Scuba diving Barbados Travel Guides | Barbados | Sports | Scuba diving Barbados

Although Barbados is among the more developed islands in the Caribbean, reef life is not as bad as might be expected and some reefs are thriving. 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 to the many ships which have sunk in storms or battles during the life of this seafaring nation. Barbados is surrounded by an inner reef and an outer barrier reef. On the west coast the inner reef is within swimming distance for snorkelling or learning to dive, while the outer reef is a short boat ride away and the water is deeper. Here you can see barracuda, king fish, moray eels, turtles and squid as well as some fine black coral, barrel sponges and sea fans. The underwater landscape may not be as pristine as some other islands, but there are some excellent wrecks worth exploring and Carlisle Bay is littered with bottles, cannon balls, anchors and small items such as buckles and buttons after many centuries of visiting ships ’losing’ things overboard or sinking. There are 200 reported wrecks in Carlisle Bay, but another popular dive site is the Stavronikita in the Folkestone Marine Park, one of the best diving wrecks in the Caribbean. There are around 30 dive companies offering PADI diving courses, equipment rental and other facilities such as snorkelling.

Carib Ocean Divers, at Royal Pavilion and Glitter Bay, T 4224414. Good, 32-ft boat with shower, dive platform and ladder, oxygen on board. Two-tank dive US$92, single tank US$52, beginners course US$92, Open Water Certification US$432, PADI and NAUI staff, good with beginners.

Dive Blue Reef, Mount Standfast, St James, T 4223133 0800-1700. Only six divers taken out on their 30-ft pirogue. Underwater camera rental.

Dive Shop Ltd, Aquatic Gap, St Michael, T 4269947. 0900-1700. 0800-1700. Two 30-ft boats taking 16 and 12 divers. Underwater camera rental. Good wreck diving close by.

Hightide Watersports, Coral Reef Club, St James, T/F 4320931, hightide@sunbeach.net 0830-1700. Small groups of no more than eight.

Underwater Barbados, Coconut Court Hotel, Hastings, or Carlisle Bay Centre, Bay St, St Michael, T/F 4260655. .

West Side Scuba Centre, Baku Beach, Holetown, T/F 4322558, peterg@sunbeach.net US$92 for a two-tank dive, US$34.50 for a snorkelling boat trip and equipment rental. In the summer they dive the east coast.

Barbados Sub Aqua Club, at the Boatyard Pub on the waterfront on Bay St, Bridgetown, T 4216020 (Rob Bates). A branch of the British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC), they meet at 0800 on Sundays; they do not hire out equipment but if you have your own they are most welcoming to members from other branches.

Eastern Caribbean Safe Diving Association, Box 86 WRD, Welches Post Office. They help to maintain a recompression chamber at St Ann’s Fort, T 4278819, for the Leeward and Windward Islands. It is attempting to establish minimum safe operating standards for dive shops, initially in the Eastern Caribbean and eventually, regionally.

Travel Guides | Barbados | Sports | Scuba diving Barbados
		Flights Cheap flights to any destination worldwide click here		Car Rental Compare prices for worldwide car rental click here		Hotels Lowest prices on over 60,000 hotels worldwide click here		Travel Insurance Compare Travel Insurance prices click here