Barbados Diving

Barbados offers to divers a variety of inner fringe reefs found off shore with coral, sponges and plant life in a depth ranging from 30 feet to 60 feet. Experienced divers can enter the barrier reefs starting from a depth of 40 feet and going down around 150 feet and more.

The barrier reefs are located approximately two and one-half miles from the shore, and are famous for the large coral heads forming the habitat for thousands of varied multi-colored tropical fish. The abundance of dive sights and depths satisfy all experience levels.

Considered as one of the healthiest reefs in the Caribbean, Barbados's reefs have a wide variety of common and rare species, including lying Gurnard, Batfish, Frogfish and Sea horse, Giant Sand Eels, among many others.

Friendly marine creatures that approach divers in the belief their food is moving closer is an experience of a lifetime. The Hawksbill turtle is native to these reefs, the same as some large predators living on the bottom and feeding on the smaller fish.

Reefs closer to Barbados's shore have smaller but more abundant coral formations than those in the barrier reefs. Visitors can enjoy the warm weather of the tropical waters all year-round; however, summer is the best season to see Barbados at its best.

At some beaches, nearby wrecks are natural scenery for marine life that took those structures as their habitat. Wreck diving destinations is one of the most popular diving experiences in the world and it is said that no other Caribbean destination offers a better opportunity for wreck diving than Barbados.

Actually, there are 10 noted wrecks to choose from, but there are many others just waiting for the brave diver who wishes to discover them. Carlisle Bay has recorded more than 200 lost ships since the 17th century, many of them due to storms or pirates.

The S.S. Stravonikita was a Greek Freighter measuring around 365 feet long, that was sunk on purpose in 1978 and today lies upright at a maximum depth of 45 m (137 feet). During summer, the water temperature is 80º F warm and the visibility ranges from 40 to 70 feet, so what are you waiting for to discover the lost treasures sunk in Barbados?

Some of the more popular diving destinations in the island include North Point Lighthouse,

Bright Ledge, Bonita Bar, Tropicana, Church Point, Maycock's Reef, Dottins, Great Ledge, The Farm, Spawnee, Little Sandy Lane and Johnson's.

These are the most representative Dive Operators in Barbados, providing gears, equipment, advice, certifications and guided tours:

West Side Scuba Centre

http://westsidescuba.com

All levels of PADI instruction, fully trained staff, pool on site, air conditioned lecture room, fully equipped boat, one day courses, reef and wreck diving, night dives and snorkeling on request, camera rentals, video production of dives and free transportation to and from your hotel.

Barbados Blue

http://divebarbadosblue.com

Discover Barbados' limestone base with clear oceanic waters, white coralline sand and sunken underwater treasures. Water sports, include windsurfing and Jet Ski, scuba diving snorkeling, scuba dive learning by PADI certified instructors, and swimming in the endangered turtle habitat.

Caribe Ocean Divers

http://www.cariboceandivers.com

PADI dive shop established in 1995 and located on the beach on the West Coast of Barbados. Friendly and polite service, the best quality equipment on a comfortable and well-equipped dive boat is what many visitors claim. Basic instruction designed to get beginners diving in 2 hours is also available.

Bubble Adventure

http://bubbleadventure.com

PADI Scuba Diving Instructor and a variety of courses and dive packages are offered at the Center including daily Discover Scuba Diving classes, and numerous courses for children ages 8 and over. Snorkel trips are also available.

Dive to Barbados

http://www.diveprobarbados.com

State of the art PADI 5 star facility located on the southern coast of Barbados, within the bay of the popular St. Lawrence. Couses and diving activity takes place on the southern and western coasts, sheltered from the easterly trade winds and the turbulent Atlantic Ocean.

Eco Dive Barbados

http://ecodivebarbados.com

Environmentally friendly dive operator providing each client with a personalized, safe and enjoyable dive experience. All dives are tailored to suit the interests of visitors with a maximum of 5 persons per dive.

Ocean Adventures

http://oceanadventures.bb

Experience the underwater world and gully systems of Barbados with these operators, offering exciting turtle encounters and hiking, besides having fun experiencing the underwater world and gully systems of Barbados, other adventures include snorkeling, kayaking, snuba, sailing and many other exciting activities lead by experts.

PADI certification consists of the PADI Open Water Diver class, taking a minimum of 3 days in which the student reads the Open water manual prior to starting the class, that usually begins with a presentation, theory and practice in a water session, before undergoing 4 open water training dives.

To complete the certification process successfully, a written exam must be held after the open water training dives. PADI certification is internationally recognized, allowing the diver to dive independently or participate in dive excursions at dive resorts.