Having Fun with Scuba Diving in Antigua
Last Updated on Wednesday, 31 December 1969 15:59 Written by David Hughes Wednesday, 28 January 2009 08:41
If you are exploring for a holiday location where you can enjoy bright warm beaches with scuba diving facilities, you need to look no further, because the spot youre looking for is unquestionably Antigua. Placed in the middle of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean, Antigua is just adjacent to the north of equator, and offers warm waters and beautiful dive locations. The neighbouring islands of Antigua include St. Barts, St. Martin, and Montserrat. Antigua is the largest of the British Leeward Islands, and is 14 miles long and 11 miles wide.If you are exploring for a holiday location where you can enjoy bright warm beaches with scuba diving facilities, you need to look no further, because the spot youre looking for is unquestionably Antigua. Placed in the middle of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean, Antigua is just adjacent to the north of equator, and offers warm waters and beautiful dive locations. The neighbouring islands of Antigua include St. Barts, St. Martin, and Montserrat. Antigua is the largest of the British Leeward Islands, and is 14 miles long and 11 miles wide.
Apart from for the hurricane season, Antigua has delightfully warm waters all year round. The location offers clear dive locations, great scuba diving tour operators and services, and is overwhelmed with physical and natural scenes. There are a great number of hotels and resorts that offer deluxe accommodation, even in the low budget arena. The place also offers a huge number of scuba diving schools and tours, depending on your expertise level.
The water around Antigua is unmatchable. As it is surrounded by very well preserved coral reefs, walls, and shipwrecks, the water is very clear and the underwater visibility ranges from 40 to 150 feet. The southern and eastern coasts of the island are surrounded by shelves, which make it a great spot for diving or snorkelling, especially for less experienced divers.
Expert divers can go to many other diving spots, with the most well-liked being the ledge at Sunken Rock, situated on the southern shoreline of the island. The dive depths may range from 25 to 80 feet. Majority of the diving spots are placed near Antigua, and can be reached in just five minutes. On the other hand, there are some diving locations that could take up to 40 minutes to reach. The wreck of Andes is a famous spot in Antigua, where a merchant ship sank. With ample of tropical marine plants and underwater life, you can enjoy very much while underwater.
It is possible to sign up for various scuba diving courses or tours while on the island. If you are a beginner and have not yet learnt anything before arriving on the islands, it is a good idea to enrol in a one day course which is short, yet intensive enough to teach you all you need to know for basic dives.
The instructors are highly professional and will teach you all the proper techniques and theory, along with the important safety tips before they let you go under water. Furthermore, they also make sure that you are well prepared to go under water before they issue you any equipment.
If you are a formal diver, you can sign up for either daily dives, or three or five day deals, with or without equipment rental charges. For entrance on the island, you need to have a return ticket, but if you belong to the Unites States or Canada, or hold a British passport, you do not require a visa to set foot on the island. In any case, you just need to prove that you have the finances to cover your stay and accommodation expenses. Additionally, you also need to give surety to them that you will leave before your six months are up, as that is the maximum stay allowed on a visit visa.
So, if youre looking to spend your vacations scuba diving and spending time relaxing on the beautiful beaches, then Antigua is the right place for you.