sitting on the boat waiting for others. If you took a shorter dive, you could sit on the beach with a pina colada while the other divers took their time. And the views above the water are just as amazing as the world that lies beneath. Our favorite place to stay in the Anse Chastanet Resort. Go - Dive - and have fun! We did - and will go back as much as we can.

[Minniecurl]

Hi Im relatively new at diving compared to some folks out there but was most mesmerized at the diving in St.Lucia,it was breath taking good for novices and pros alike.I stayed at the Jalousie inn.It was a lovely place yuo can dive right off the beach no need to go on a long boat ride.The dive masters were nice and accomodating saw everything from beautiful schools of fish to sea turtles.

[pmanuel]

Belize may not be in the Caribbean per say, but the diving is great. There are so many places to dive that are fantastic. In a week I did three of probably 30 sites. My daughter was certified while I was there so you can guess there are dives for every level, all the way up to the blue Hole, a nitrox (sp) dive. There areruins and zip lines and cave tubing, so there's a lot to do. I liked the jamaca man kick back life style there on the Island.I've been trying to find a kick back dive resort in the Caribbean. I'm looking for something similar to Belize with the palm leaf villas on the beach. If anyone knows where I might find what I'm looking for, please let me know.

[Dougcook]

BVI - I've been diving in the British Virgin Islands for many years - Usually while curising in a bairboat sailing charter. Lots of varied dive sites, most accessible only by boat. The BVI is laid back, no high rises or big resorts. You can stay on a small island (Cooper Is, Peter Is, etc) or one of the 2 bigger islands (Tortola, Virgin Gorda), or charter a sail boat (bareboat or crewed) and have it all.

[Dougcook]

BVI - I've been diving in the British Virgin Islands for many years - Usually while crusing in a bareboat sailing charter. Lots of varied dive sites, most accessible only by boat. The BVI is laid back, no high rises or big resorts. You can stay on a small island (Cooper Is, Peter Is, etc) or one of the 2 bigger islands (Tortola, Virgin Gorda), or charter a sail boat (bareboat or crewed) and have it all.

[lhbrown]

I agree with Dougcook, the BVIs have it all. There is wonderful diving in the Norman Sound near Bitter End on Virgin Gorda. Also, Bitter End Resort and Yacht Club runs regular dive boats and give lessons. They will take you on some wonderful dives. You can stay at the Bitter End Resort but I would recommend Biras Creek Resort which is a lovely LL property with good auctions at the moment. From there you can also charter a boat to go over to Anagada Island, a wonderful unspoiled island with good diving and snorkeling and wonderful grilled Lobsters at LobLolly Bay Beach Restaurant.

Another good place would be Peter Island from which you can explore The Caves. Also a good LL property for action. Peter Island has lots of activities and good activities program, sailing, diving, etc.

[curtiejoe]

Turks & Caicos has arguably the most spectacular scuba diving and snorkeling in the world. We've dived in a number of awesom locations off Florida, The Bahamas, Cuba, and Mexico over the last 25 years. By far though, the best we've ever found so far is off the Island of Providentiales (aka Provo). T & C features easy diving conditions, lots of marinas and dive outfitters (PADI) and spectacularly clear emerald waters with amazing visibility (up to 200'). It also has an incredibly healthy and unspoilt coral reef system that stretches about 65 miles across and extends over 200 miles in length! This spectacular area teems with an abundance of fish and marine life and is easily reached by sailing charters or motorboat excursions that can usually be arranges through most major resorts.Most exciting is the fact that vast stretches of this coral system has been set aside for conservation and diving by the T & C government and are ideal for diving and an unforgettable experience surrounded often by bottlenosed dolphins, leatherback turtles, and colonies of breeding nurse sharks. AWESOME1

[eilujw]

If you are looking for a low key dive vacation, I highly reccomend either Saba or Bonaire. Both islands focus on diving and have well protected reefs. They are worth the extra effort to get there. Once there, even the best hotels are very reasonable, and service is excellent, as they want you to come back.

Low key: If you are looking for nightlife, these islands are not for you. If you want to dive and meet other like-minded travelers, eat some fresh fish, and lounge in the sun, maybe bird watch, these islands are great.

Bonaire: The island has great dive sites all very close to the shore. In fact, free air tanks are offered at most hotels, and you can shore dive at the many spots marked along the ocean road. Many sites are just a few steps from the beach. I stayed at the Divi flamingo and literally jumped off the hotel pier for a dive. I understand the Plaza hotel is the same way (although much more upscale -a friend's brother stays there every year). They grill up fresh fish in town right next to the tables. You can go looking for flamingos as the island is one of few nesting grounds.

Saba is a small island, a true pristine jewel. Very clean and picturesque. We dove with Sea Saba and rented a cottage through them as well. The dive shop picks you up each morning and takes your dinner reservations. (as it is a small island with limited...but excellent...choices, they fill up fast!) You will probably run into your fellow divers all over the island. There is also great hiking and bird watching...if you aren't too tired from diving. We found the service to be excellent. We just walked over to the dive shop with any question at all and they found the answers. You can also take a ferry over from St. Maartin for the day, or take the ferry if you don't like landing on a runway the size of an aircraft carrier.

Enjoy!

[two2go]

b-martin

My husband loves to scuba dive, and the place that I remember him enjoying the most was the Cayman Islands. He spoke above reefdiving & cave diving on the Island. I believe that was one of the only places he experienced this kind of diving.

two2go