Diving - The underwater Gardens
Scuba divers of all ages and abilities delight in St. Kitts’ glorious underwater world, with many sites virtually unexplored. Bordered by the Caribbean and the Atlantic, the island offers a range of options, from near-shore reefs to subaquatic caves. Underwater visibility ranges from 30 to 100 feet deep, meaning you’ll have crystal-clear views of walls, ledges, under hangs, coral towers, and sunken ships, all swarming with sea life. St. Kitts’ sister island, Nevis, also offers supreme diving, along with the channel between the two.
SCUBA DIVING IN ST. KITTS AND NEVIS INCLUDES:
Reef diving. Our reefs provide a good hiding place for Spotted Drum, High Hat Arrow Crab and large lobsters. Divers love the Hot Vent at 90 feet, fizzing with 100oF water. Depths range from 35 feet to 95 feet.
Wreck dives. More than 400 ships have sunk off the shores of St. Kitts, with only a dozen or so having been identified to date.The most popular wreck dive, especially for novices, is River Taw, a 144-foot-long freighter sunk at 50 feet in 1985. A large variety of reef fish, including Squirrel Fish, Barracuda, Glassed Eye Snapper, and Angel Fish, flit about its encrusted coral.
Cave diving. Divers at Devil’s Cave, north of Charlestown on Nevis’ west coast, navigate through coral grottos and around overhangs crowded with Glassy Sweepers, Blue Tang, Nurse Sharks, Sting Rays, and on occasion Black Tip Reef Shark. Depths are up to 40 feet.
Resort courses are offered at many of the properties to introduce clients to the world below without having to be a Certified Scuba Diver. The adventure starts with a session in the pool and a briefing on the basics of scuba diving. Once potential divers master the basic rules, including how to clear the mask, clear your ears, breathe underwater, signal OK, signal out of air and control buoyancy, a dive boat will take you out to sea for a one-tank dive. Experienced PADI instructors supervise the entire dive. Resort course participants must be at least 10 years of age. Most courses limit the dive to a depth of 30 feet.
Sea temperatures in St. Kitts range from 74oF-79oF in winter to 80oF-85oF in summer. Divers find that a 2.5 or 3mm Shorty provides adequate warmth while diving. Those who dive in warmer waters, or tend to feel the cold, may want to opt for a 3mm full suit, especially during the winter months.
St. Kitts and Nevis’ dive operators are accredited by recognized certification agencies (PADI and NAUI) and can also train and certify new divers. Dives can be arranged directly with the operator or through any of the islands’ hotels. All necessary gear can be rented at the dive shops. There is no decompression chamber on the island.
