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THE CENTRAL CARIBBEAN
Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola,
Puerto Rico,the Cayman Islands
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One
of the island's most famous attractions, Stingray
City is a must-do for visitors to Grand Cayman. |
The
large land masses of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola and Puerto Rico comprise
an area known as the Greater Antilles. Add in the three Cayman Islands:
Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, and you have a Caribbean
dive paradise.
Cuba
is quickly becoming a bigger attraction for traveling divers despite
the cloud of world politics that still hovers overhead. Those that
have visited Cuban waters, especially along the southern coast,
rave about big fish, pelagics and beautiful reefs.
The
home of Montego Bay, reggae music and stunning topside landscapes,
Jamaica also provides diving along colorful mini walls where fish
life and invertebrates flourish. Though not dived as heavily as
other areas, the waters off Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Puerto
Rico also offer excellent underwater fare. Humpback Whales migrate
to the Silver Banks near the Dominican Republic every winter and
spring to calve and mate. A live-aboard trip to the shallow bank
provides snorkelers opportunities to observe these behemoths on
the surface.
It
is the quality of the underwater attractions that has been drawing
divers to the Cayman Islands for the last four decades. From a wonderful
selection of captivating invertebrates to curious fish, Southern
Stingrays, Spotted Eagle Rays and cleaning stations galore, the
Cayman Islands have it all. Grand Cayman serves up world-renowned
Stingray City and numerous sites along the East End where colorful
coral walls, canyons, caves and drop-offs buzz with activity. The
wonders of Bloody Bay Wall and life in the sand at Jackson Bight
are among the highlights of Little Cayman. Cayman Brac is legendary
for its great shallow dives, colorful schools of snappers and grunts,
walls and the wreck of a Russian frigate.
While
you might want to relax around the pool after a morning dive, there
are plenty of watersport activities, great restaurants and nightlife
to also enjoy on Grand Cayman. Life on Little Cayman and Cayman
Brac is a little more laid back, with nature being the primary attraction.
Dive Resorts and Operators
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THE LEEWARD ISLES
of the EASTERN CARIBBEAN
USVI, BVI, Saba, St. Eustatius,
Anguilla,
Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat,
St. Martin, St. Maarten, St. Barthelemy, Guadeloupe
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A
small group of islands known as the Lesser Antilles encloses the
eastern end of the Caribbean Sea, swinging in a downward arc from
Puerto Rico to Guadeloupe Island to the north of Venezuela. This
group includes the U.S. Virgin Islands on the north end, the British
Virgin Islands, Saba, St. Eustatius, Anguilla, Antigua, Barbuda,
St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, St. Martin, St. Maarten, St. Barthelemy
and Guadeloupe at the southern extreme.
The
main islands in the USVI are St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix.
Collectively, they provide a delightful variety of colorful reefs,
caves, walls, pinnacles, canyons, wrecks and even a pier where seahorses
can be found. Tortola and Virgin Gorda are the mainstays of the
British Virgin Islands (BVI), where divers can explore legendary
shipwrecks, prolific reefs and mini walls in the morning, and hike
up scenic mountains, sun bathe or go sailing in the afternoon.
The
other islands in the Lesser Antilles reveal strong influence from
the dominant cultures of the nations of England, Holland and France
that colonized them many years ago. Geographically, the volcanic
origin of Saba is reflected in both the topside and underwater terrain
where colorful reefs and rock formations slide away into iridescent
blue water. Not far away, St. Eustatius (also known as Statia) serves
up a series of wide, flat reefs and a variety of historic shipwrecks.
The
waters off Anguilla boast of a number of well placed shipwrecks
that have been transformed into artificial reefs as well as natural
coral reef systems. Antigua and Barbados are blessed with healthy
coral gardens, walls and wrecks, and there is a flourishing marine
park in Antigua. The lush green volcanic mountains of St. Kitts
and Nevis command the dominate topside, while black corals, numerous
swim-throughs and healthy fish populations are highlights of the
diving.
The
marine park and a combination of healthy reefs, plentiful fish and
frequent turtle sightings attract divers to St. Barthelemy (St.
Barts). The reef off Petit Ilet is the main drawing card in Guadeloupe,
while those who spend their time topside can enjoy a number of hot
water springs.
Dive Resorts and Operators
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THE WINDWARD ISLES
of the EASTERN CARIBBEAN
Dominica, Martinique, St. Lucia,
St. Vincent
and the Grenadines, Barbados, Trinidad, Tobago
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The
southern portion of the Lesser Antilles from Dominica to Trinidad
and Tobago comprises a region that is also known as the Windward
Islands. Unlike the low lying islands, atolls and mangroves in much
of the northern and southern Caribbean, rugged volcanic mountains
and cliffs covered with thick, green vegetation are the central
features here.
Surrounded
by deep water, Dominica is internationally known for frequent sightings
of billfish, Humpback Whales, Sperm Whales and other big pelagic
species. To the south, Martinique is noted for its healthy fish
populations, which include schools of curious Atlantic Spadefish
that cruise around numerous walls and pinnacles. St. Lucia is known
for its open ocean seamounts where pelagics often gather, but she
also offers wreck dives and abundant marine life in healthy reef
communities.
Drift
diving is a specialty off the rugged shores of St. Vincent and the
Grenadines, which are also popular among photographers seeking little
critters. And wrecks, reefs with healthy hard corals, swaying sea
fans and Nurse Sharks draw divers to Grenada, while drift diving
is the feature that distinguishes the diving at the nearby isle
of Carriacou.
Influenced
more by the Atlantic than the Caribbean, Barbados has vibrant sponges
and impressive coral formations. Several wrecks and frequent turtle
encounters added to the varied fish populations guarantees plenty
of action for photographers. The islands of Trinidad and Tobago
comprise a two-island nation whose underwater world is known for
drift dives and sheer pinnacles, where jacks and big pelagics are
often sighted.
Dive Resorts and Operators
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THE SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN
Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao
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The
southern extreme of the Caribbean includes the heavily Dutch-influenced
isles of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. Collectively known as the ABC
Islands, they are part of the Netherlands Antilles, a group that
also includes some of the Leeward Islands.
Aruba,
the westernmost of the three major islands in the ABCs, offers a
number of interesting wrecks to explore in water that is shallow
enough to enjoy long bottom times. The wrecks include freighters
that were sent to earlier-than-anticipated graves by torpedos during
World War II, a tugboat and some airplanes.Impressive stands of
brain coral, elkhorn coral, sheet corals, colorful sponges and gently
swaying sea fans provide excellent subject matter for photographers.
Bonaire
has long been ahead of the conservation curve and their efforts
have paid off in a big way, as fish life flourishes in the waters
off the island and off nearby Klein Bonaire. From the high water
mark to a depth of 220 feet, the water off both islands is a designated
marine park where the guideline of take only pictures, leave
only bubbles is fully implemented. Bright Orange Elephant
Ear Sponges, Black Coral Trees and impressive coral formations combine
to create stunning seascapes, but it is the world of macro critters
and fish along with a number of top quality, easily accessible beach
dives located all along Bonaire that are the feature attractions
for many visitors.
The
diving in Curacao rivals that of her sister islands. Over the years,
there has been less diving pressure on reefs in Curacao and that
translates into more virgin territory to explore. Great shore dives
with gentle slopes leading to walls, shipwrecks and loads of marine
life are the main drawing cards.
Dive Resorts and Operators
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THE WESTERN CARIBBEAN
and CENTRAL AMERICA
Mujeres, Contoy, Cancun, Cozumel,
Chinchorro Banks, Belize, Honduras
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Snorkeler
explores the
shallows off Caleta
Chacalal, Riviera Maya. |
The
waters off the eastern coasts of Mexico and Central America are
accessible to divers through numerous land-based and live-aboard
operations, and side trips to ancient Mayan ruins and wildlife parks
are well worth taking before or after your diving adventure.
The
vacation wonderland known as Mexicos Mayan Riviera lies at
the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula. Marvelous diving awaits those
who visit Isla Mujeres, Isla Contoy, the mainland resort town of
Cancun and the world famous island of Cozumel. Party hardy or relax
and regroupthe choice is yours. the island of Cozumel is well
known for exhilarating drift dives. Featured attractions include
undersea pinnacles, sheer drops, colorful sponges, sea fans, turtles
and a mixture of fishes that include Jewfish, barracudas, Nurse
Sharks and countless small, colorful reef species. Freshwater cenotes
inspire those seeking technical diving adventures, and many divers
visit the mainland to experience some of the worlds largest
and most ornate underwater caverns and caves. And, diving slightly
further south on the Chinchorro Banks, numerous sites on both the
inside and outside of the barrier reef provide big animal action.
In
terms of physical size, the Central American nation of Belize is
only a small country, but she packs a huge punch in the diving world.
Belize has it all from relaxing shore dives to sheer walls and encounters
with Manta Rays, turtles, and sharks. Wonderful diving awaits off
the shores of Ambergris Caye, Lighthouse Reef, Glovers Reef
and along the mangroves and islands that comprise the Turneffe Barrier
Reef, the worlds second largest barrier reef. Adorned by massive
stalactites and surrounded by numerous shallow reefs, the Blue Hole
is part of the allure of visiting the Lighthouse Reef area, while
marine reserves at Ambergris Caye and Glovers Reef ensure
healthy areas to explore.
The
barrier reef system that begins in the waters of the Yucatan extends
all the way into Bay Islands of Honduras. Great diving abounds near
the Bay Islands of Utila, Roatan, Barbaretta, Guanaja and the Cayos
Cochinos. Roatan is the largest and most widely known of the Bay
Islands, and as might be expected from her worldwide repute, the
variety of dive sites includes colorful shallow reefs, fissure-laced
walls, ledges and overhangs that are the home to a stunning variety
of marine life.
Dive Resorts and Operators
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