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Best Scuba Diving British Columbia – Howe Sound

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Howe Sound - Ling Cod British Columbia Scuba Diving
Howe Sound – Ling Cod

Updated August 10, 2022

This is the fifty-seventh in a series of reviews of the best dive resort locations around the world.  In this post, the focus is Howe Sound, Vancouver, Canada.

In addition to this series on dive resort locations, the best worldwide liveaboard dive locations and services are reviewed in their own series.  To check them out, or others in this series, click on Liveaboards/Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title from the list.

Have you ever been diving in Howe Sound before?  If so, I’d love to know about your experience.  What dive shop or liveaboard did you use?  Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.?  Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.

Scuba Diving British Columbia – Howe Sound

Location

Howe Sound is an unincorporated area within 30-40 minutes from downtown Vancouver on Highway 1 via the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge or on Highway 99 crossing the Lionsgate Bridge.  Highway 99 follows along the entire east coast of Howe Sound providing shore access to many dive sites and continues all the way past it and on up to Mt. Whistler.  Ferries are available to cross the bay and to several of the islands.  Most of the diving is done from the eastern shore or from boats predominantly using the marina in Horseshoe Bay.

Undersea World

When most people think about Vancouver diving, the first thing that comes to mind is diving on Vancouver Island.  Not many are aware that within a few minutes of downtown Vancouver is a surprising variety of dive sites to satisfy all levels of divers from the most experienced to an absolute newbie.  There are dozens of sites right off the shore along Highway 99 from Larsen Bay all the way past Porteau and dozens more easily accessible by boat within an hour.

Steep walls, pinnacles, wrecks, and sandy bottoms provide excellent habitats for over 200 marine animals.  Many are marine protected areas and some have mooring buoys to preserve the rich invertebrate life including egg-yolk jellyfish, gorgonians, and multiple species of anemone, crab, shrimp, nudibranch, barnacle, sea star, tubeworms, and many others.  The reefs are also home to giant Pacific octopus, wolf eels, rockfish, lingcod, six-gill sharks, dogfish, sculpins, Steller sea lions, harbor seals, and several species of whale and dolphin.

For my reviews of other Pacific Northwest scuba diving areas, please check out these posts:

For more information about Pacific Northwest marine life, please check out this book review:

Seasons and Conditions

It is possible to dive year-round, but obviously, it is quite a bit cooler in the winter.

Air temperatures reach average highs of 7°C (45°F) in December and January and 22°C (72°F) in July and August.

Water temperatures reach highs of 12-18°C (54-64°F) in summer and 6-9°C (43-49°F) in winter.  A few divers will go with a 7 mm wetsuit in summer, but most will opt for a dry suit, heavy hoods, and gloves year-round.

The driest time of the year is from May through September.

Visibility is quite variable based on the tide, algal blooms, and wind.  It tends to be best in winter reaching 21 meters (70 feet). The range in summer is from 3-15 meters (10-50 feet).  At slack tide, visibility tends to be better.

The biggest tidal exchanges are in the spring and fall which affect the current, though it is not usually strong.

Diving is available to suit all levels.

There are a number of dive shops operating in Vancouver that provide a full range of dive courses, equipment rental, and guiding from shore and by boat in Howe Sound.

For my reviews and information about cold water gear please click on the following post:

Howe Sound Dive Sites Map
Howe Sound Dive Sites Map

A Sampling of Howe Sound Diving Sites

Whytecliff Park: 3 or more sites in the park located near the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal, most diving from 12-18 meters (40-60 feet), good training area, shore entry with sandy areas, overhangs, walls, rich encrusting life, plumose anemones, red rock, hermit, and decorator crabs, rockfish, sole, gobies, sun stars, sea cucumbers, octopus, perhaps a six-gill shark or harbor seal, sites for all levels

Ansel Point: 24 meters (80 feet), somewhat difficult shore access, can access by boat, a rich site with a steep wall, lots of macro critters including golf ball crabs, squat lobsters, wolf eels, possible harbor seals, experienced level

Bowen Island: multiple dives around this big island, some require boat access, some are possible from shore, one site near Mannion Bay boasts many small red octopus, sole, sea cucumbers, crabs, and others at depths of 15-18 meters (50-60 feet), all levels

HMCS Annapolis: 32 meters (105 feet) maximum depth, 114-meter (371-foot) Canadian Helicopter Carrying Destroyer commissioned in 1964, sunk as an artificial reef in 2015, sitting upright in Halkett Bay, some soft corals and fish have started the reef-building process, some easy penetration, experienced level

Kelvin Grove: 25 meters (83 feet), located in a park in a residential area, protected bay with a steep wall, shore entry, boot and cloud sponges, some deeper than 24 meters (80 feet), many nooks and crannies, octopus, war bonnets, experienced level

VT-100 (Vancouver Tugboat 100): 15 meters (50 feet), originally was the HMCS Cranbrook, a minesweeper, easy shore entry, sunk after a fire in the 1950s, much deteriorated, red jellyfish, white nudibranchs, sea perch, flounder, Dungeness crabs, all levels

Porteau Cove: 11-17 meters (33-55 feet), marine protected park with 3 yellow marker buoys and several sites, can enter and descend immediately from steps or swim out to the buoys and then descend, sites include a sunken barge, the Granthall, a sailboat hull, the Centennial, several concrete pillars known as the Leaning Tower of Porteau, crabs, sea pens, tunicates, dogfish, octopus, lingcod, rockfish, all levels

Furry Creek: near residential area beyond Porteau Cove, easy shore entry, a wall with many nooks, golf ball crabs, squat lobsters, longhorn decorator crabs, all levels

Vancouver Photos

With the interesting underwater terrain, wrecks, colorful corals, encrusting invertebrates, crabs, octopus, and other macro critters, schools of fish, and fascinating scenery and historical sites on land, as well, there are many excellent photo opportunities.  For information and reviews of dive cameras, click here:

Metro Vancouver Map

Vancouver Transportation, Dive Shops, & Lodging

Transportation

Vancouver has a multifaceted modern transportation system.

The City of Richmond is the home of Vancouver International Airport with flights from around the world.

An extensive subway system, rail service, bus service, streetcars, and taxis are all available.

Car rental is popular and a bike-share scheme has recently been set up.

Dive Shops & Lodging

A number of dive shops operating in Vancouver year round provide a full range of services including equipment rental, dive courses, guiding, and boat dive cruises.  Some will arrange complete transportation from your hotel.

Hundreds of hotels and resorts are available in every class from $17 to $2,384 per night.  The website linked below is a good source for the available options and can arrange a booking.  Their rates are the lowest and it is free to cancel or change dates.

Things to Do in Vancouver (aside from scuba diving)

Vancouver is considered one of the world’s most livable cities with fabulous cultural and natural attractions.  Here is a sample of some things to do when you are not diving:  check out the Museum of Anthropology, make the scenic drive up 99 past Howe Sound to Mt. Whistler and go skiing, hike the “Grouse Grind,” cycle Stanley Park, Shop in Gastown, enjoy authentic Chinese food in Chinatown, kayak in Deep Cove, have High Tea at the Fairmont Hotel, shop at Granville Public Market or Richmond Night Market, Hike Lynn Canyon, visit Van Dusen Botanical Gardens or the Vancouver Aquarium, listen to music at the Commodore Ballroom, watch a Canucks hockey game, run in Spirit Park, tour Christ Church Cathedral, eat lunch on Commercial Drive . . . . . .   Check out the video below for a glimpse of life in Vancouver and a few additional leisure options.

Scuba Diving Trip Insurance

A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation.  I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and provide scuba divers quality insurance and medical assistance service.

Feedback and Comments

I hope you found this post on Howe Sound scuba diving interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section.  I’d love to know of any experience you have diving there.  If there is no comments section directly below, click here:  >>comments<<

The Best Diving in Dominica

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Dominica Coral Reef
Dominica Coral Reef

Updated April 20, 2022

This is the thirty-third in a series of reviews of the best scuba diving destinations around the world.  In this post, the focus is on Dominica.

In addition to this series on dive resort locations, the best worldwide liveaboard dive locations and services are reviewed in their own series.  To check them out, or others in this series, click on Liveaboards / Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title from the list.

Have you ever been scuba diving in Dominica?  If so, I’d love to know about your experience.  What dive shop or liveaboard did you use?  Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.?  Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.

The Best Diving in Dominica

Location

Situated in the Lesser Antilles between the Windward Islands of Guadalupe and Martinique, Dominica is geologically the youngest of the group.  Formed by volcanic activity, geothermal forces in the form of hot springs are still evident at Boiling Lake and the Champagne dive site.  There are 300 miles (188 km) of trails running through the lush mountain rainforest with hundreds of waterfalls and rivers and endemic creatures like the national bird, the Sisserou Parrot.  The Republic covers 290 square miles (750 square kilometers) with a population of 72,000 English-speaking citizens.  Creole, a French-based language, and Kokay, an English-based one, are also spoken.  A small group descended from the original Carib Indians still has a small settlement on the eastern side.

In comparison to the other island nations in the region, Dominica has a low per capita GDP with its foundation mostly in bananas and agriculture. A major economic initiative started in 2006 which pushed into new fruits, coffee, patchouli, aloe vera, and a few other crops, and an emphasis on offshore and financial services, and tourism.  Without a lot of sandy beaches, ecotourism has been a focus.

For more demographic, geographical, and cultural information on Dominica, click here: Dominica (Wikipedia)

Caribbean Islands Map

Undersea World

Recognized by many as one of the top 10 dive areas in the world, Dominica is known for beautiful coral reefs, volcanic subsea terrain with hot springs, and a rich variety of marine life including 22 species of whale.  Most of the best sites are on the west side where currents are mild, with the most sites in the southwest section.

The volcanic topography includes canyons, volcanic craters, steep walls, arches, pinnacles, and bubbles emerging from hot springs in several locations.  The encrusting invertebrate life is impressive with rich hard and soft corals, gorgonians, huge barrel sponges, and other colorful tube and pipe sponges.

Several marine sanctuaries help preserve the pristine marine life which includes a long list of highlights including macro critters like seahorses, frogfish, flying gurnards, huge crabs, spiny lobsters, scorpionfish, octopus, reef squid, moray eels, spotted flamingo tongue snails, and Peterson cleaner shrimp.  There are reef tropicals like sargassum triggerfish, French grunts, parrotfish, pufferfish, yellowtail and mahogany snappers, blackbar soldierfish, black durgons, Creole wrasses, and chub along with barracuda, jacks, stingrays, eagle rays, nurse sharks, 4 species of turtles, spinner dolphins, 22 species of whale, with sperm whales in residence year-round.

Seasons and Conditions

It is warm year-round with daytime temperatures between 24-32°C (75-90°F).  The mountains are a bit cooler.  Accordingly, water temperatures are also warm in a tight range of 26-29°C (78-84°F).  The best time to dive is from December to May.  July to October is the rainy season with the dry from December to April.   Visibility is generally quite good at 18-30 meters (60-100 feet) with the low end coming during rains.  Current is mild to non-existent most of the time but can be strong.

Liveaboard Diving

Dominica is not an area renowned for liveaboard diving, but there are many cruises in other areas around the Caribbean.  Below are several great yachts to check out:

Avalon II - Cuba Liveaboard Dive Boat

Avalon II, Jardines de la Reina Liveaboard Diving – Check the Price & Details

Turks and Caicos Explorer II

Turks & Caicos Explorer II, Turks & Caicos Liveaboard Diving – Check the Price & Details

Bahamas Master - Bahamas Liveaboard Dive Boat

Bahamas Master, Bahamas Liveaboard Diving – Check the Price & Details

Belize Aggressor III Belize Liveaboard Diving

Belize Aggressor III, Belize Liveaboard Diving – Check the Price & Details

For reviews of diving in eastern Florida and other Caribbean locations, please check out these posts:

Dominica Dive Sites Map
Dominica Dive Sites Map

Selected Dominica Dive Sites

Southwest Sites

Champagne Reef: 5 meters (15 feet), hot springs bubbles, light current, can do multilevel dive around the deeper exterior with safety stop on the springs, seahorses, frogfish, flying gurnards, squid, huge crabs and lobster, scorpionfish, octopus, stoplight parrotfish, turtles, good night dive, possible stingrays and eagle rays, all levels

Scott’s Head Pinnacle: to 40 meters (130 feet), unusual topography with a large rock formation called Swiss Cheese and a swim-through called Soldierfish Cave, bisecting a pinnacle beginning at 10 meters (35 feet), to the wall of the interior of a crater that goes to 40 meters (130 feet), gorgonians, lobster, big schools of blackbar soldierfish, experienced level

L’Abym (La Sourcier): wall from 12 meters (40 feet) to 450 meters (1500 feet), rock shelf at 8 meters (25 feet), sheer drop off, sponges, coral, lots of fish, seahorses, turtles, barracuda, sargassum triggerfish, possible hammerhead sharks, little current, experienced level

West Central Sites

Nose Reef and Whaleshark Reef: 18-40 meters (60-130 feet), huge and colorful barrel and tube sponges, banded and Peterson cleaner shrimps, nudibranchs, arrow crabs, spotted flamingo tongue snails, a vertical wall at Whaleshark Reef, Spanish mackerel, amberjacks, turtles, experienced level

Rina’s Hole: shallow, swim-through to a rocky formation, encrusting corals, sea fans, giant anemones, sea plume beds, moray eels, great macro critters, schools of chub, stingrays, eagle rays, nurse sharks, sandy bottom, bright and colorful, beginner level

Five Finger Rock: to 30 meters (100 feet), rocks sticking out of the water resemble fingers, rock and coral slope to 30 meters (100 feet), big barrel sponges, lots of small reef fish like shoaling chromis, copper sweepers, rock beauties, butterflyfish, wrasses, trunkfish, goatfish, bigeyes, turtles, experienced level

Northwest Sites

Toucari Bay: 12 meters (40 feet) to 33 meters (110 feet), a honeycomb of tunnels, 8-13 meters (25-45 feet long) at 12 meters (40 feet), rich corals, frogfish, big crabs, mahogany snapper, French grunts, parrotfish, pufferfish, octopus, moray eels, squid, rays, lobster, trumpetfish, parrotfish, drops off to 33 meters (110 feet), good night dive, beginner level

Douglas Point: several sites, canyons, tunnels, and rocky areas with rich corals and sponges, drop-offs with landings at 15 meters (50 feet) and 55 meters (180 feet), flying gurnards, moray eels, lobsters, large reef fish, barracuda, mackerel, experienced level

Point Ronde and the Craters: gentle sloping reef to 21 meters (70 feet) and the Craters, from there drops off to 27 meters (90 feet) and then 36 meters (120 feet), pristine rich marine life, warm sand with occasional escaping, bubbles, experienced level

Dominica Photos

With the macro life, beautiful, diverse coral reef, and lots of fish, there are many excellent photo opportunities.  For information and reviews of diving cameras, including the Panasonic GH5 used in the above video, click here:

Dominica Transportation, Lodging, and Diving Services

Transportation

There are two regional airports in Dominica: Douglas-Charles Airport, previously called Melville Hall Airport, in the northeast, and Canefield Airport near Roseau.  They handle flights from Puerto Rico and other Caribbean Airports.

On Dominica, there is a system of convenient and reasonably priced minibusses for transportation around and across the island.

Lodging and Dive Shops

Many of the available hotels are located in the Roseau area and start from $50/night on up.  As for diving, there are several dive shops, most of which are in the southwest area near Roseau.  Anchorage Hotel also has an in-house dive center.

This website is a good source for the available options and can arrange a booking:

Dominica Things To Do (aside from scuba diving)

The natural environment featuring volcanic activity is the main attraction, aside from diving.  There are many waterfalls including Trafalgar Falls, Victoria Falls, and Emerald Pool.  Morne Trois Pitons National Park has Boiling Lake.  Geothermal springs, known as sulfur springs are available in many locations. Hiking into the mountains or along the coastline is popular.  Of course cruises and beach and seaside activities including whale watching are awaiting. There are various tours, historic sites, botanical gardens, markets, restaurants, and city activities in Roseau. Popular sports are cricket, netball, basketball, rugby, tennis, and soccer. This list leaves out quite a few.  Check out the video below.

Scuba Diving Trip Insurance

A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation.  I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and provide scuba divers quality insurance and medical assistance service.

Feedback and Comments

I hope you found this post on Dominica scuba diving interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section.  I’d love to know of any experience you have diving there.  If there is no comments section directly below, click here:  >>comments<<

Best Scuba Diving in Anilao Batangas Philippines

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Anilao Reef Scene Philippines Scuba Diving
Anilao Reef Scene

Updated August 12, 2022

This is the fourteenth in a series of reviews of the best dive resort locations around the world.  In this post, the focus is Anilao, Batangas, Philippines.

In addition to this series on dive resort locations, the best worldwide liveaboard dive locations and services are reviewed in their own series.  To check them out, or others in this series, click on Liveaboards / Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title from the list.

Have you ever been diving in Anilao before?  If so, I’d love to know about your experience.  What dive shop or liveaboard did you use?  Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.?  Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.

Scuba Diving in Anilao Batangas

Background

Located 2½-3 hours drive from the Philippines’ main international airport in Manila, Anilao is a barangay (ward) in the city of Batangas, on the seaside in the southwest part of the city.  It has a Marine Protected Sanctuary, the first in the country, which has long been a favorite of locals and ex-pats from the area and is getting increasingly popular as an international destination due to the high quality of scuba diving.

Undersea World

There is great biodiversity, even in quite shallow water, with a big variety of hard and soft corals.  Anilao’s claim to fame as one of the best locations in the world is for muck diving and the great array of macro photography subjects.  Highlights include gobies, mantis shrimp, Bobbit worms, various shrimps and crabs, nudibranchs, several varieties of cuttlefish, hairy frogfish, mimic octopus, and many others.  There are also stingrays, barracuda, jacks, hawksbill and green turtles, reef sharks, and the occasional whale shark.

Around the peninsula and Maricaiban, the bigger Island just to the south, are 50+ identifiable dive sites.  A lot of the diving is suitable for beginners and Anilao has loads of dive shops available to do the training.  Currents are usually mild, but where there is a strong current, as there can be at Mainit Point, or for deeper sites, the diving is at the advanced level.

Seasons and Conditions

Diving is possible year-round, but from July to September there can be a lot of rain and the possibility of typhoons. At that time visibility will be worse with a greater possibility of surface chop. Not many days of diving are lost, though.

Water temperature varies with the season.  From November to February it dips to an average of 22-24°C (72-75°F).  The rest of the year it is usually 27°C (80°F) or above.

The air temperature has a range of 23-34°C (73-93°F).

From November to May the visibility is 15-20 meters (50-65 feet).  As mentioned, with the rains from July to September, visibility worsens.

Anilao Dive Sites Map - Scuba Diving Anilao Batangas
Anilao Dive Sites Map

Selected Popular Anilao Dive Sites

9) Mainit Point – 5-30 meters (16-100 feet), boulders, some of which break the surface, with stepping drop-offs, soft corals, feather stars, sea stars, nudibranchs, anemones, other macro critters, and schooling fish, cave at 7 meters (23 feet) with whitetip reef sharks, currents can be strong, advanced level

5) The Koala – 8-24 meters (25-80 feet), coral garden, soft corals, small reef fish, anemones, macro critters, mild to moderate current, beginner level

32) Sepok Wall –  15-90 feet (5-27 meters), coral gardens with lots of reef fish descending to a wall that drops to 90 feet (27 meters), bigger reef fish, barrel sponges, nudibranchs, sea cucumbers, and other macro critters, pelagics, moderate to strong currents, experienced level

34) Mapating Point – 65-135 feet (20-40 meters), submerged rock with several drop-offs, lots of fish, several pelagics, strong current, experienced divers

26) Beatrice Rock – 47-90 feet (14-27 meters), several drop-offs with deep channels in between, lots of reef fish, moderate current, intermediate level

10) Secret Bay – 12-68 feet (4-20 meters), near Mainit Point, world-class macro/muck diving in volcanic sand, frogfish, ghost pipefish, mimic octopus, and many more, little current, beginner level

14) Balahibong Manok (Chicken Feather Island) – to 70 feet (21 meters), a small island east of Maricaiban and Bonito, hot spring on the west side at 70 feet (21 meters), diverse coral reef on the east side, lots of reef fish, soft corals, crinoids, moderate to strong current, experienced level

1) Ligpo Island – 70-100 feet (20-30 meters), underwater pinnacle to the west, can swim around the island in one dive, rich coral and macro life, variety of fish, a cave on the east side with whitetip reef sharks, moderate to strong currents, experienced level

4) The Cathedral – 70-100 feet (20-30 meters), marine park sanctuary developed from a barren seascape when it started, cross mounted between two stones by President Ramos in 1983, today rich hard and soft corals, feather stars, sea squirts, hydroids, barrel sponges, many varieties of fish, mild to moderate current

8) Twin Rocks – 3-12 meters (6-40 feet), remains of capsized barge, gradual slope, rich corals, sponges, invertebrates, macro life including Spanish dancers, batfish, reef fish, barracuda, squid, beginner level

This website has thumbnail sketches for 47 Anilao dive sites:  Anilao Dive Sites


For other posts about Philippines diving, please check out these popular articles:

Manila Batangas Map
Manila Batangas Map

Anilao Batangas Resorts

Currently, none of the major liveaboard yachts cruising the Philippines make trips to Anilao.  Fortunately, there are a number of resorts and hotels there ranging from budget to luxury.  Many of them are equipped with dive shops.  Otherwise, there are a dozen or more quality diving operations nearby.

This website is a good source for the available options and can arrange a booking:

It is suggested to ask your hotel to arrange pick-up at the airport.  Otherwise, the logistics of taxis and buses can be much less convenient.

Anilao Photo Opportunities

With the macro life, beautiful, diverse coral reef, and lots of fish, there are many excellent photo opportunities.  For information and reviews of diving cameras, click here:

Scuba Diving Trip Insurance

A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation.  I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and provide scuba divers quality insurance and medical assistance service.

Feedback and Comments

I hope you found this post on Anilao diving interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section.  I’d love to know of any experience you have diving there.  If there is no comments section directly below, click here:  >>comments<<

Best Scuba Diving in Antigua and Barbuda

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Hawksbill Turtle - Antigua and Barbuda
Hawksbill Turtle – Antigua and Barbuda
Caribbean Reef Shark - Antigua and Barbuda
Caribbean Reef Shark – Antigua and Barbuda

Updated August 6, 2022

This is the one hundred and tenth in a series of reviews of the best scuba diving destinations around the world.  In this post, the focus is on Antigua and Barbuda. In addition to this series on dive resort locations, the best worldwide liveaboard diving locations and services are reviewed in their own series.  To check them out, or others in this series, click on Liveaboards/Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title from the list.

Have you ever been diving in Antigua and Barbuda before?  If so, I’d love to know about your experience.  What dive shop or liveaboard did you use?  Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.?  Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.

Scuba Diving in Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda Location MapBackground

Antigua and Barbuda and a number of small islands make up this country situated in the Lesser Antilles of the Caribbean Sea.  Archaeological finds indicate a settlement as early as 3,100 BC.  Columbus arrived in 1493 and the British established a base in 1632.  The indigenous Caribs and Arawaks died out before long due to disease, including smallpox, malnutrition, and maltreatment during the time African slaves were brought in to work tobacco and sugar plantations.  Soon the Africans outnumbered the British overlords.  British dominance ended with Independence in 1981 and membership in the Commonwealth for the islands.

The terrain is mostly fairly flat with a limestone foundation and sandy poor soil.  There is the remnant of a volcano in Mt. Obama (earlier known as Boggy Peak) at 402 meters (1,319 feet).  Both islands are blessed with sandy beaches, lagoons, and natural harbors.

Today the population of 100,000, 80% of which live in Antigua, is made up of citizens predominantly of West African, British, and Madeiran descent.  4,500 US citizens live there, as well.

Tourism is the main driver of the economy, with investment banking and financial services playing a significant secondary role, and light industry and farming for domestic use playing lesser roles.  Low water supply, poor soil, and lack of workers play against agriculture.  Tourism is the major draw for most of the labor force.

English is the national language with English-based Creole commonly used on the street.  Christianity is the religion of choice for 77% followed by smaller groups of followers of Rastafari, Islam, and Bahai.

Many sports are popular lead by Cricket.  Several all-time greats have come from Antigua and Barbuda including Sir Vivian Richards who has a stadium named after him.

For further information about the culture, history, and demographics, please go here:  Antigua & Barbuda – Wikipedia

Undersea World

While not having a reputation as the best dive destination in the Caribbean, Antigua and Barbuda nonetheless have a rich coral reef with a pretty good diversity of marine life and a number of historical shipwrecks.  The undersea terrain begins from shore with a gradual descent or a shelf on the southern and eastern coasts that set up a lot of great shallow diving.  There are few deep dives with most of the sites at less than 30 meters (100 feet) in depth.

The reefs have a nice assortment of sponges, gorgonians, soft and hard corals and other invertebrates.  Storms have damaged some sections, but overall the effect hasn’t been too negative.  A nice array of marine life includes octopus, squid, blennies, pufferfish, goatfish, lobster, hermit crabs, grunts, schools of sergeant majors and many smaller reef fish, angelfish, spadefish, barracuda, pelagics, turtles, eagle rays, stingrays, Caribbean reef sharks, nurse sharks, and the occasional whale shark.

The tourist and diving scene at Barbuda is not as developed, but there is a similar fringing reef there and heaps of shipwrecks most of which have not been fully documented.  To dive there you need to arrange it with an operator on Antigua.

Seasons and Conditions

Diving is possible all year in Antigua and Barbuda.

  • Air temperature is always warm with daily averages between 25-30°C (77-86°F) all year.
  • Water temperature hits lows in winter of 24°C (75°F) and highs in summer of 30°C (86°F). A 3-5mm wetsuit is probably the most thermal protection needed for most when the water is at its coolest.
  • The wettest months are May and September through November. It is drier from December through April.  The possibility of Hurricanes and tropical storms is greatest between September and November.
  • Current– On the Caribbean side where most of the diving is done, the current is generally mild. On the Atlantic side, a strong current is more of a possibility.
  • Visibility is normally in a range of 15-40 meters (50-130 feet).
  • There are sites suitable for all levels of diver. A number of dive shops are in operation on the north, west, and south sides of the island that can offer a full range of diving coursework, equipment rental, guiding, and boat cruises.

Caribbean Liveaboard Diving

None of the major liveaboard yachts dive on Antigua and Barbuda.  There is a liveaboard that cruises nearby St. Kitts.  Here is my review that covers several Caribbean liveaboard locations, and links to the St. Kitts liveaboard:

Caribbean Explorer II

MV Caribbean Explorer II, St. Kitts Liveaboard – Check the Price & Details

Here are my reviews of eastern Florida and other Caribbean dive locations and liveaboards:

Antigua & Barbuda MapSelected Antigua and Barbuda Dive Sites

Stingray Alley:  14-24 meters (45-75 feet), a valley with a sandy bottom and coral sides that provides a great spot for big southern stingrays to lie concealed, suitable for all levels of diver

Jettias Wreck: 8 meters (25 feet), French steamship freighter sunk in 1817, broken into sections with the bow, stern, boiler, and engine separated, rich encrusting corals and invertebrates, lots of small reef fish, grunts, parrotfish, trumpetfish, blue tangs, Spanish hogfish, and large barracuda, suitable for all levels of diver

Pillars of Hercules: 22 meters (73 feet) maximum depth, named for limestone rock formations onshore which continue below the surface, rich marine life including lobster, shrimps, crabs, fusilier, snapper, surgeonfish, angelfish, jacks, and barracuda, suitable for all levels of diver

Snapper Hole: wall from 14-24 meters (45-80 feet) to a white sand bottom, schools of grunts, moray eels, lobster, and southern stingrays in the sand, suitable for all levels of diver

Barracuda Reef: wall from 18-36 meters (60-120 feet), many ledges and small caverns providing habitat for a variety of reef fish and barracuda, suitable for experienced level divers

Snapper’s Ledge: sloping ledge from 15-24 meters (50-80 feet), pelagics like big eye jacks, barracuda, and Spanish mackerel are often sighted, suitable for all levels of diver

Chimney’s Reef: 12-24 meters (40-80 feet),  long reef that has a gradual stair-step slope with a hole in the rock face that forms a tunnel opening at the top of a ledge, fish attractions include angelfish, blackjacks, spadefish, barracuda, and nurse sharks that rest in the chimney,  suitable for all levels of diver

Carpenter’s Rock: ridges and valleys from 14-24 meters (45-80 feet), a rich array of soft corals, and large reef fish including Queen angelfish, suitable for all levels of diver

Ariadne Shoal:  21 meters (70 feet), pelagics including barracuda, nurse sharks, great visibility for photography, suitable for all levels of diver

Billy’s Grotto:  18 meters (60 feet) maximum depth, a rich reef of soft corals, sea fans, and sponges, schools of fusiliers, snapper, and other reef fish, other attractions include turtles, stingrays, and nurse sharks, suitable for all levels of diver

Things to Do in Antigua and Barbuda (aside from scuba diving)

The following video is a nice introduction to the scenic beauty and culture on Antigua:

Antigua and Barbuda Transportation, Hotels, and Diving Services

Transportation

  • Air – V.C. Bird International (ANU) on the edge of St. John’s is the main airport handling flights linking with the United States, Canada, Europe, and other Caribbean islands.
  • Boat – Many cruise lines make stops in Antigua.  Yacht charters are also available for trips in and around the islands.
  • Ferry – Barbuda Express runs regularly scheduled ferries between St. John’s and Barbuda.
  • Land – Bus service on Antigua is cheap and slow.  Taxi service is available.  Many tourists use hotel or tourist transport services.  Several car rental agencies are in operation and easy to find.

Hotels and Diving

There are many dozens of lodging options around Antigua starting at $36 and moving upwards to $1,400 per night.  At least three dive shops operate out on the north, west, and south sides of Antigua provide services that include equipment rental, diving certification classes, dive guides, and boat tours.  Diving off Barbuda should be arranged with the shops on Antigua.

The website linked below has the details and can arrange a booking for the lodging.  You can easily find the location on the map provided on this site.  Their rates are guaranteed to be the lowest and it is free to cancel or change dates.

Photography in Antigua and Barbuda

With the intriguing invertebrate life, variety of fish, macro critters, historic wrecks, and scenic shoreside targets, as well, there are many excellent photo opportunities.  For information and reviews of dive cameras, click here:

Scuba Diving Trip Insurance

A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation.  I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and give scuba divers quality insurance and medical assistance service.

Feedback and Comments

I hope you found this post on Antigua and Barbuda scuba diving interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section.  I’d love to know of any experience you have.  If there is no comments section directly below, click here:  >>comments<<

Best Mactan Island Scuba Diving Philippines

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Talima Jacks Philippines Scuba Diving
Jacks – Talima Marine Sanctuary, Olango Island

Updated August 10, 2022

This is the twelfth in a series of reviews of the best dive resort locations around the world.  In this post, the focus is Mactan Island, Cebu, Philippines.

In addition to this series on dive resort locations, the best worldwide liveaboard dive locations and services are reviewed in their own series.  To check them out, or others in this series, click on Liveaboards / Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title from the list.

Have you ever been diving on Mactan Island before?  If so, I’d love to know about your experience.  What dive shop or liveaboard did you use?  Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.?  Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.

Best Mactan Island Scuba Diving

Location

Located just a short bridge span from Cebu Island, Mactan Island is the site of the main international airport in the southern Philippines.  It is about a 15-minute drive from the airport to the eastern seaside of the island where scuba diving can be accessed and the many dive resorts are located.

Undersea World

There is a surprisingly rich coral reef that has been aided considerably by the creation of several marine sanctuaries and a general awareness by the local population of the importance and economic benefits of environmental protection.  Twenty years ago there was a fair bit of fishing from small boats and by freedivers, and occasional fresh evidence of dynamite fishing.  This definitely is not happening in the sanctuaries and would be hard to find at the other non-sanctuary dive sites, especially dynamiting is far out of bounds.

A full range of underwater terrain is available to enjoy.  Shallow grass beds, coral mounts, slopes, plateaus, steep walls, and caverns are all there.  There are lots of schooling fish like sardines, mackerel, fusiliers,  barracuda, bigeye trevallies and rainbow runners, occasional turtles and whale sharks, loads of macro attractions including frogfish, snakes, squid, pufferfish, mandarin fish, morays, pipefish and octopus, and other reef fish like groupers, drummers, butterflyfish, stingrays, snappers, cardinalfish, and many more.

Seasons and Conditions

Substantial current is possible, especially on the Olango Island sites.  There are walls that descend to depths greater than 40 meters and some sites are divable to around 60 meters.  When the depth and current are on the high end, those dives are suitable for more advanced divers.  Otherwise, though, much of the diving is suitable for beginners.  Lots of people do their initial training on Mactan and nitrox and technical level courses are attainable, as well.

Visibility is usually quite good, sometimes well above 30 meters.

Water temperature runs from 27-29°C (80-84°F) and air temps from 24-33°C (75-91°F).

From May to December is the wet season with the greatest rainfall from June to September.  Diving is rarely interrupted by storms or rain and diving is good year-round.

Mactan Olango Dive Sites Map Philippines Scuba Diving
Mactan Olango Dive Sites Map

Mactan Area Dive Sites

Shangri-La Marine Sanctuary

Created in 2007 jointly by the Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort, Scotty’s Dive Centre, and the Lapu Lapu City government, the site has developed from an area strewn with garbage suitable for muck diving only in the 1990s, to a very beautiful and popular coral reef.  It has a gentle slope starting with a seagrass bed, gradually descending to 30 meters (100 feet).  Along the way, there are hard coral formations with a lot of soft and elephant ear corals, lots of small reef fish, lionfish, parrotfish, batfish, schooling jacks, and macro critters.  From 30 meters (100 feet) the descent continues to 48 meters (160 feet).  It is a good site for beginners, photographers, and night dives.

Kontiki

Situated right in front of Kontiki Divers/Seven Seas Dive Center in Maribago, the Kontiki site has a gently sloping grass bed to about 10 meters (33 feet) that have coral heads and a giant clamp tool that was placed there in the 90s. It is fully encrusted now and this shallow section is an often-used training site for beginners and technical divers.  At 10 meters (33 feet) the terrain breaks off sharply into a wall down to 30 meters (100 feet).  There are lots of crevices, nooks, and crannies providing homes for the diverse macro life including crabs, shrimp, seahorses, and octopus.  The corals, sponges, gorgonians, and black corals are rich.  Lots of schooling mackerel and sardines swim there.  From 30 meters (100 feet) the slope continues to depths of more than 100 meters (325 feet).

Tambuli Reef and Airplane Wreck

Just north of Maribago right offshore from the Tambuli Beach Resort is Tambuli Reef.  From shore is a shallow slope with a seagrass bed which by the time it reaches 8 meters (25 feet) has coral mounts and lots of small fish.  Since the 90s this has been used as a fish feeding station for discover scuba diving.  The corals get denser as the bottom slopes to 30 meters (100 feet).  At 22 meters (75 feet) is a small private plane that was placed there in the late 90s which has become a rich artificial reef.  There are lots of schooling fish, and macro life including pipefish, crabs, sea snakes, and other delights for the photographer.

Marine Station Sanctuary

Located between Kontiki and Tambuli, this is the location where San Carlos University did their field research in the past. It has a similar shallow grassy area that drops off starting at 8 meters (25 feet) to 50 meters (165 feet).  There is a wall with lots of fissures, crevices, and small caverns with a lot of sea fans and black coral, and all the accompanying macro life and schooling fish from the other two sites.

Talima Marine Sanctuary, Olango Island

Across the strait on Olango Island, this site has a bright look, compared to the Mactan side reefs, and is more prone to stronger currents.  From 10-15 meters (33-50 feet) the white sandy bottom has a seagrass cover with coral mounts and a lot of fish.  From 15 meters (50 feet) it descends to 50 meters (165 feet) in a very steep slope complete with swim-throughs, small caverns, and lots of nooks and crannies.  Probably due to the current, there are not as many big sea fans and corals, but it is very rich in marine life.  Schools of batfish and jacks and a variety of other fish often predominate.

San Juan Wreck

Sunk by bad weather and an explosion in the year 2000, this 60 meter (200 foot) ferry lies in 50 meters (165 feet) of water in Liloan Bay on the north end of Mactan Island.  Everyone got out alive.  It lies on its starboard side and is in near pristine condition. Not many divers go there and it is only suitable for technical divers.

Hilutungan Island Marine Sanctuary

Another Marine Sanctuary that is getting busier and richer as time goes on, is the home to turtles, big schools of batfish and jacks, and has many other large reef fish in great numbers including drummers, black and midnight snappers, surgeonfish, and many others.  The reef drifts down quite deep, but it is probably best to about 21 meters (70 feet).  It is suitable for all levels and with rich macro life is popular with photographers.

Nalusuan Island Marine Sanctuary

Yet another Marine Sanctuary, the earliest one, Nalusuan is notable for its large number of big groupers and many blue-spotted stingrays.  There are many other fish, as well, and macro life to suit photographers.  There are lots of hard corals and this, too, is a good shallow dive for beginners.

Marigondon Cave

From shore, the reef descends only to 5 meters (15 feet) when a wall begins and drops off to around 55 meters (180 feet).  At a little less than 30 meters (100 feet) is the top of the entrance.  The cavern has a 10 meter (33 foot) wide opening and extends about 70 meters (235 feet) into the wall.  There is one main passageway with several shallow offshoots.  About 25 meters (80+ feet) in a torch is necessary.  With your light turned off, you can see flashlight fish glowing in the dark.  There are some corals and sea fans and lionfish near the mouth but not much else in the way of wildlife on the inside, but it can be pretty exciting for intermediate divers.  At times there is current outside, so the guide needs to take care to avoid bypassing the mouth.

Tingo Point

On the north end of Olango Island, you can follow a long sandy slope, without much to see, until you get to a steep drop-off beginning at 25 meters (80+ feet). From there is a rocky wall with lots of nooks, crannies, and caverns on down to 40 meters (130 feet).  If you are lucky a hammerhead might pass by or a thresher shark may come up the sand from 60-70 meters (200-235 feet) to get a look at you.  Some technical divers cruise on down deeper than the 40 meters to try for a better look. Sightings are not as frequent as they were a few years ago.  Most divers looking for threshers make the trip up to Malapascua at the northern end of Cebu for that.  To see my review of dive sites and Malapascua liveaboards, please click here:   Best Liveaboard Scuba Diving Philippines

Cabilao and Balicasag Islands

The dive operations on Mactan often make day trips to these two premier sites to the south.  For information about them, please take a look at these two posts:

For other posts about Philippines diving, please click on these:

Mactan Liveaboard Diving

Currently one of the major liveaboard yachts cruising the Philippines, the SY Philippine Siren, make trips to Mactan and Olango Islands.

SY Philippine Siren Philippines Liveaboard Diving

SY Philippine Siren, Philippines Liveaboard Diving – Check the Price

Mactan Island Hotels

Fortunately, there are a number of resorts and hotels on Mactan Island, with the largest number around the Maribago barangay, ranging from budget to luxury.  The ones on the beach are almost all equipped with dive shops.  This website is a good source for the available options and can arrange a booking:

Mactan Island Photo Opportunities

With the macro life, beautiful, diverse coral reef, and lots of fish, there are many excellent photo opportunities.  For information and reviews of diving cameras, click here:

Scuba Diving Trip Insurance

A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation.  I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and provide scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.

Feedback and Comments

I hope you found this post on Mactan Island scuba diving interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section.  I’d love to know of any experience you have diving there.  If there is no comments section directly below, click here:  >>comments<<