Top Five Scuba Diving Destinations in the Caribbean

Top Five Scuba Diving Destinations in the Caribbean

The Caribbean is well known for outstanding scuba diving (and snorkeling), and just about any destination in the region will have something to offer, but these top five destinations have some of the best scuba diving to be found anywhere in the world.

Belize is known throughout the world for incredible diving. The country boasts the second largest barrier reef in the world (after the Great Barrier Reef of Australia), with 185 miles of incredible reef and countless dive sites. Underwater visibility is routinely 100+ feet at comfortable water temperatures year round. There is the famous Blue Hole where divers can descend along the walls of a submerged cave complete with underwater stalagmites and stalactites. Not only is there reef and ridge diving, but also incredible and unusual mangrove diving, where divers can explore the waters around a mangrove island that plays host to juvenile barracuda and snapper and other fish that mature under cover of the mangroves before venturing out into the open ocean. There are several dedicated dive resorts on the island of Ambergris Caye, which is the hub of Belizean scuba diving, and many dive operators and dive schools.

The Cayman Islands have long been a hot spot for scuba diving in the Caribbean, having introduced recreational diving to the region in 1957. There are more than two hundred dive sites scattered between Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, boasting an average 100 ft plus visibility. There are dive sites suitable for all levels of divers, from first timers to Nitrox, on reefs and dramatic walls. Underwater photographers have enthused about the incredible diving and photo opportunities in the reefs surrounding these islands for many years. Dive resorts on all three islands are in abundance, offering customized packages to suit your needs. The famous Bloody Bay Marine Park, where the dramatic coral wall plunges from 20 feet to 6000 feet, is located off of Little Cayman, and attracts divers from around the world every day of the year.

Bonaire is frequently overlooked as a dive destination, but in fact, the island boasts 86 official dive sites, most of which are marked by yellow stones on the road on land, and each stone bears the name of the dive site. Out of the 86 dive sites around the island, 54 are shore dives, which means that you can park at the side of the road, gear up and off you go. It should be noted that divers in Bonaire must purchase a US$25 "nature tag" prior to diving, the proceeds of which go to the preservation of the Bonaire Marine Park. This Dutch island has many dedicated dive resorts and dive centers catering to divers of all levels of experience and ability. The island is serviced by scheduled international flights and via Aruba.

Aruba, located in the Western Caribbean, has some of the best wreck diving to be found anywhere in the world. There are at least half a dozen wrecks of various sizes and at varying depths to be explored, the most popular of which is the 400 ft long German freighter, the Antilla. The island boasts several dive resorts and dive centers offering packages and instruction by certified dive instructors. Though Aruba is Dutch, everyone speaks English, and there are numerous scheduled international flights in and out of the island on a daily basis, and it is a frequent port of call for cruise ships.

Saba. Unbeknownst to many, this Dutch island offers outstanding scuba diving in an underwater marine park set amidst dramatic volcanic marinescapes with thriving communities of tropical fish and an abundance of coral. Divers travel from all over the world to experience scuba diving at its best in the waters around Saba. This tiny island is best accessed by ferry or small plane out of St Maarten.
Find out more about Scuba Diving in the Caribbean

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By P M Johnson

Scuba Diving In Jamaica - Reveal An Amazing Underwater World

Scuba Diving In Jamaica - Reveal An Amazing Underwater World

When you ask someone, "What do you think of when someone mentions Jamaica?" their immediate response is always about the beautiful beaches and cornflower blue waters of the Caribbean Sea, but what should spring to mind is the incredible world which lives under it. This world of coral reefs and tropical fish is just waiting to be discovered by vacationers when they scuba dive.

There are many different dive sites in Jamaica, which means you have a fantastic selection of what you wish to see. Not only are there fascinating things to see under the water, there is also plenty to see above the water. Therefore non-divers can still come along on the trip and never get bored, so no one has to feel guilty about dragging their partner or children along if they cannot scuba dive. They can bask in the golden rays of the Jamaican sun on the boat or admire the wonderful scenery.

The coral reefs are located just off the Jamaican shore and are an incredible kaleidoscope of colours, teeming with hundreds of exotic fishes and underwater plant life. Divers find themselves winding through canyons and grottos in awe of the magnificent, mysterious sights they are encountering. It truly is the experience of a life time. If one thinks that Jamaica is paradise above water, it is heaven beneath.

A popular example of a dive sight in Jamaica is the Marine Park in Montego Bay, which offers dive sights for novices as well as experts, so everyone can experience the magic of the Caribbean Sea. The water is lovely and warm at eighty-two degrees Fahrenheit all year round and has great visibility of about one-hundred feet. It has recently established a fish sanctuary to try and prevent the further depletion of fish stocks, meaning that vacationers can dive, safe in the knowledge that the wonderful wildlife they see will still be there in years to come.

Another example of a place to dive in Jamaica is the Negril Marine Park, with its calm protected waters and seven miles of beaches - it is the perfect location to enjoy diving. The reefs there are utterly exceptional and consist of scarlet sponge fingers and stands of gorgonians. The majority of the fish population inhabit the deeper waters. Amongst the fish lurks the occasional nurse shark, which has even been sighted.

It is easy to arrange Scuba diving vacations where prospective divers are able to discover scuba diving by learning to dive and earn a PADI open water certificate, or simply master and apply their skills by doing one or two dives a day. The vacation can be tailored for an advanced diver desiring to become a dive master or a beginner wishing to learn to dive. There is something for everyone on a diving vacation.

There is a great variety of fantastic, private accommodation in vacation homes, and ground transportation is readily available. Professional diving companies such as Resort Divers limited, which is Jamaica's leading dive operator, and PADI- Five Star Dive centre is one company that can provide the scuba diving. The options are incredibly flexible, from one day beginner's Discover Diving course to a ten day dive master programme. Instruction can even be provided in a villa's pool, so everyone can get a taste of diving beforehand and completely enjoy the sea life when they enter the Caribbean.

Scuba diving makes a Jamaica Vacation unforgettable, and it can be completely stress free when you can plan it in advance.

Prem Chadeesingh is an authority on vacation rentals in Jamaica. He writes for Mysilversands, a company dedicated to providing quality accommodation in Jamaica villas, cottages, and apartments by the sea.
Prem lived at Silver Sands Jamaica for over seven years. He holds a BASc degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Toronto and an MBA in International Business from City University of New York.

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By Prem Chadeesingh

Turks And Caicos Scuba Diving - Time to Get Wet!

Turks And Caicos Scuba Diving - Time to Get Wet!

The islands of the Turks and Caicos are absolutely beautiful with powder soft beaches and aqua blue water. That water also holds some of the best scuba diving in the Caribbean. Scuba diving in the Turks and Caicos will delight you with pristine dive sites, great visibility and abundant marine life.

Here's a guide to help you plan your first (or next) Turks and Caicos scuba diving trip.

Lay of the Land: Turks and Caicos consists of 40 different islands and cayes, 8 of which are inhabited. There are two group of islands. On the West side are the Caicos group and on the east are the Turks group. The two groups are separated by the 22 mile Columbus Passage.

Unlike some other Caribbean islands, the Turks and Caicos are fairly flat with marshes and mangrove swamps.

We have only stayed on Providenciales ("Provo"), which is the most developed of the island group. As a result, it offers many hotels, restaurants, attractions, etc. Provo covers 38 square miles and is fringed by white sand beaches. This is where most of the tourists head. We are working on getting to the other islands, hopefully soon!

Provo is where you will find the absolutely gorgeous Grace Bay Beach, voted the Best Beach by Conde Naste. Many celebrities, including Oprah, have begun to show up on Provo. Most people stay on Grace Bay Beach and do their diving off its shore.

Location: The Turks and Caicos are located just south (30 miles) of the Bahamas and 575 miles southeast of Miami. It is only a 1 1/2 hour plane ride from Miami. It is easy to get to with many direct flights from the states, especially during the high season (mid-December through April).

Weather: Winter temperatures average a pleasant 75-80 degrees during the day and cool down to the mid-60's in the evening. Daytime temperatures warm up to 90-95 degrees in the summer with nighttime in the cooler 73-77 degree range. Summer can get hot and humid, like the rest of the Caribbean.

The rainy season goes from late May through November. Hurricane season is from June 1 to November 30. The most active period is usually September and October.

Water Temperature: Water temperatures range from 74F to 78F in the winter and around 80F to 84F in the summer. Most divers wear at least a shorty in the winter during their Turks and Caicos scuba diving trips.

Reefs and Rides: There are lots of great dive sites to explore during your Turks and Caicos scuba diving trip. The reef system here is 200 miles long and about 65 miles wide. Wall diving starts fairly shallow so it is also good for beginners. Some drop offs start as shallow as 35-40 feet. If you are a beginner, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend these islands as great place to start your diving career.

The government is also protecting the waters off the Turks and Caicos. Marine parks and fishing reserves have been set up in the islands. The Princess Alexandra National Park is off the coast of Provo and most diving off of Grace Bay is done within the boundaries of the park. Mooring balls have also been set up at most of the sights throughout the islands to protect the coral.

Since the reef is right off the shore of Grace Bay, you will have short boat rides to the dive sites. Our rides to the sites off of Grace bay were about 15-20 minutes.

So if you get a chance to go on a Turks and Caicos scuba diving trip, go and enjoy it. It's a trip you will alway remember.

Have a great time,

Dianne Rein from http://www.scuba-diving-smiles.com

Dianne Rein has traveled all over the Caribbean looking for the best place to scuba dive. It's a quest that will never end. You can read about her diving exploits and find other scuba diving information including reviews of Turks and Caicos dive sites and certification information at her website.

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By Dianne Rein

Scuba Dive Vacations - Totally Immersed!

Scuba Dive Vacations - Totally Immersed!

Some say that the choicest scuba dive vacations can be found in the Caribbean. Now we're not going to agree or disagree with this idea. We will leave it up to you to tell us what you think and where your best scuba dive locations are - if you want to share the secret?

Of course the Caribbean is well noted for its excellent underwater visibility, warm water temperatures and an abundance of marine life and dive sites that appeal to both beginners and seasoned divers alike.

If you went to the Caribbean scuba diving for solely the underwater creatures you are surely missing out on the most impressive range of treasures to be found there: from shipwrecks of old, drop-off wall sites to make you blink more than once, drift dives galore, cave adventures of an underwater kind you didn't expect, as well as shore and boat diving.

Preservation is extremely import to the Caribbean diving community and they are devoted to ensuring that the underwater environment is more than adequately preserved. Not only does the Caribbean have protected marine parks with thriving aquatic life, but the scuba dive vacation areas offers the most varied examples of tropical marine life imaginable, including angelfish, barracuda, crabs, dancing eels, goat fish, grouper, lobster, octopus, parrot fish, seahorses, sea turtles, sharks, snappers, spiny puffers, and stingrays.

If your are a complete scuba dive beginner, don't worry. All scuba dive vacations have dive facilities that appeal to beginners, who probably don't know a regulator from a wet suit. But that doesn't mean that the experience scuba diver and certified divers are not catered for as well.

We're sure you'll find a variety of dives to suit every notion you've had about scuba diving, and you can most definitely be assured that trained professional staff divers at the scuba dive vacation places will lead all dives. They will also provide instructions, high-quality Cressi SUB equipment, as well as courses for non-certified divers, and PADI (Professional Association of Dive instructors) or NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors) certification courses. That about covers what to expect whether you are a beginner or advanced scuba diver.

Articles by Peter Robson covering topics on gas moped scooters, bicycle insurance and fishing in the Kawarthas and visiting the highlands of Scotland can be found at http://www.basic-bicycles.topic.ca and http://www.gunnclan.net.

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By Peter Robson