Wreck Diving in the Caribbean
By Greg Deskin
One of the best Caribbean wreck dives is the wreck of the C/S Charlie Brown on the island of Statia (St. Eustatius). Statia is only a quick 10 minute plane ride from Saba. I truly love vacationing on Saba. It is well away from the crowded reefs like Bloody Bay Wall on the Cayman islands or Palancar reef on Cozumel.
In its hay-day the C/S Charlie Brown spent almost 50 years lying fiber optic cable around the world. She was built in 1950 and is 327 feet long with a beam of about 41.4 feet.
The wreck of the Charlie Brown lies in 98 feet in water lying peacefully on its side. This wreck offers advanced divers, wreck divers, and underwater photographers the opportunity of a life time to watch everything from sea turtles to nudibranchs on the outside of the wreck.
For those of us who are more advanced, exploring the lone hallway that runs down the middle of the wreck is truly breathtaking. This hallway is wide open and runs about 120 feet through the wreck. Once inside you must visit the cable tanks and galley or move all the way forward to explore the reel room.
Unlike most wrecks the Charlie Brown was purposefully sank to form an artificial reef. But, she was not completely salvaged before the sinking. This now provides a look and feel of a real ship wreck.
Now, a little about how to get to Saba to start this dream vacation; Saba is what is called the Dutch Caribbean. The best way is to book your airfare to the island of St. Maarten. (SXM). Once you are on St. Maarten you will have two choices on getting to Saba:
Take the Winair flight to Saba
Everything is really close. Saba is only 5 square miles while Statia is 8 square miles. You can get to most dive sites within 15 minutes. Saba is a volcanic island with spectacular lava tubes underwater. The best way to truly explore these Dutch islands is to start at Statia for a couple of days, then move on to Saba and end up at St. Maarten. St. Maartin has a great rain forest and this makes a great day to decompress after all of the diving.
For more information on scuba vacations, visit our website – http://www.scuba-info.com/Scuba-diving-vacation.html
Greg Deskin has been a PADI Course Director for over 12 years. With thousands of certified students, he has been asked many questions about scuba and scuba equipment. You can visit his scuba website at http://www.scuba-info.com
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What Are the Top Ten Must Visit Caribbean Scuba Diving Locations?
By Mark H A Johnson
Ask almost any diver for their 5 favorite dive locations and I’ll bet they mention at least a couple from the Caribbean. There are many incredible Scuba Diving Locations in the world, but none quite like the Caribbean. There are a couple of reasons for this. Firstly the conditions are almost without fail perfect. You will so rarely see a day when the diving is anything less than amazing that you might consider it a sure thing. This is no doubt a large factor in the popularity of these islands, not just for Scuba Divers but for all holidays makers.
But in my opinion it is another factor that puts the Caribbean ahead of the rest of the world, and that is the diversity. Where else in the world can you find such a varied and interesting array of Scuba Diving opportunities so close together. Indeed it is possible in a week to dive as many varied sites as you could in several holidays elsewhere. From Sting Rays the size of table tops, to Russian warships. From Giant Sea Turtles and Moray eels to wild walls and diverse reefs.
So without further ado I am going to tell you about my personal top 10 Caribbean Scuba Diving locations, and the beautiful thing is this. You could hit every one of these incredible spots in a single 2 week holiday!
Curacao
Want to swim with dolphins? This is the place to do it. With Beautiful clear waters it is possible for small groups of divers to interact with dolphins. It is even possible to stroke them!
Bonaire
Bonaire is designated a Marine park, which means that diving here affords the chance to enjoy unspoilt nature as it should be. This is also a great spot to explore some ship wrecks.
Dominica
Adventure dive site like no other. Lobsters, Rays, Eels, vertical walls, swim throughs and some incredible plant life make this location a must see for every scuba diver.
Montserrat
This truly unique scuba diving location gives you the chance to explore post-volcanic waters where nature has truly been left untouched and unspoilt. Visit Monserrat for a true underwater paradise.
Saba
This Marine Park was designated a protected before any human interference could harm it, as a result this area is totally untouched and a fantastic place to see pure nature. It is not at all uncommon to see sharks and even whales in this beautiful location.
Turk and Caicos
Walls, Barrier Reefs, Coral, Shipwrecks, Whales, Sting Rays and a trench over 6,500 feet deep make these islands one of the most jam packed and diverse scuba diving locations in the world, an absolute must.
Grand Cayman
One of the top rated sites in the world, Grand Cayman is famous for Sting Ray city where you can swim with Manta Rays the size of table tops only 12 feet from the surface!
Cayman Brac
If you like exploring wrecks then Cayman Brac is another unmissable site. Home to the western hemispheres only Russian Warship wreck, an incredible vessel which is now home to numerous sea creatures and plant life.
Cozumel
This Mexican dive site boasts the second largest coral reef in the world, but if that’s not enough to keep you happy there are numerous caverns and caves to explore. Not to mention sea turtles and 6 foot long moray eels.
Belize
Home to ‘The Great Blue Hole,’ the largest ocean sink hole in the world. This perfectly circular pit is so deep and so dark that it can be seen from space! It is strange to see such a deep pit literally in the middle of a group of islands surrounded by serene blue lagoons. On top of that it is also possible to swimming with the worlds biggest fish, the Whale Shark.
With all of these incredible scuba diving locations it is easy to see why the Caribbean is considered by many as the best place in the world to go Scuba Diving.
For more tips related to Scuba Diving Holidays. Including the best scuba diving locations, planning scuba diving tours and lots of other helpful information.
Please visit Scuba Diving Holidays.
Thanks for reading.
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Scuba Diving in the Caribbean Islands
By Bob Jonathan
Scattered on the Atlantic Ocean are the islands that make up the Caribbean, one of the world’s most popular beach destinations. The Caribbean is a famous destination of those going on their honeymoon or those who have retired and spend the rest of their lives living in the beautiful scenery of the Caribbean.
With its lush beauty, however, the Caribbean has slowly become a famous destination for ecotourism, as its islands boast of exotic flora and fauna, while its waters are teeming with marine life. Nature lovers would surely find the Caribbean a paradise on earth; land or sea, the Caribbean has sights that would take one’s breath away. With year-round airfare and accommodations deals, traveling to the Caribbean is a good way to spend one’s vacation.
The Caribbean is made up of 7,000 islets, cays, reefs, and islands that are spread across the Caribbean Plate. With varied terrain, the Caribbean is the perfect destination for nature lovers, as the region boasts of a biodiversity hotspots. The Caribbean has ecosystems that range from cactus scrublands to cloud forests. Add beautiful beaches to the mix and you have one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Diving in the Caribbean is a unique experience. Boasting with beautiful beaches and a rich marine life, Caribbean diving offers guests the wonders of nature and luxurious accommodations. The islands’ exotic beauty draws divers from the all over the world. From simple equipment to the most sophisticated diving gear, diving resorts in the Caribbean cater to its guests’ needs. The seas of the region are perfect for any kind of diver: whether experienced or a beginner, Caribbean diving is a wonderful experience.
One of the most popular spots for diving in the Caribbean is Bonaire. A leader in marine conservation, the waters of Bonaire have remained unspoiled, allowing marine life to flourish. With its rich marine wildlife, diving in the Caribbean allows divers to have an up close look at world’s most exotic species of fish, turtles, corals, reefs and other sea creatures and sights. Diving resorts in the Caribbean are scattered across the region, each offering accommodations and amenities that range from luxurious to quaint and charming.
The Caribbean islands has several diving destinations. With a little research, experienced and novice divers could find the perfect place for diving in the Caribbean. With each island offering a unique experience to divers and simple travelers, the Caribbean is the perfect destination for those who love the water.
For more onCaribbean Islands Travel Information visit GoVisitCaribbean.com. Complete information on Diving in Caribbean, diving in Aruba, diving in Barbados and all other Caribbean islands.
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Scuba Diving in the Caribbean – The Greatest Way To Examine Its Beauty
By James A. Penn
Caribbean scuba diving is one of the rare pleasures available to people vacationing along the warm and clear waters of that tropical paradise. Throughout the year the Caribbean offers comfortable and beautiful weather with white sandy beaches that make the perfect vacation spot for hundreds and thousands of tourists every year. Caribbean scuba diving can be enjoyed in more than 30 locations in the Caribbean Sea and they are all offer scuba diving facilities throughout the year. The difference between these various locations is that they offer you the choice of going the regular tourist way and saying in the company of other travelers like you or you could opt to go for a more non-tourist approach and try to spend the time there like the locals.
One of the rarer spots for Caribbean scuba diving is found on the island of Antigua. Replete with the usual Caribbean advantages of great beaches and clement weather it also has some historical locations that make it a good place to collect memories. While the scuba diving around Antigua is not really deep, it is still breathtaking with the coral reefs that are unmatched in the entire Caribbean.
Another great place for Caribbean scuba diving was the island of Montserrat. This island was the home to a presumed inactive volcano that went unexpectedly active in the year 1996 and destroyed many locations along with half the town. Though the locals still maintain that the scuba diving is excellent though this has to be confirmed with the fact that the town is not nearly as restored to what it once was. This is also a good place if you like to watch active volcanoes at close range. Though this is not for everyone.
Then there are the well known British Virgin Islands that also offer some good Caribbean scuba diving. The British Virgin Islands are a group of small islands that attract many tourists every year. There are many caves, sinkholes, canyons, and ledges that make scuba diving a very interesting prospect in these areas. The most popular spot in the British Virgin Islands is the Painted Walls which feature rainbow colors during the dive. Wreck Diving is also possible here around the R.M.S. Rhone.
If you really want a remote and almost unknown place for Caribbean scuba diving then you should go to Nevis. There are many scuba diving sites on the east side of Nevis. Scuba diving can be done inshore as well as offshore with some beautiful naturally formed coral reefs.
James Penn runs the highly informative Caribbean website http://www.caribbean-charm.com/caribbean-beach-resort.html which details how to find Caribbean beach resorts & also the ten best activities in the Caribbean at http://www.caribbean-charm.com/caribbean-activities.html for families & couples.
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Scuba Diving in the Caribbean
By Alice Lane
Many people dream of scuba diving but really don’t have any idea of what that means other than they get to swim under water with gear that allows them to breath. For those who don’t know, SCUBA is an acronym for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. Even though it may seem easy and it certainly looks easy, there are many very dangerous aspects to scuba diving that you must know before you go for a dive. That is why it is imperative that you get certified by a qualified instructor before going for your first dive. Some all inclusive beach resorts in the Caribbean offer scuba diving lessons as part of their package. This instruction includes all of the basics on equipment use and safety including what is explained below.
There are a number of ways to use a scuba apparatus but the most common is having a cylinder of compressed air or a combination of gases that you breathe into your lungs through a mouthpiece called a regulator. Your nose is covered with your mask so you don’t try to breathe through your nose. Some fancier masks that you can get are actually full face and you are not limited to having a mouthpiece. With these full face masks you can breathe normally whether through your mouth or your nose. One thing you must be confident before diving anywhere in the world is that the air or gases in your tank are clean and will not make you sick. This is normally not an issue in popular diving sites such as the Caribbean.
Some of the other equipment you will learn about when taking dive lessons either before you leave for vacation or during your all inclusive Caribbean vacation includes your buoyancy devices. You may be thinking why do I need a buoyancy device if I’m going to be underwater? Buoyancy devices help you maintain floating at a certain level without having to fight either dropping down or floating up. The combination of using weights and air in your buoyancy device will allow you to float effortlessly.
If you are thinking about scuba diving during family vacations you may want to include your children. Your children can start as early as eight years old under shallow water conditions. At ten years old they can be certified as Junior Open Water Divers and at fifteen they can be certified as Open Water Divers. Other family members such as grandparents can also be included because there is no upper age limit. No matter what your reason for diving it is an experience that is unexplainable. You may want to see the beauty of the reefs and other magnificent areas in the oceans or you may want to have the excitement of exploring caves and shipwrecks.
Whether you do it with strangers or with your loved ones at all inclusive beach resorts, it is a wonderful experience when you have been trained to be safe. You can get your training before you embark on your journey to the ocean or you can get it at an all inclusive Caribbean vacation resort while you are there. If you browse SuperClubs.com, you will find you can enjoy scuba diving during family vacations or if you prefer, an adult only vacation.
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Scuba Diving and Snorkeling in the Caribbean: The Best Places to Dive in St. Kitts
By Justin Burch
Many experienced travelers consider St. Kitts to be a well kept secret, this small tropical island boasts some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving in the Caribbean. With a wealth of virtually untouched dive and snorkel sites, there are unique opportunities for divers and snorkelers of all skill levels.
The western side of the island features placid waters, visibility in the range of 60-100 feet and reefs that are known throughout diving communities as some of the most immaculately preserved in the world. Adding to the allure, most of the finest dive locations are an easy boat trip from the shore.
As a travel tip, it is recommended to enlist a tour guide for your diving and snorkeling adventures. There are several dive operators on St. Kitts, all with the supplies you’ll need to snorkel or scuba dive, but don’t forget to bring your underwater camera.
Though this article will only scratch the surface of what St. Kitts has to offer, it will bring into focus some of the most ideal dive sites in Caribbean.
Our first stop is Sandy Point Bay, a favorite site of Caribbean snorkelers and scuba divers alike. A unique reef with finger-shaped coral formations, the reef is rumored to rest atop a sunken battleship, as this area of the Caribbean Sea was site of numerous sea battles. Divers still find anchors, plates and bottles dating to the 1700s within the swim-through canyons and undercut shelves.
Black Coral Reef is the place for snorkelers and divers to spot the most elusive of coral at depths of 40-70 feet. Ask your divemaster or tour guide to point out the black coral, as it is rather difficult to recognize underwater. Also for the explorer, Blood Bay Reef and the small caves in its vicinity are home to several varieties of coral, purple sea anemones, yellow sea fans and rust-colored bristle worms.
Coconut Tree Reef is one of the largest reefs in the area and offers a unique challenge for both novice and expert divers, as the reef begins at a depth of 40 feet and plunges below 200 feet. As with most sites surrounding St. Kitts, the reef is in excellent condition and teeming with spotted drums, queen triggerfish and large filefish.
Also off the western coast of St. Kitts, rests the Monkey Reef, an intriguing flat formation of both soft and hard coral. Visibility here is superb and the edge of the reef is home to lobster, passive nurse sharks and lizard fish.
For experienced scuba divers, Nags Head is a dramatic, plunging reef in strong waters where the Atlantic meets the Caribbean. Here, the waves are home to stingrays, sea turtles, squirrel fish, sea urchins and several species of large reef fish.
In the channel that separates St. Kitts and its sister island Nevis, divers and snorkelers can find the Grid Iron undersea shelf that rises within 25 feet of the surface. It contains a multitude of shallow water corals, sea fans, sponges and large numbers of angelfish.
According to records, more than 400 ships sank off the coast of St. Kitts between 1493 and 1825, yet only about a dozen have been identified to date. There is perhaps no finer testament to the fact that there remain plenty of sites to explore and secrets to uncover on St. Kitts.
Among the known ships, The River Taw Wreck, a 144 foot long vessel, sank in the waters surrounding St. Kitts only 10 years ago. Both the ship and the developing coral reef are in pristine condition, resting at a depth of 50 feet. This is another great site to photograph a seemingly endless variety of tropical fish and sea creatures. The Beached Tug Boat and Brassball wrecks offer excellent opportunities for both novice scuba divers and snorkelers. As each wreck lies in only 20-25 feet of water, the underwater visibility at these sights is unmatched. Lastly, the M.V. Talata freighter wreck may be a more technical dive than the aforementioned wrecks, but the opportunity to swim with an unparalleled assortment of reef fish is certainly worth the effort.
This article was written by Justin Burch. Justin writes select pieces about travel in Caribbean for the St. Kitts Marriott Resort & The Royal Beach Casino. http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/SKBRB
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Popular Diving Location of the South Caribbean Islands
Tobago is the smaller of the two main islands that make up the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It is located in the southern Caribbean Sea. The island lies outside of the hurricane belt. Originally a sugar colony, Tobago’s economy collapsed after the abolition of slavery. In 1889, Tobago was made a Ward of Trinidad, and remained one until 1 August 1962.
The island of Tobago is also thought to be the island that the story Robinson Crusoe was written about. This island was also the filming location for the Walt Disney movie The Swiss Family Robinson.
Tobago is also a popular diving location, since it is the most southerly of the Caribbean island with coral communities. There are three wrecks located around its shores
Off Pigeon Point in the south is Buccoo Reef, where sea gardens of coral and hundreds of fish can be seen in waist-deep water. This is the natural aquarium of Tobago, it is the island’s best snorkelling and scuba diving place.
The Carnivals are held every year and it falls on the Monday and Tuesday preceding the Lenten period starting with Ash Wednesday. The lead up to Carnival includes many musical, cultural and carnival related activities such as the prejudging of the costumes.
Tobago’s weekly highlight is Sunday School, but do not expect bible classes. The beach party takes over the streets of Buccoo village, bursting at the seams with food stalls and dancers. Sound systems blast out dance hall favourites as well as R&B and soca calypso tunes.
Tobago’s food is typical of the rest of the Caribbean, spicy, creative, and yummy.
In Tobago’s capital, Scarborough, you can visit the local market Monday to Saturday mornings. Scarborough’s stores have a limited range of merchandise,
Store Bay is a stones throw from the airport, this is the heartbeat of Crown Point and one of the most popular beaches in Tobago. Glass-bottomed boats leave daily for trips to Buccoo Reef and the Nylon Pool. The area is alive with craft stalls, bars and the famous crab dumpling vendors.
Little Tobago is a small uninhabited island located just in front of Speyside on the east coast of Tobago and is also known as Bird of Paradise Island. It is a protected bird sanctuary. It is where David Attenborough filmed his famous BBC documentary, Trials of Life. You can see the frigate bird, the red-billed tropic bird, the brown boobies and the bridled terns in is natural habitat. It is ideal for bird watchers and nature lovers.
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/popular-diving-location-of-the-south-caribbean-islands-158932.html
Cold-Water Wreck Diving Tips For Caribbean Divers
By Brian Blum
Have you done much cold-water wreck diving? If you’re used to Caribbean diving, this is a whole different experience. You’re going to want to get trained and certified for drysuit, and you’ll want to either buy one (check eBay), or find a shop that has one for rent in your size. You can try, but it’s really hard to rent a drysuit. If not integrated in your drysuit, you’ll also need a hood, gloves, and boots. If the conditions are just right, you might get away with a 7mm wetsuit on shallower dives, but when the water temps at depth get down into the 60s, 50s, and even 40s, you’ll be uncomfortable without a drysuit. You’ll need open-heel fins (slipper fins don’t work well with boots), main and backup lights, a tank light, and a wreck reel. Signaling devices are also a good idea, such as a safety sausage or a whistle. Many wreck divers carry a knife or shears, too, in case of entanglement. If you want to do more serious wreck penetrations, you should train for Wreck certification, too – you’ll live longer.
I’m not some serious, expert, North Atlantic wreck diver – I’ve only done two 2-tank excursions here in the NY Metro Area, and three dives one day in Lake Michigan (which is surprisingly similar), but I’ve logged over a third of my 91 dives at a cold local quarry called Dutch Springs, plus two at another quarry called Brownstone. I’ve also done the PADI advanced and Rescue courses, and completed the specialties to earn PADI’s Master SCUBA Diver certification, but I have no professional or technical training. I know I’m only a couple of North Atlantic wreck dives ahead of the rank beginners, but from my experience, I have two suggestions…
First, I’ve seen some rank beginner OW divers get into circumstances beyond their comfort level, and it makes for an unenjoyable (if not dangerous) situation for them. Education and experience will always be an advantage. Don’t stop at OW – take AOW certification – it’s not a terribly brilliant course of study, but it will give you experience in five different skill areas. U/Nav taught me to check my compass periodically, keep track of my surroundings and landmarks, and measure distance by time, air pressure, or fin kicks; until then, I always used to just blindly follow a dive master like a tour guide – it made me more self-reliant. Wreck taught me to lay and take up a line, ways to avoid stirring up silt, and to be aware of situational hazards. Drysuit and PPB taught me how to better control my buoyancy and trim. Night taught me to use lights and signals, and to be comfortable in low-visibility environments – it made me more confident. Deep, Multi-Level, Altitude, and Nitrox helped me understand more about the physiological effects of diving – awareness of my own body and mind help me prioritize and make better conscious choices, even while stressed, rather than let situations own me.
Most (albeit not all) instructors and many advanced students are also some very good divers, worthy of emulation. Spending more time training with them will improve your diving in ways beyond just the content of the training courses.
Second, take things one step at a time and don’t get in over your head. I had already completed Rescue certification, a bunch of the above-mentioned specialties, and 60-total dives, including many in the cold-waters of Dutch Springs and Brownstone before I ever went out on a North Atlantic wreck dive. Visibility was just past arm’s length and the water temps at depth were 59-degrees (in late July!). I’d gotten used to such temps at Dutch Springs, but add in low viz, chop, current, a touch of sea-sickness, and the lack of personal space on a “cattle” boat, and you’ll see how the stress and task-loading start piling on. Reflecting back on it afterward, I realized that there were a lot of mistakes my buddy and I made on that dive, despite all the training I’d had at that point. Everything turned out well, but tying our wreck reel to the anchor line was a classic newbie error, for example. My buddy was less-experienced, and was relying on me, to some degree, since I had some fraction of the requisite skills for the circumstances. If I had to advise anyone else getting into such diving, I’d say, take it one step at a time:
1. Get AOW and Drysuit certified
2. Get a drysuit and get used to it; practice the Drysuit controls, buoyancy, and trim in a pool
3. Practice more at a protected local quarry or lake
4. Practice more skills and/or earn specialties for Night, U/Navigation, Deep, and of course, Wreck
5. Practice night dives
6. Practice laying, following, and taking up line with a buddy; using a wreck reel is a skill all it’s own, and you can even practice it on the silly little wrecks at your local quarry or lake
7. Do some local night dives at your quarry or lake and try the line exercise again with a buddy – get capable of using a reel and lights at the same time
8. Once you’re good at it, look for some deeper wrecks; everything is more challenging when you’re cold and deep – once you’re comfortable with that, do it again on a night dive
9. Last, but not least, before you go on your first serious open-ocean cold-water wreck dive, I can’t overstate the value of Rescue training; don’t think of it as training to enable you to save lives – think of it as training to make yourself a better, more-aware diver. Before my Rescue class, I used to be just another tourist on a dive boat – now I get my gear squared-up early and I’m more aware of the divers around me. I can observe and help the less-experienced divers, and watch and learn from those more-experienced. An important lesson from the Rescue course is to foresee and avoid situations where rescue would become a necessity.
Brian Blum is the founder, president, and chief consultant at Maverick Solutions IT, Inc. Maverick Solutions provides affordable IT consulting and technology support services, primarily to schools, NFPs, and SO/HOs in the New York Metro Area. Maverick Solutions is the alternative to keeping your own in-house IT staff, and we’d be happy to help you get more value from your existing technology investment. Visit our Website to learn about the services we offer, or read our blog, Maverick Ramblings, for assorted tips, tricks, and information of technology interest. When he’s not geeking it up, Brian enjoys SCUBA, skiing, cigars, travel, reading, and motorcycling. He’s a PADI-certified Master SCUBA diver with specialty certifications for Wreck, Deep, Night, Nitrox, Drysuit, DPV, U/W Navigation, U/W Naturalist, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Altitude, and MultiLevel. He’s been logging recreational dives while trying to decide whether to pursue technical or professional certification next.
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Caribbean Diving – Best Spots In The Caribbean For Diving Enthusiasts
By Randy Besosa
For every personality there is a perfect diving destination. But with 70 percent of the globe consisting of water, and thousands of diving destinations around the world, even the most detailed traveler will have trouble narrowing it down.
So put aside your nautical maps and read on, because Caribbean IN STYLE assembled an expert panel of underwater adventurers to identify the best diving in the Caribbean.
The nature of the dive site’s waters are what the panel took into consideration when choosing the top sites. While accommodations are important, for the serious diver, where you spend your time on land is hardly a factor in picking a site. There are certain base conditions that will guarantee a great dive site. From the wall diving of the Blue Hole, Belize and Northwest Point Drop-off, Grand Cayman to the shallow reefs and colorful fish of BVI or the amazing shipwrecks of Aruba, one thing isobvious: Narrowing the range of scuba spots to the Caribbean by no means lessens the variety and wonder that can be found.
BVI
Many divers plan their entire vacations around exploring the famed wreck of the HMS Rhone, off Salt Island. This royal mail steamer, which went down in 1867, is the most celebrated diving site in the Caribbean. Also, a popular dive site trip from the Yacht Harbor, is a site named “The Aquarium”. A shallow sandy bottom is decorated with a expanse of granite boulders similar to those found at The Baths, some rising to within 10 ft of the surface. An oasis in the middle of the ocean floor, it attracts some of the largest schools and varieties of reef fish anywhere in the BVI. Its lack of depth gives divers time to explore the ledges and holes between the boulders while admiring the schools of grunts (French, Spanish, blue striped), snappers (gray, mahogany, schoolmaster), chub, angelfish (Queen, French, Gray, Rock Beauty) and many others. An excellent area to look for lobster and eels, we are often treated to a visit from a stingray or nurse shark.
Grand Cayman
The small Cayman Islands probably offer more fantastic diving per square mile than anywhere else in the Caribbean. With dedicated live-aboard dive boats, comprehensive marine parks, hundreds of moored sites, premiere dive operations and topside facilities of all varieties, these islands are a diver?s Mecca. While there are terrific dive sites off the East End of Grand Cayman and in the Northern Sound, the greatest concentrations of dive sites are focused on the western end. Here there are vibrant shallow reefs and walls, canyons, tunnels and caves, wrecks and so much marine life your eyes will pop. Cayman Brac offers consistently great underwater visibility and fantastic shallow reef and wall diving. A huge Russian frigate waits in only 60 feet of water. Legendary walls are the highlight of Little Cayman diving. And these walls are often accented by canyons and swim-throughs and chimneys. There are great shallow reefs available as well.
The Caymans are not the only Caribbean dive sites suitable for all levels of divers, So even if your loved ones aren’t avid divers, they can still tag along for a good time.
Turks and Caicos Islands
These islands provide a rich assortment of relatively unexplored underwater sites, including sea lanes where boaters and divers often spot whales from January to March. A collection of unusual underwater wrecks includes the HMS Endymion, which sank during a storm in 1790. Miles of reefs house myriad kinds of colorful marine life. Right off Grand Turk, experienced divers love the many miles of “drop-off” diving, where the sea walls plunge into the uncharted depths of blue holes more than 2,100m (6,900 ft.) below sea level. As you descend you’ll see colonies of black coral, rare forms of anemone, purple sponges, stunning gorgonian, endless forms of coral, and thousands of fish.
Aruba
Penetrating the impressive hull of an underwater wreck often means coming across a school of anchovies or a watchful snapper hiding in the corner. Often it is enough to enjoy the play of light as it too finds its way into the wreck, reflecting off the bubbles emitted by your dive buddy.
Aruba earns its reputation as the wreck dive destination of the Caribbean with over half a dozen wrecks submerged in its waters. The Antilla, a German freighter — which at close to 400 feet long, is also the Caribbean’s largest wreck — is by far the favorite, even among longtime, resident divers, who always seem to find something new at the site.
Belize
The Blue Hole is a feature attraction of diving in Belize, especially for divers with an appreciation of geographical phenomena – this is your opportunity to explore the famous Blue Hole. Part of the Lighthouse Reef System, at approximately 62 miles from Belize City, the almost perfectly circular Blue Hole has a radius of more than 1,000 feet. The coral actually breaks the surface in many sections at low tide. Except for two narrow channels, the reef surrounds the hole. The hole itself is the opening to a system of caves and passageway that penetrate this undersea mountain. In various places, massive limestone stalactites hang down from what was once the ceiling of air-filled caves before the end of the last Ice Age. The hole is the opening to what was a dry cave system during the Ice Age. When the ice melted and the sea level rose, the caves were flooded, creating what is now a magnet for many divers. Today the Blue Hole is famed for its sponges, barracuda, corals, angelfish, and a school of sharks often seen patrolling the hole?s edge.
Randy Besosa for Caribbean In Style – Caribbean luxury vacation
For more information on luxury hotels click Caribbean hotels
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A Caribbean Scuba Diving Vacation
By J Aubin
Looking to partake in the warm, clear waters of a Caribbean scuba diving vacation? The warm tropical salt waters, year round warm weather and beautiful white sandy shores of the Caribbean a perfect vacation destination any time of the year for scuba diving.
There are over 30 possible destinations for you to choose from and every one of them has wonderful year round scuba diving available. The main difference between all the choices is if you want to experience the vacation with lots of other tourists or do you prefer to skip out on the tourist attractions and go for more of the local resident feel.
One of the lesser known Caribbean scuba diving vacation destination is a beautiful island called Antigua. With gorgeous hot, white sandy beaches plus plenty of historical attractions, make this destination very memorable. Most of the scuba diving here in Antigua, other then the southern shores, is not deep; but with the stunning coral reefs, most divers do not mind the shallow waters.
A once spectacular Caribbean scuba diving vacation destination is the island of Montserrat. Sadly in 1996 an inactive volcano that is situated on the island became active again and devastated many scuba diving locations along with the main town including homes, hotels and attractions. It is not fully understood how much damage occurred to the coral reef and in fact local residents claim the volcano has not affected the diving nearly as much as is rumored and besides when will you ever get an opportunity to witness an active volcano from a safe distance like you can in Montserrat.
Another incredible Caribbean scuba diving vacation is the British Virgin Islands. Made up of a group of smaller islands, these islands are very popular tourist destinations. Scuba divers can take advantage of amazing caves, sinkholes, canyons and ledges. Probably the most visited dive sites in the British Virgin Islands is the Painted Walls where you will experience all the wondrous colors of the rainbow while you dive. If Wreck Diving is your preference then the R.M.S. Rhone is available to you as well.
Nevis, due to a lack of tourist promotion is a largely unknown Caribbean scuba diving vacation spot, with plenty of fascinating scuba dive sites stretched along the east of Nevis to the west end of St. Kitts. You really must plan to travel around the entire island to appreciate the complete assortment of sites accessible. There are plenty of both inshore and offshore diving with an astonishing natural coral reef that is home to numerous species of corals and some amazing sea life such as sea turns maybe even some sleeping turtles.
Obviously there are dozens of other islands to discover during a Caribbean scuba diving vacation, so enjoy trying to decide on the destination for you.
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