Best Diving in the Caribbean

22 April 2024 7 min

Best Places for Scuba Diving in the Caribbean

Are you looking for a new challenge and want to try scuba diving for the first time, or are you an experienced diver looking for your next thrill-seeking adventure? The Caribbean is home to some of the best scuba diving spots in the world, making it the perfect destination for your next sailing holiday.

With its countless islands, beaches and secluded coves just waiting to be explored, where are the best diving spots in the Caribbean for divers of all experience levels?

In this blog, we’ll be looking at some of the best places for diving in the Caribbean, from the enchanting Great Blue Hole in Belize to the remarkable Cades Reef in Antigua.

Why go scuba diving in the Caribbean?

With breathtaking turquoise waters, a low tidal range and brilliant year-around weather conditions, the Caribbean offers some of the most fantastic diving opportunities the world has ever seen.

The Caribbean is a very popular diving destination because of its calm, protected waters that are ideal for first-time divers, and dive sites with more intense currents that offer an exciting challenge for experienced divers. In particular, the Caribbean is renowned for its wreck diving, from the MV Bianca C. in Grenada to the wreck of the Chikuzen in the BVI.
Find out more about the best time to sail in the Caribbean, where you can learn about everything from the peak sailing season to key cultural events that will help you plan when to book your Caribbean yacht charter and prepare for diving in these sensational hotspots.

1. Charlie’s Shoal, St Martin

The first spot on our list of the best places for diving in the Caribbean goes to Charlie’s Shoal, a beautiful coral reef on the South coast of St Martin. One of the most loved, yet quiet dive sites on the whole island, Charlie’s Shoal is a gem of the Caribbean.

Why is Charlie’s Shoal one of the best diving spots in the Caribbean?

Charlie’s Shoal is a treasure trove just waiting to be explored, boasting vibrant coral gardens and an abundance of marine life, including green sea turtles.
As mentioned, Charlie’s Shoal is a quiet and more secluded diving site in St Martin which is ideal if you’re looking for a private, tranquil scuba diving experience.
Charlie’s Shoal has a depth of around 60 feet, making it perfect for more experienced divers looking for a thrilling open water diving experience.
The visibility at Charlie’s Shoal is exceptional thanks to the crystal clear waters surrounding St Martin.

Take a look at our blog about the best scuba diving locations in St Martin to find other exciting dive spots. Can’t wait to uncover the wonders of Charlie’s Shoal? Build a quote and book your blissful St Martin sailing holiday today.

2. Keyhole Pinnacles, St Lucia

St Lucia is a stunning, enchanting sailing destination so it comes as no surprise that it’s also home to some of the best diving spots in the Caribbean.

Often described as an underwater version of the famous Pitons, the Keyhole Pinnacles is situated at the entrance to the Bay of Soufriere and is loved by beginner and experienced divers alike. Why is the Keyhole Pinnacles one of the best places for diving in the Caribbean?

With not one but four pinnacles to explore, this diving destination is a true sailor’s playground.
The natural beauty of the four pinnacles that rise from the depths of the sea up to near the surface of the turquoise waters is astonishing.
Much like our other Caribbean diving spots, the Keyhole Pinnacles is home to an incredible variety of marine life, from trumpet fish to sea turtles.
Alongside marine life, you’ll also experience an exceptional array of colours as you swim around the nearby coral.

Find out more about sailing holidays in St Lucia and why it’s one of the most popular romantic destinations for couples.

3. Cades Reef, Antigua

Are you looking for a one-of-a-kind underwater adventure holiday in the Caribbean? Look no further than Cades Reef in Antigua, universally considered one of the best diving spots in the Caribbean and the world.

Cades Reef is several miles long and has multiple popular dive sites within it, such as Monck’s Head and The Chimney. The more shallow waters of Cades Reef are perfect if you’re going scuba diving for the first time, while the outer areas of the reef have stronger currents which offer a brilliant challenge for more experienced divers.

As you dive down to the depths of this stunning barrier reef, you’ll be left feeling mesmerised by its breathtaking beauty and gorgeous colours. Whether you’re diving as a family, with friends or as a couple, you’ll fall in love with the incredible marine life at Cades Reef, including nurse sharks, moray eels and barracudas.
Want even more scuba diving inspiration ahead of your Antigua sailing holiday? Check out our blog on the best diving spots in Antigua.

4. The MV Bianca C, Grenada

Take your Grenada sailing holiday to the next level by unleashing your inner adventurer and going wreck diving around the MV Bianca C. Sinking in 1961, this old passenger ship offers a unique diving experience like no other.

One of the best diving spots in the Caribbean, the wreck of the MV Bianca C. is almost 600 feet long which also makes it one of the largest diveable wrecks in the Caribbean. There are limitless opportunities for exploration and countless treasures to discover as you reach the depths of this sensational wreck.

The wreck of the MC Bianca C. is a dream come true for experienced divers as it sits between 90 feet and 167 feet below the surface of the water. It is not recommended for first-time divers due to the depth and the currents of the water around the wreck.
When swimming around the MC Bianca C, you can look forward to spotting nurse sharks, Atlantic spadefish, moray eels and many more aquatic creatures. As you prepare for your exciting sailing holiday in Grenada, or any of our destinations in the Caribbean, it’s important to be mindful of the beautiful marine life and natural environment around you. Learn more about our OCEAN promise.

5. Angelfish Reef, British Virgin Islands

The BVI is home to some of the best diving spots in the Caribbean, from the wreck of the RMS Rhone to The Indians. However, there’s one diving site that stands apart from all others: Angelfish Reef.

Why is Angelfish Reef one of the best places for diving in the Caribbean?

Angelfish Reef is like a playground for sailors, with its incredible, maze-like canyons and ridges. What sights are you most looking forward to seeing as you navigate your way around the reef’s twisting labyrinth?
You’ll have the opportunity to meet some of the most spectacular marine life, including eagle rays, turtles and lobsters.
Much like our other Caribbean diving spots, Angelfish Reef has impeccable visibility and divers will enjoy brilliant weather conditions.
The reef is protected from intense, outside currents, which makes it a brilliant diving spot for first-time divers. However, more advanced divers will also fall in love with Angelfish Reef as you can explore to depths of 90 feet.

Want to learn more about what the BVI has to offer divers of all experience levels? Check out our blog on the best scuba diving spots in the BVI. Once you’ve decided which sites you want to explore, all that’s left to do is find out the best time to sail in the BVI, build a quote and book your sailing holiday today.

6. Runway Wall, the Bahamas

The next spot on our list of the best places for diving in the Caribbean is for thrill seekers looking for the ultimate adrenaline rush. Runway Wall in the Bahamas is the ideal scuba diving site if you’re hoping to come face to face with the famous Caribbean reef sharks in their natural habitat.

Situated in Nassau, Runway Wall offers you the once in a lifetime opportunity to swim with, and even feed, these beautiful creatures. The best part? Runway Wall has a depth of 40 feet which means all certified divers can join in. This makes it the perfect fun-filled family day out that you’ll remember for the rest of your lives. Find out more about our family sailing holidays.
If you’ve always dreamed of swimming with sharks or challenging yourself to an exciting adventure holiday, Runway Wall is for you. Take a look at the best time to sail in the Bahamas to learn more about when to book your Bahamas sailing charter.

7. Great Blue Hole, Belize

Did you know…Belize is one of the most popular destinations in the world for scuba diving and snorkelling? We couldn’t create a list of the best places for scuba diving in the Caribbean without mentioning one of Belize’s most iconic diving sites, the Great Blue Hole.

Why is the Great Blue Hole one of the best diving spots in the Caribbean?

Mysterious, mesmerising and magical, the Great Blue Hole is a huge underwater sinkhole off the coast of Belize. You’ll want to make sure you’ve got your waterproof camera on you to capture its beauty.
Down inside the Great Blue Hole, you’ll find a series of caverns just waiting to be discovered. You can swim around countless geological formations such as stalactites and stalagmites, what’s not to love?
It’s one of the most popular diving spots in the Caribbean so you can meet other passionate divers as you prepare to explore its depths.
Over 900 feet wide and more than 400 feet deep, the Great Blue Hole is the ideal diving site for advanced divers.

Find out more about other scuba diving spots in Belize and learn how it lives up to its name as one of the best places for diving in the Caribbean.

8. Diamond Rock, Martinique

The final spot on our list of the best diving spots in the Caribbean is Diamond Rock in Martinique, an uninhabited basalt island.

Diamond Rock is one of the most spectacular natural wonders in Martinique, so scuba diving in the waters around it is a must-do activity for any Martinique Itinerary. Over 40 feet deep and boasting a mixture of shallow reefs and rocky canyons, divers of all experience levels will love Diamond Rock.

As you explore the treasures that lie beneath Diamond Rock, you can expect to see an incredible variety of marine life, including angelfish, octopus and moray eels. Find out more about the best diving spots in Martinique, which one will you visit next?

No matter which of our Caribbean sailing destinations you set sail around, you’ll find some of the world’s most incredible scuba diving sites. From the crystal-clear waters of Antigua to the vibrant marine life of the BVI, each destination is ideal for scuba diving and has countless possibilities for adventure. Learn more about the best places to sail in the Caribbean to help you choose which one to visit next.
Wherever you decide to book, we can’t wait to welcome you aboard one of our sensational yachts for a bareboat or skippered charter soon. If you have any questions about the best diving spots in the Caribbean, please get in touch with us today.