Dive Vacations in Grenada

Wrecks, Reefs and a Sculpture Garden

Like skiers, birders and others with intense interests, divers are avid s, always looking for new and different places to explore. And their numbers are growing: Diving industry estimates indicate that the number of scuba enthusiasts in North America has doubled over the last 10 years, to its current high of 6.9 million divers.

The nation of Grenada, a hot destination for pristine reef and wreck diving these days, is a great choice for experienced and wannabe divers as well as snorkelers. Ten well-regarded and regulated island scuba schools offer dive certification, resort courses (see sidebar) and certified professional guides for all levels of expertise as well as snorkeling expeditions. Serious divers may be familiar with the Bianca C, known as the "Titanic of the Caribbean."

One of the world's most fascinating dives, it is the largest divable wreck in the Caribbean. Bianca C. is one of 20 wrecks and just one of the many unusual dive and snorkel sites that encircle the mountainous, volcano-generated Grenada and its reef-formed sister island Carriacou. A lot of publicity has been given to another Grenada-only attraction, the Underwater Sculpture Gallery at Moliniere Bay, created by artist Jason Taylor.

A Dual Nature

In terms of native underwater attractions, Grenada has two very different natures: technically challenging dives on the rougher Atlantic-lashed side of the island that appeal to advanced divers, and calm, sheltered bio-diverse reefs around Carriacou and the western Caribbean coast of Grenada that are ideal for snorkelers and novice divers.

Grenada also offers drift diving, thanks to the Guyana current that flows past the coastline, which brings nutrients that help feed the marine ecosystem as well as enabling divers to effortlessly glide along. Among the more intriguing sites for intrepid drift divers are those around Frigate Island off the coast of Carriacou. Frigate Island is the edge of a submarine volcano and a spectacular dive site with the wonderfully evocative name of "Kickemjenny."

Since Grenada and Carriacou are not mass tourism destinations, their reefs, wrecks and coral walls are less frequented and more pristine than many Caribbean destinations. Permanent mooring facilities have been installed at popular locations to enable vessels to safely tie up rather than drop anchor, helping avoid damage to underwater marine life.

Read on to learn about some of the exciting underwater sites and attractions offered by this two-island dive and snorkel destination. Sharing some of these rich details is sure to help excite divers and undersea enthusiasts about diving in Grenada.

DIVING THE WRECKS

When ships sink, their star quality often goes way up. That is certainly true in Grenada and Carriacou where divers rave about the 20 different wrecks they can explore. Happily, the wrecks lie 20 to 120 feet in depth making them accessible to a wide range of abilities. Another plus is good underwater visibility, which varies between 30 to 100 feet, depending on weather conditions.

Advanced divers will enjoy exploring some of the deeper wrecks, made more challenging by the currents. Several dive operators offer nitrox, an enriched nitrogen-oxygen air mix used as breathing gas in scuba cylinders to extend bottom time (the time they can stay underwater at depth). Night dives and underwater scooters add to the excitement.

The headliner of Caribbean wrecks is Bianca C, a 600-foot-long Italian Luxury liner that caught fire and sank near Grenada's capital in 1961. The people of St. George's heroically rescued and cared for its 673 passengers and crew. However, attempts to tow the liner to shallow waters failed and it dove to a depth of 167 feet, where it lies today. A statue, Christ of the Deep, donated by the shipping company sits on the waterfront of the Carenage as a thank you to the people of Grenada.

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