Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
stay. They realized that the pollution-free waters combined
with brilliant sunlight made for outstanding underwater
visibility. They also knew that there were over 30 diving ar-
eas within easy reach of the island, ranging from shallow
coral reefs for novices to shipwrecks, coral caves, underwa-
ter tunnels and pinnacles for beginner and experienced di-
vers. You can't eat potential, however, and 25 years passed
before scuba diving boomed and the excellent conditions
were discovered by large numbers of divers. The long wait
worked to your advantage, for it permitted the frogmen and
other scuba schools to organize the “industry” particularly
well. You can take a mini-scuba course, which will enable
you to shallow dive (with an instructor) over a colorful coral
reef amid schools of darting fish. You can enroll in a series of
classes that will lead to your certification or you can hone
your skills working with outstanding instructors. Underwa-
ter photography is another facet you might explore. Spe-
cially built scuba ships (that permit overnight jaunts) are a
recent innovation.
w
Dive packages
are among the most
inexpensive vacations on the island.
Check them out.
Over 30 dive sites are listed by the scuba schools, and some
are exceptional. The most popular and best-known spots are
to the south and east of the island, with those to the west
quickly gaining in popularity.
Western Dive Sites
Sail Rock
A spectacular boulder, nine miles from the harbor in water
that is super clear, with visibility often reaching 150 ft.
Coral, encrusted sponges, seafans, miniature barracuda,
hawksbill turtles and a myriad of marine life inhabit the
area. Four underwater pinnacles form canyonways to ex-
plore.
