Barbados

[wooflad]

Hi there, was wondering if anyone had experience of diving in Barbados. Will be going there in May, and stopping in the St James area, Any recommendations for dive outfits, dive sites, or land based activities. Also anything that should be avoided.
All help and posts greatfully accepted .

Cheers in advance.

Wooflad

[witchieblackcat]

I dived with Dive Pro in August 2006 who were really good. They are in St Lawrence Gap which is a little to the south of Jamestown but they may well pick up for free. When I was there DivePro used a small boat to take you to the dive site which didn't have any shade so if you use them make sure you slap on the suncream. They were talking about getting a new bigger boat but I don't know if that's happened.

Barbados's signature dive is the Stavronikita. It is a big old ship purposely sunk in 40m (at the bottom) and is 30m to the deck. It's a great dive. Carlisle Bay is also good for wrecks.

There are loads of reef dives which are all good though maybe not as lively as the Red Sea or deeper into the Caribbean. However you're more than likely to see a turtle as there are loads of them in Barbados.

Have a nice time.

[endoman]

I did my OW there with The Dive Shop Ltd. - SCUBA DIVING IN BARBADOS! They are based in Carlisle bay but came to pick me up from hotel on south coast. I would imagine there will be plenty of operators on the west coast as well. It was very pleasant diving, warm water, and lots to look at.

[Martin Owen]

I also went with the diveshop, nice outfit with a couple of boats and i was picked up / dropped off from Hastings.
They even took me out to the Stavronikita on my own (when i booked the 4 days diving i told them the Stav was a must do on one of the days).
Nice dive especially when there was only me and the guide on it!

[JonP]

We were out there a couple of weeks ago - staying in Prospect Bay, St James.

The Stav is a superb dive. It's big enough that you could do several dives on it actually. There's a big mast at the bow that conveniently rises to about 6m so can be enjoyed while you do your stop. They don't allow deco diving sadly (I would have loved to do this wreck on twins and spend longer at depth. Also really enjoyed the Panir - much smaller and shallower, but with lots of easy swim throughs in the holds and superstructure. About 20M off the bow lies a (yellow) submarine apparently sunk there by a certain Mr Abramovich..

We dived with High Tide Watersports, who were superb. Website is HIGHTIDE Watersports - Barbados

We were only there for a week and didn't have time to sample any land based attractions. Will definitely be going back again!

[endoman]

Got to love page 4 of the dive sites, you can go Muff diving.

HIGHTIDE Watersports - Barbados

[David P]

Another recommendation for The Dive Shop Ltd. - SCUBA DIVING IN BARBADOS! - and for the Stav. Search this board for previous refs to Barbados and you'll pick up a few more bits. See Picasa Web Albums - David P - Barbados Unde... for some pics from when I was last there. I've also a video at David P's web site.

Have fun - it's a great island. The west coast is pretty exclusive or sparse; the south coast where I've stayed (and particularly the St Laurence Gap area) is much more cosmopolitan with a lot of restaurants, night life etc to suit all tastes. But that won't help much 'cos you're a long way away. There's inshore reef snorkelling at two spots in the Folkestone Park area on the west coast.

[NeilB]

If you do get to the Dive Shop Ltd say hello to Haroon for me.....a good friend I have dived with for over 10 years.

Other than diving get yourself down to St Lawrence Gap and enjoy a 'lime.' The Ship Inn is good fro a drink or two and the Captains Table carvery well worth one visit. Cafe Sol is good for maragaritas if that is your tipple. If not there is lots to choose from on the way there and back.

Use the 'route taxis' they are $1.50 for any journey, anywhere on the island. A lot have soca playing and are an experience in themselves.

Drop by the Best Western hotel and say hello to Ram Edghill. He has more tales to tell of diving in Barbados than anyone else on the island! He owns two dive boats - 'Scotch n Soda' and the little one, 'Hangover.'

oh, and, enjoy........

[wooflad]

I would just like to say a big thanks to everyone who replied. The info gained has been very useful. Hightide seems quite close to where i will be staying so i think that will be a good bet. As for the after dive activities in the gap i think we will def be sampling them. I will try to say hi the people mentioned in your replies if i get the chance.
Once again thanks for your replies

Wooflad

[finbar.taylor]

I'm affraid I have to offer the other side...

I booked and paid for 7 days diving with high tide on my first day on the island.

2 days later I turned up and they said they had a cruise in that day and could not fit my wife and I in. same hapened for the next 4 days and at that point we gave up. took a few hours of argueing in the shop to even get the money back

the day's diving we did do was nice and warm unfortunatly I've been spoilt with my marine life by diving in cornwall so to be honest the few fish we saw was nothing to write home about but the board shorts and no dry suit probably made up for it.

Fin

We were out there a couple of weeks ago - staying in Prospect Bay, St James.

The Stav is a superb dive. It's big enough that you could do several dives on it actually. There's a big mast at the bow that conveniently rises to about 6m so can be enjoyed while you do your stop. They don't allow deco diving sadly (I would have loved to do this wreck on twins and spend longer at depth. Also really enjoyed the Panir - much smaller and shallower, but with lots of easy swim throughs in the holds and superstructure. About 20M off the bow lies a (yellow) submarine apparently sunk there by a certain Mr Abramovich..

We dived with High Tide Watersports, who were superb. Website is HIGHTIDE Watersports - Barbados

We were only there for a week and didn't have time to sample any land based attractions. Will definitely be going back again!