Best Diving in the Caribbean

When it comes to spinning the wheel of (marine) fortune for the best dive spots in the Caribbean, we ‘d like to call a consonant, the letter B:

Bonaire

A tiny island of the Dutch Caribbean, known for its turquoise waters and year-round attractive climate. Sparsely populated (approx. 22,000 inhabitants) the island is home to an arid hilly landscape and unique fauna: home of the Cadushy distillery which produces their famous cactus liqueur and sanctuary of the flamingo, which is the island’s signature bird. And don’t be surprised if you have to stop the car for crossing donkeys! Its most popular attraction however, still remains its over 80 dive sites, all easily accessible by shore. A true Caribbean Dive Mecca; many times awarded the best shore diving destination in the Caribbean / Atlantic.

where to dive

1000 steps
Salt Pier
Alice in Wonderland

to name a few of the spots best known for the colorful coral structures and diverse marine life.

good to know

the official diving season is December – April.
yellow painted rocks on the side of the road or along the coast, mark the dive sites.

Bahamas

Holy Sharks! Yes, if you’re into more adventurous diving, you’re at the right 700(!) islands. The Bahamas is most popularly known for its crystal clear waters and great presence and variety of sharks: Tiger sharks, Great Hammerheads, Bull sharks and Oceanic Whitetips migrate through the islands’ waters in winter.

where to dive

Tiger Beach The tiger sharks are at this shallow dive site year round, and dives can be long. About an hour’s boat ride from Grand Bahama Island and mostly reached by liveaboard.

Fear not, sharks are not the only reason to dive into Bahamian waters, wrecks are also abundant here. Nestled beneath the sand and reef, about 50 wrecks are safely accessible to divers.

The James Bond Wrecks Famous thanks to the popularity of the Bond films, the two wrecks here are the Tears of Allah and The Vulcan Bomber, luckily both wrecks can be explored in one single dive.

Belize

The Belize Barrier Reef is the second biggest barrier reef in the world, with atolls, read; amazing dive sites, just beyond this reef.

where to dive

Located at the Lighthouse Reef Atoll, ” The Great Blue Hole” is even on the best dive list of infamous dive pioneer Jacques Cousteau. Stalactites and stalagmites are found in caverns as you descend. Photographs taken from the air have been awing television viewers and nature magazine readers for decades.

This same atoll hosts the so-called most colorful dive wall in the world: Half Moon Cay. Also known as a bird sanctuary, guided tours are offered on the beach.

good to know

Belize is outside of the traditional “hurricane belt” and has a short hurricane season, just August and October.
Whale shark season is March to May, and many divers consider this as the best time overall for a visit.
Mostly attracting so called “snowbird” tourists, this popular dive destination is busiest during cold weather months.

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