Caribbean Diving

Scuba diving in the Caribbean is not only fantastic for its sheer number of islands, year-round warm waters, perfect climate and thriving marine life, it also offers a myriad of choices for divers of all levels, including beginners.

Netherlands Antilles

The Netherlands Antilles is a stunning cluster of tropical islands which hold a thrilling selection of dives and even more kinds of marine flora and fauna. With a tropical environment with stunning colours above and below water, diving here will be truly memorable. 

Bahamas

With over 700 sun-soaked islands, endless white sand beaches and numerous dive sites, you’re truly spoilt in the Bahamas. Dive in for world-famous great hammerhead, oceanic whitetip and tiger shark dives, gorgeous coral reefs and shallow walls teeming with reef life, plus one of the deepest blue holes on Earth.

Cayman Islands

Hosting some of the best and most dramatic wall dives in the world, plus epic shipwrecks and the famous Stingray City, the Cayman Islands has something for ever diver. Renowned for having exceptional water visibility, you’ll easily spot the hundreds of fish species, turtles, reef sharks and more found there.

Dominican Republic

Offering some of the Caribbean’s best and easy reef dives, plus plunging walls, wrecks and challenging caves, the Dominican Republic has something for every diver. Don’t miss swimming with Silver Bank’s thousands of humpback whales and relaxing on the pristine beaches while you’re there.

Jamaica

Dive a sunken pirate hotspot, numerous wrecks, walls and reefs at this colourful and culturally-rich Caribbean destination. Jamaica has over 100 dives for all experience levels, plus a wealth of colourful marine life, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Turks and Caicos Islands

Boasting access to the third largest barrier reef on Earth, a 2000 meter plunging wall and abundant shipwrecks, the Turks and Caicos are unmissable for diverse year-round diving. Dive there by day or night to discover a myriad of reef fish, turtles, stingrays, sharks and even humpback whales.

 

Diving in the Caribbean

Scuba diving in the Caribbean is not only fantastic for its sheer number of islands, year-round warm waters, perfect climate and thriving marine life, it also offers a myriad of choices for divers of all levels, including beginners. Expect shipwrecks and colorful reefs, shark diving (particularly schools of hammerheads!) nesting turtles and crystal clear water.
 
Although it’s a relatively small continent, the Caribbean offers diving that can compete with even the most famous spots elsewhere in the world. With approximately 28 island nations and over 7,000 individual islands that stretch across the entirety of the central and southern American coastline, divers have an ideal opportunity to enjoy its rich diversity both on land and under the waves. Also, choosing the Caribbean to do your dive courses, particularly for first-timers or those with less experience, is sure to be a wonderful experience due to its mesmerising marine life, exceptional climate and agreeable ocean conditions. It’s just as great for divers wanting to gain higher certification levels, as there are weather-dependent areas where currents are strong, deep spots, caves and, as mentioned, awesome wrecks.
 
What’s more, diving in the Caribbean is logistically convenient, with shore and boat dives being common, and with many dive sites close to the land and to each other.  Furthermore, there are plenty of dive centers to choose from, as well as dive resorts and liveaboards.
 
The typical climate of this pristine postcard perfect continent is mostly sunny, warm and tropical all year round. It’s arguably thought to be blessed with the world’s most desirable climate. Temperatures rarely exceed 100°F (38°C), and daily temperatures tend to linger around 80°F (24 - 29°C). As its hot climate and warm bath water-like ocean don’t fluctuate dramatically throughout the year, it’s a great continent in which to pursue diving no matter the season.
 
Undoubtedly, the best time to venture to the Caribbean is the high season, from December to April, when the climate is more comfortable, drier and humidity is at an annual low. May to November is the wet season, with stickier air and more showers occurring. Notably, from July to October, there is a higher chance of hurricanes, however, these are known to be quite spectacular to see. The best time to bag a good deal for any dive package and to avoid the crowds is May to June and late November to mid December. 

Best places to dive

The Caribbean boasts many small countries in which you can dive, so choosing your next vacation may be unsurprisingly difficult. To help shed light on some more specific dive locations in the Caribbean, let’s go through a few favourites within this breathtaking continent. 
 
The Bahamas, known worldwide to be the ultimate paradise, are ­synonymous with shark diving. In particular, you can dive with curious great hammerheads in February at Bimini Island, famous for being among the best places on earth to dive with these majestic pelagics. The blue abyss that is Dean’s Blue Hole is a world-famous site, plunging down to 202 meters (663 feet). Divers come to explore and marvel at this incredible natural formation, and can also often meet dolphins, turtles and sharks nearby. Another Bahamian hotspot is the Exumas, featuring many sites with beautiful reefs, walls, blue holes, and wrecks where divers can encounter schools of reef fish, reef sharks, turtles, eagle rays and many more. Here is great for beginners, due to minimal current and endless reef bursting with vibrancy. The capital city of Nassau has it all in terms of diving. Wrecks, caves, walls, blue holes, open ocean shark dives, and easy shallow reefs for beginners, mean the sites around here are a treat for divers of all levels. It’s also considered perfect for obtaining dive certifications, such as deep, cave, wreck and even open water level.
 
Next, Bonaire is among the Caribbean’s top jewels for divers. Bonaire Marine Park boasts 86 dive sites, containing over 350 fish species and 57 species of coral. With accessible sites within close proximity to one another, Bonaire is popular among shore diving fans. Notable dive sites include Alice in Wonderland, Bari Reef and 1000 steps, to only mention a few.
 
The Cayman Islands are similarly popular, with plenty of rich dive sites to enjoy, such as the famous 251 ft long shipwreck, The Kittiwake. Sunk near Grand Cayman Island, it’s only a five minute boat-ride from the coast and unusually shallow, making it accessible for many divers to explore.
 
The Dominican Republic offers healthy reef and colourful fish just like the other Caribbean islands. However, it does experience a seasonal treat from December to April. In the Silver Banks, humpback whales migrate here where they give birth and begin the mating season.
 
If whalesharks are on your must-see list, the Bay Islands of Honduras (Central America) are amongst the best places to dive with these gentle giants in the Caribbean Sea. They frequent here mostly from March to April, but it's common to encounter them all year round.
 
Let’s not forget Jamaica, which offers diving for those of all skill levels. In its clear waters, you’ll encounter sharks, turtles, rays and colorful fish aplenty. Popular dive sites include Negril and Montego Bay. For newbie divers, visit Surprise Reef, where you’ll be surrounded by parrotfish and turtles over a beautiful reef. Another favourite site is Shark Reef, where nurse sharks and huge stingrays hang out on the seafloor.
 
The British Virgin Islands provide divers with shipwrecks, coral gardens and sandy bottoms. In Tortola, you can dive the famous RMS Rhone wreck. Sloping reefs at Pelican Island, Deadchest and Norman Island are beautiful, easy sites perfect for divers with minimal experience. In order to see sharks and rays, dive Virgin Gorda and the Dog Islands.
 
Barbados, albeit absolutely tiny, has to be on our list of Caribbean gems. It’s home to wonderful reefs, turtles and sharks, but in particular, it’s lined with numerous shipwrecks. Carlisle Bay, a shallow site that hosts seven wrecks, is a must for divers. There are plenty of fish, turtles, seahorses to been seen too. The Boot, another Barbados dive spot, you can enjoy soft and hard coral, and, on a good day, swim amongst tens of turtles during a single dive.