Having Fun with Scuba Diving in Antigua
January 28th, 2009. Published under Travel. No Comments.
If you are exploring for a holiday location where you can enjoy bright warm beaches with scuba diving facilities, you need to look no further, because the spot youre looking for is unquestionably Antigua. Placed in the middle of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean, Antigua is just adjacent to the north of equator, and offers warm waters and beautiful dive locations. The neighbouring islands of Antigua include St. Barts, St. Martin, and Montserrat. Antigua is the largest of the British Leeward Islands, and is 14 miles long and 11 miles wide.
With the exception of the hurricane season, Antigua has blissfully hot waters all year round. The location offers clear dive spots, great scuba diving tour operators and services, and is overwhelmed with physical and natural beauty. There are an enormous number of hotels and resorts that provide lavish accommodation, even in the low budget arena. The place also offers a great number of scuba diving schools and tours, depending on your proficiency level.
The water in the region of Antigua is unmatchable. As it is bounded by very well preserved coral reefs, walls, and shipwrecks, the water is extremely clear and the underwater visibility ranges from 40 to 150 feet. The southern and eastern shorelines of the island are surrounded by shelves, which make it a perfect spot for diving or snorkelling, particularly for less experienced divers.
Skilled divers can go to many other diving spots, with the most admired being the ledge at Sunken Rock, situated on the southern shore of the island. The dive depths may vary from 25 to 80 feet. The majority of the diving spots are situated near Antigua, and can be reached in just five minutes. Nevertheless, there are some diving locations that could take up to 40 minutes to reach. The wreck of Andes is a well-liked spot in Antigua, where a merchant ship sank. With ample of tropical marine plants and underwater life, you can enjoy a lot while underwater.
It is possible to sign up for a variety of scuba diving courses or tours while on the island. If you are a novice and have not yet learnt anything prior arriving on the islands, it is a good idea to register in a one day course which is short, yet intensive enough to teach you all you need to know for fundamental dives.
The trainers are highly skilled and will teach you all the proper techniques and theory, along with the imperative safety tips before they let you go under water. Additionally, they also make sure that you are well equipped to go under water before they issue you any equipment.
If you are a certified diver, you can sign up for either daily dives, or three or five day packages, with or without equipment rental charges. For entry on the island, you need to have a return ticket, but if you are from the Unites States or Canada, or possess a British passport, you do not need a visa to set foot on the island. In any case, you just need to prove that you have the finances to cover your stay and accommodation charges. Furthermore, you also need to assure them that you will leave before your six months are up, as that is the maximum stay allowed on a visit visa.
Thus, if youre thinking to spend your vacations scuba diving and spending time relaxing on the striking beaches, then Antigua is the accurate location for you.