If you want to want to go for a dive Barbados is the place to go. There are over 25 sites to go diving in Barbados along the west coast, including Carlisle Bay, North Point Light House, Bright Ledge, and Spawnee. All of the dive sights are within an hour’s drive of the capital city of Bridgetown. Experienced divers who want to avoid weekend crowds would love North Point Light House, located just north of Bridgetown. Divers can expect water depths of 30-100 feet, a brilliant display of coral reefs, and hundreds of schools of barracudas. Bright Ledge is the diving site to visit for the largest variety of fish. The clear water at Bright Ledge permits divers to see marine species such as Moray Eels, Nurse Sharks, and an occasional manta ray. Beginning and intermediate divers would enjoy Spawnee diving site. The water is relatively shallow and a great variety of tropical fish as Trumpet fish can be observed.
Most diving in Barbados takes place between the northern area of Bridgetown and extends all the way down to the St. Lawrence Gap. Transportation to the dive sites can be arranged through a private car hire, both public and private busses, or by a car rental. Abandoned ship wrecks and a variety of flora and fauna, including gigantic sponges, coral, and dozens of varieties of fish also make the west coast ideal for Barbados scuba diving and snorkeling.
Dive Barbados coasts and you will find a visibility of up to 90 feet. Barbados scuba diving enthusiasts usually head to Bell Buoy on the west coast. This enormous coral reef forest is home to thousands of schools of fish as well as barracudas and sea turtles. Diving depths range anywhere between 15 to 60 feet. Maycocks Bay is another northwestern Barbados diving hot spot. You’ll have no trouble spotting distant butterfly fish and barracudas since the visibility of the water extends all the way to 100 feet in some places!
Capsized ships, such as the Stavronikita and the Pamir, are also favorites of Barbados scuba diving enthusiasts. The Pamir is over 150 feet long and is home to thousands of butterfly fish and other colorful varieties that have made their home in the nooks and crannies of the old ship. Fish have a tendency to congregate around ships, so if you dive Barbados, be sure to have an underwater look at some of the sunken ships.
Not only is Bridgetown the capital of Barbados, but its surrounding beaches are perfect places to go diving. Carlisle Bay is a marine harbor with plenty of abandoned ships worth exploring. One of the shipwrecks, the Bajan Queen, sank recently in the year 2002! You might find a couple of washed up bottles, although you’d be lucky to find one with a message inside.
Diving in Barbados is not just for the experts. There are many shops in Christ Church and St. Peter that offer beginning day long diving lessons for around 70 Barbados dollars. The instructors will cover basic techniques of diving and go over the proper equipment and safety measures. They will then bring you to an area off the west coast that is suitable for beginning divers. If you have more time to spare, take a weeklong Barbados diving certification course for around 350 Barbados dollars. All equipment is supplied and you will earn certification that allows you to safely dive Barbados.
Barbados diving is one of the most popular pastimes in the Caribbean. The chance to see an underwater world of coral, rare fish, and sea turtles is the main reason why so many people decide to take a scuba diving vacation in Barbados.
