You’d be pushed to do all of Tobago’s dives in a fortnight’s holiday. Whether you’re a beginner or advanced diver, there’s
something for everyone.
The outflow of South America’s Orinoco River, the Southern Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea, all meet around the island of Tobago. Consequently, the surrounding waters are
teeming with nutrients and underwater life.
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Novice
or expert -
Tobago caters for both |
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So what can you see?
Over 300 species of coral, including the world’s largest brain coral, fish
galore - Glassy Sweepers and Spotted Drums. Fairy
Basslets, Parrotfish, Barracuda, Triggerfish, Sergeant Majors, every species of Angel Fish. Southern Stingrays, Morays,
Turtles, Nurse Sharks, as well as on the Northern Atlantic side of
Speyside, drift diving with
Manta Rays, and Tarpon.
Manta season runs from November to June, and peaks in January & February. During this period,
Manta Rays can be seen at Speyside, around Little Tobago and Goat Islands. Far from shy, Mantas are not afraid of divers! When not feeding, they will often approach divers, begging for a back scratching or offering an ride. A ride on one of these 'Tobago Taxis' is an experience no one can forget.
Speyside has been described as the ‘Disneyland’ of
diving. An apt description, with its diverse range of dives and the surprise creatures that visit this part of the sea.
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Whale Sharks, the biggest fish in the sea, are rare in the Caribbean. They are most often
seen in Tobago in the summer time - June and July being the most likely months for an encounter with these giants.
There is no way to be sure exactly when or where a whale shark will arrive in Tobago, or how long it will linger, but if you are lucky enough dive with one, you’ll never forget it.
There’s an island wide Association of Dive Operators
( see weblinks below ) whose instructors are all PADI , NAUI
or BSAC certified. The island also has a
recompression chamber to deal with cases of decompression sickness.
New dive sites
From the autumn of 2003, the number of dive sites in
Tobago was increased with the addition of two new
wrecks. The first is in the Speyside area
between Goat Island and the mainland, at the northeast
tip of the island. The second went down off Mount Irvine Point on the Caribbean
side, very near to the wreck of the MV Maverick, which
is a popular site with divers.
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As
well
as the fish - there are over 300 species of coral |
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The Moon
The moon has a dramatic effect on the currents along the Atlantic coast of Tobago. The few days prior to a full moon usually brings stronger and less predictable currents, and rougher seas. This does not prohibit diving, it just makes for more exciting high energy drift dives! Atlantic currents return to their normal predictable pace and direction a day or so after the passing of the full moon.
Dive operators and hotels can arrange packages and dive
courses to suit you. Tobago has plenty of dive operators.
Check around before you book.
There are a number of good websites with up to date detailed
information telling you all about scuba diving in Tobago. See
below.
Most hotels can
organise dive trips for you, but a few are specialist and
popular dive hotels. We know some of them personally and
feature them on our site. They are
Ocean
Point Hotel
Manta Lodge
Blue Waters Inn
Plantation Beach
Villas.
All of these accommodations will give you accommodation discounts if you
quote us when you contact them.
Useful
Tobago scuba diving websites
Association of Tobago Dive Operators
http://www.tobagoscubadiving.com
Read descriptions of Tobago's 12 dive operators and 44
dive sites
http://www.caribdiveguide.com/tobago.htm
British Sub-Aqua
Club in Tobago
http://www.bsactravelclub.co.uk/where/tobago.htm
Aquamarine Dive in Tobago
http://www.aquamarinedive.com
Dive Safety
Association
http://www.diversalertnetwork.org
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