St. Kitts & Nevis
Original Official Site of the
St. Kitts & Nevis
Department of Tourism
Dive
Operators
 The
islands offer a wealth of relatively new, untouched dive sites.
More than 400 ships sank here between 1493 and 1825, but only
a dozen or so have been identified to date. The western (Caribbean)
side of the island is well protected and visibility off the shores
is usually in the 60 - 100 foot range. There are opportunities
for divers of all levels of experience, and most dive locations
are within an easy boat trip from the shore. Some of the more
popular diving locations include:
Black Coral Reef
The dive for people searching for rare black coral. Ask the
divemaster to point it out, as it is difficult to recognize underwater.
The reef begins at 40 feet and descends to 70 feet.
Blood Bay Reef
Colorful, healthy, plentiful coral, lots of purple and dark
anenomes, yellow sea fans and rust colored bristle worms. Fisherman
fish for snappers in this area, and the bait sometimes attracts
sharks, which run away as divers approach. There are several
small caves in the area. Depth 60 - 80 feet.
 Booby Island
In the St. Kitts - Nevis channel. Fish life is abundant here
with large schools of jacks and snappers.
 The
Caves
Lying 40 feet under the west coast of Nevis, just north of Charlestown,
the caves are a series of coral grottos. These grottos, a well-kept
secret, allow divers to swim through holes in living reef without
ever being more than a breath away from open water. Excellent
visibility and the shallow depth allow divers to explore the
caves until the tanks are almost dry. Thousands of fish are found
here varying from squirrel fish to lobsters to barracuda. Depth
approximately 40 feet.
Coconut Tree Reef
One of the largest reefs in the area and good for both novice
and expert diver alike. The reef begins at 40 feet and plunges
to a depth of 200 feet.
Grid Iron
In the channel that
separates St. Kitts & Nevis,
this undersea shelf rises to within 25 feet of the surface.
It contains a multitude
of shallow water corals, sea fans, sponges and large numbers
of angelfish.
Monkey Reef
Well off the western coast of St. Kitts' southeast peninsula,
The Monkey is a flat reef of soft and hard coral with a circular
rent in its surface, where the soft brown sand is exposed. Visability
is excellent and the edge of the reef offers lobster, nurse sharks,
sting ray and lizard fish. It takes approximately one hour to
circle the sandy area which lies at a depth of 50 feet.
Nags Head
For experienced divers, due to the stong current where the Atlantic
and the Caribbean meet. The reef is colorful, plunging dramatically
to 80 feet. Here you will find stingrays, turtles, squirrel fish
and sea urchins, along with assorted large reef fish.
Redonda Bank
An extensive, relatively unexplored area of reef with a large
variety of hard and soft corals and sea life.
River Taw Wreck
A large wrecked freighter 144 feet long by 70 feet wide. Sunk
about 10 years ago, the wreck is in excellent condition and only
50 feet deep, making it a wonderful dive for novices. Encrusting
coral and large numbers of reef fish can be observed.
M.V. Talata Wreck
This freighter sank in 1985 and is in excellent condition in
70 feet of water. A good dive for those with more experience.
It's hull has become home to a large assortment of reef fish.
Beached Tug Boat
Lying partly above water, and resting at a depth of only 20
feet, this site is a must for new divers and snorkelers. The
water affords excellent visibility and harbors a variety of fish
life, including jacks, grunts, hind and an occasional ray.
 Sandy
Point Bay
Coral reef featuring brown, soft coral and giant basket sponges
along with eel and other fish. Depth of about 50 - 100 feet.
Brassball Wreck
Shallow water wreck dive, lying in 25 feet of water. Good snorkeling
and a novice diver location.
Dive Operators
There are several dive operators on the islands.
Regulators, pressure gauges, and BCs are readily available on
the islands. The more
exotic underwater props are generally unavailable for rental
purposes, so divers are encouraged to bring along their own cameras,
strobes, bottom timers, dive computers and gauges. Most dive
operators are not equipped to accept credit cards. There is no
chamber in St. Kitts or Nevis; however there are chambers nearby
in Puerto Rico and St. Croix.
Banana Boat Tours
20 Pelican Mall,
Bay Road,
Basseterre, St.Kitts W.I.
Phone: 869-465-0645
Blue Water Safaris Ltd
P O Box 1228
Basseterre, St Kitts W.I.
Phone: 869-466-4933
Contact: info@bluewatersafari.com
www.bluewatersafaris.com
Leeward Island Charters
P.O. Box 586
Basseterre, St.Kitts W.I.
Phone: 869-465-7474
Kenneth's Dive Centre
Bay Road East, Basseterre, St. Kitts
Phone (869) 465-2670 or 465-7043
Contact: info@kennethdivecenter.com
www.kennethsdivecenter.com
Pro-Divers
Fisherman's Wharf and Turtle Beach, Fortlands, St. Kitts
Phone: (869) 465-3223 or 469-9086
St. Kitts W.I.
Phone: 869-466-3483
Contact: info@prodiversstkitts.com
www.prodiversstkitts.com
Nevis
SCUBA Safaris Ltd.
Oulie Beach Club, Newcastle, Nevis
Phone: (869) 469-9518
Contact: info@scubanevis.com
Website:
www.scubanevis.com
St. Kitts Scuba
P.O. Box 1023, Basseterre, St. Kitts
Phone: (869) 465-1189, Fax: (869) 465-3696
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