Under The Sea

With an increasing number of the Caribbean’s PADI scuba dive operators specializing in working with the world's largest super yachts, we look at what the region has to offer underthe waves.

Gin-clear waters are a genuine eye-opener for first-time divers in the Caribbean - the joy of dropping over the edge into 150 feet of visibility is an exhilarating promise of things to come. Far reaching underwater panoramas bring untold pleasure and redefine the perfect dive - the views are expansive with greater potential for intimate interaction with marine life and you can easily track your entire dive party. Whilst diving in the Caribbean’s pools of liquid light, it is tempting to hold your hand in front of your face and ask, “I am underwater, right?” The sun-drenched Caribbean isles offer a steady year-round climatewith very little variation to temperatures unless you scale a mountain or venture deep inland. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean boasts a tropical climate with average summer temperatures typically hovering around 32 degrees C.

The waters of the Caribbean are warm, clear and with lower salinity levels than the neighbouring Atlantic. A source of the Gulf Stream, the Caribbean Sea is warm, clear and calm throughout the year but many divers say visibility is at its best from December to May.With hundreds of islands, each with something unique to offer divers, the Caribbean region is unrivalled for scuba exploration. Most the main islands have top scuba diving infrastructure; marinas, great dive shops, English-speaking instructors, knowledgeable dive guides and a good range of equipment hire facilities. Dive centres often have a base in a hotel or resort or can be booked direct by phone or email.

Keen to earn your dive ticket? The Caribbean islands have a large number of reputable dive outfits, such as PADA certified dive schools. Popular dive sites are at there busiest April to October when the water is particularly calm and clear. Caribbean dive sites offer an abundance of biodiversity and consistently delivers on the sheer magnificent of its coral reefs and habitats. Its the home to the second largest coral reef barrier in the world, the Caribbean boasts beautiful tropical fish and varicoloured sponges unlike any other place on Earth. Discover parrot fish, queen fish, butterfly fish and teeny nudibranchs, sea horses, anemones and jawfish or the larger moray eels, nurse sharks, and different species of rays, in warm, fertile waters that are home to humpback whales during migration, giant sea turtles and pods of dolphins.

The Caribbean offer scuba diving destinations that are unlike one-another with a diverse range of sites from spectacular coral reefs, old wrecks, new wrecks shore dives, sheer walls, boat dives, gentle drop-offs, pinnacles and live-aboards that are suitable for all levels. Hundreds of the islands, inlets and cays in the 30+ countries that make up the Caribbean have waters that are calm and protected from currents - perfect for inexperienced divers, or family groups.Scuba diving is a really enjoyable way to keep you fit. According to PADI research, an average shore-dive in temperate water can burn as many as 600 calories per hour — the same as jogging.

A leisurely boat dive in warm, tropical waters burns about 300 calories an hour, equivalent to hiking or a brisk walk.As a region so inextricably linked with unpolluted, clear waters and healthy reefs, the Caribbean recognises its environmental responsibility and has worked hard, collaboratively and as individual nations, to protect its unique eco-systems, wildlife and marine habitats. Caribbean reefs are a precious resource and a manor draw with international divers, with dive tourism contributing hundreds of millions of dollars to the Caribbean economy each year. By choosing the Caribbean as the destination of your next diving holiday, you are playing a role in keeping its coastal habitat protected through marine parks and conservation programs to promote reef conservation and encourage sustainable diving practices and protocols.

Dive sites in the Caribbean attract visitors from all over the world who enjoy the laid-back pace and welcoming warmth of the islands. Making new friends happens easily at informal dive briefings, leisurely boat trips and through the shared experiences of unforgettable dives in jaw-dropping Caribbean settings. Friendliness and a gentle rhythm of life ensures the Caribbean region is one of the most relaxing places in the world. Six of the BestCaribbean Dive Sites1.     St Croix, US Virgin Islands2.     Saba, St Maarten3.     Grand Anse, Grenada4.     Bonaire, ABC Islands5.     Speyside, Tobago6.     Anse Chastanet, St Lucia