Beautiful Barbados
Barbados is a coral island in the Caribbean region of North America. It sits just East of the Windward island chain that includes Dominica, Martinique, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada.
Barbados is 34km in length and 23km in width, covering an area of 432 km2 (167 sq mi). Temperatures can vary from 22'C over night to 32'C during the day, depending on where you are situated on the island.
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Barbados' vibe and topography vary from coast to coast. The south coast offers convenience with numerous hotels, supermarkets, communities and party hubs available for the average tourist or local. The waters can be calm or choppy, ideal for divers, beach lovers and surfers alike. South Coast waters are typically very clear and calm, though sometimes have a current which is very conducive for drift dives. The coral reefs are healthy and full of variation and colour.
The west coast features pristine beaches, with expensive resorts, restaurants and shopping to offer the vacationer looking for a more luxurious experience. The waters on the west coast are flat most of the year making them the best beaches for bathing and sun tanning. West Coast reefs vary in depth and are mostly made up of stony corals and rock formations.
The North coast is much more rugged with large cliff walls and big heavy waves. It is beautiful to look at but not very good for swimming or diving. Diving on the North coast demands an Advanced certification level as most sites are quite deep.
The East coast of Barbados features a lush landscape with dark waters that are great for surfers. You can find swimming holes in the reef on calm days and locals enjoying their "staycation" cottages over the holidays. Diving on the east coast can only be acheived in the summertime when the waters are calm and clear. Dives on the east show off a different reef topography with caverns and walls however most dive sites are very deep and the waters can be rough. A strong stomach is needed to handle the East Coast conditions.
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Divers can enjoy clear warm waters that range from 25'C during the winter months of Dec - April and up to 29'C in the summer months of June - Sept. The summer months offer less winds, calmer water and excellent visibility. Hurricane season in Barbados is typically July-November but that shouldn't deter you as the conditions in these months when there aren't storms is incredible.
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With more than 30 dive sites to chose from Barbados has something to offer every diver; whether it's shipwrecks, marine life, or seascape, we've got it all.
Carlisle Bay holds over 8 shipwrecks, 6 of which you can visit during a single dive. Most of the shipwrecks sit in waters between 20-50ft depth and others can be found 60-80ft deep or 100-130ft like the Stavronikita.
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Aside from Shipwreck visits, most dives in Barbados are drift dives. The currents are not typically challenging, but diving from a boat with a Captain on board to pick you up at the end of your dive is advised.
*Much of this information has been sourced from Lucy Agace's BARBADOS DIVE GUIDE​, a wonderful resource for divers in Barbados.
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Marine Life
Some of the awesome creatures you can look forward to finding underwater in Barbados.
Longsnout Seahorse​
Caribbean Reef Squid
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Green Sea Turtle​
Lionfish
Hawksbill Sea Turtle
Peacock Flounder
Caribbean Reef Octopus
Spiny Lobster
Flying Gurnard
Caribbean Hermit Crab
Flamingo Tongue Snail
Queen Conch
Queen Conch
Southern Stingray
Spotted Eagle Ray
Moray Eel
Scorpionfish
Spotted Drumfish
Slipper Lobster