Scuba diving has become the ‘in sport’ with the numbers of divers having increased dramatically in recent years. The epitome of a scuba dive is in clear, tropical waters on a colorful reef abounding with life. The Caribbean is a scuba diver’s paradise, for there is a conglomeration of islands surrounded by living reefs providing different types of diving to suit everyone’s dreams. Unfortunately, some of the islands have turned into a ‘diving circus’, as in some of the more developed northern Caribbean islands where 30 or 40 divers are herded onto large dive boats and dropped on somewhat packaged dive sites where ‘tame’ fish come for handouts. Other islands in the region are still virginal in the diving sense, which can lead to an
exciting undersea adventure. Nevertheless, this can also be frustrating on a diving holiday as on the more remote islands facilities are not often available and diving can be more difficult and basic. 

The Cayman Islands are among the most developed for scuba diving and there is a fine organization of over 20 dive operations, including live aboard boats. There is also a well-run decompression facility on Grand Cayman, which is an added safety factor. The Caymans are very conservation minded and it is a criminal offence to take ANY form of marine life while scuba diving. In fact, it is illegal on Cayman Brac, the smaller sister island, even to wear gloves while scuba diving. This helps ensure that divers will not hold or damage the delicate coral formations and other marine life. 

The British Virgin Islands, with some 50 coral islands, are well worth a mention as the diving is exciting and varied. Both live aboard and land-based operations are available with well-developed facilities for divers. Popular diving sites include the wreck of the HMS Rhone, a 310 ft British mail ship sunk in 1867 in a hurricane. She was the site for the Hollywood movie The Deep, which is what really made her famous. Other interesting sites include Turtle Cave in Brewers Bay which offers a spiral arch divers can swim through beginning at a depth of 45 ft and winding up to 15 ft. Many sites lie in the string of islands to the South between Tortola and the island of Virgin Gorda. To the N lies Mosquito Island.

Other especially spectacular diving destinations with abundant marine life include Saba, Dominica and the Turks and Caicos. Saba, a tiny Dutch island, only 5 miles long, is truly one of the most protected places for divers. The entire reef surrounding the island was established as a marine park in 1987 and this conservation effort has Other especially spectacular diving destinations with abundant marine life include Saba, Dominica and the Turks and Caicos. Saba, a tiny Dutch island, only 5 miles long, is truly one of the most protected places for divers. The entire reef surrounding the island was established as a marine park in 1987 and this conservation effort has led to an abundance of ‘tame’ fish. Saba diving is known for several deep pinnacles including Third Encounter, Twilight Zone and Shark Shoal. For the less adventurous and experienced, sites like Diamond Rock and Tent Reef offer the thrill of seeing large French Angels swimming up to the divers. The sport has been developing with both
land-based and live aboard diving boat facilities available, as well as a decompression chamber facility. 

Dominica, ‘The Nature Island’, or ‘The Water Island’, is a lush, mountainous island with rugged topside and underwater terrain. It is diving for the adventurous and not for the diver who wants easy diving although there are a few beginner sites. This is one of few islands left where black coral abounds and can be seen along the wall drop-offs starting at 60 ft. For the more experienced the Atlantic East coast offers some spectacular wall dives. Dominica was introduced to the diving world only a few years ago and there are not many dive shops.  

The Turks and Caicos Islands, which consist of over 40 lovely sand islands and cays, are located on the Turks Island Passage, a 22-mile channel which is 7,000 ft deep connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. This contributes to the abundance of marine life and large pelagic fish seen in these waters and spectacular wall diving in the channel. The islands are surrounded by coral reefs that cover over
200 square miles. Visibility is usually 100 ft or more and marine life plentiful. A wild Atlantic bottle nosed dolphin, JoJo, occasionally interacts with swimmers, snorkelers, divers and boaters and has actually been made a national treasure of the TCI. There is also a dolphin rehabilitation project, Into the Blue, in Providenciales, which
has so far released three dolphins from UK zoos, but they have no contact now with people. The strong attitude towards conservation is reinforced by Protection of Reefs and Islands from Degradation and Exploitation (PRIDE), based at the Sea Island Centre, a commercial conch farm. PRIDE is a US-based foundation which has helped in numerous conservation projects. There are several dive shops on Providenciales and Grand Turk, mostly catering for small groups of divers, and there are three or four live aboard boats in the islands’ waters at any one time. 

The Grenadines in the South Eastern Caribbean offer pristine diving, although facilities are limited. Grenada and tiny sister island of Carriacou offer limited diving facilities, as does Bequia, although nearby St Vincent is more developed for scuba diving. 

Tobago is another unspoiled destination which is worth visiting. This small island is close to the South American coast and large marine life is encouraged by the flow of plankton-rich water from the continent’s rivers. Manta ray are especially attracted by the plankton and at Speyside (also called Manta City) where currents meet they are seen on nearly every dive. Most diving is along the W and N coast. 

Barbados is among the more developed islands in the Caribbean and the surrounding reef life is not as unspoiled as on some of the less developed islands. However, there are some thriving reefs and within the last few years the island has become known as a wreck diving destination. Five shipwrecks have been intentionally sunk as diving
sites, offering interesting underwater photography. In addition, the island is the base for the regional organization, The Eastern Caribbean Safe Diving Association. This association helps to maintain a decompression facility for the Leeward and Windward
islands and is attempting to establish minimum safe operating standards for dive shops, initially in the E Caribbean and eventually, regionally. For more information write ECSDA, Box 86 WRD, Welches Post Office, Barbados. 

Bonaire, just off the South American coast, has long been known as a ‘hot spot’ for diving, and is one of the few islands (like the Caymans) which has devoted itself to scuba diving. A far-sighted government established a marine park way back in 1979 when conservation was not even being discussed by most diving destinations. Neighboring Curaçao has now joined her in this reputation, with an expansion of diving facilities and exciting diving sites. Aruba is not likely to equal her sister islands as she lacks the reefs which surround Bonaire and Curaçao, although diving is available. Bonaire, being very experienced in offering diving, has a wide selection of about a dozen dive operations, including photo and marine life education facilities. Diving sites are also varied with reef, wreck and wall dives. In fact, the Marine Park Guide for Bonaire lists over 50 dive sites. The town pier, right off the capital, has long been a favorite night dive and the pilings are covered in soft sponges and invertebrate life.  Curaçao offers the reef diving of Bonaire and a couple of wreck dives of interest. The freighter, Superior Producer (rather deep at 100 ft) is intact and has a variety of growth including beautiful orange tubastera sponges.