Diving Barbados

A friend of mine is considering a trip to Barbados and is trying to find out what the diving is like. I have not heard much about the diving there. Please post if you have any info or recommendations. Thanks.

Hey! I might be going there myself in the late fall. I'll be interested to see what others have to say. Business trips rule!

A couple we used to dive with went there. It was their lowest rated destination they have tried. Not a great dive destination.

I do know an instructor there. I'll get her contact info if you wish.

I can't believe anyone would rate it low .. it's one of the most amazing diving areas I have done in the caribbean.

It kicks ass ... it has great fish life ... it has bountifull reefs .. and amazing ship wrecks .. let me sahre some examples ...

http://westsidescuba.com/ one of my favourite dive operators there.

They have some photos on their site .. i can't find that many by googling ..

http://www.scubadiving.bb/content/photogallery.htm some photos there.

The Stavronikita is 370ft freighter that lays in 130ft of water. It is the most amazing ship wreck in size and also has a silly amount of life on it. It took me 3 dives to do the whole thing once safely.

There are a few other wrecks which are smaller and more fun .. too .. the reefs tend to be ridges that can have current on them, but it's always easy to hide on one side of the ridge for protection and photographs.

The island itself is beautiful .. a mount gay and mailbu factory where free booze flows ... the St Lawrence Gap is a great place to hang out in the evening for a few cocktails and food. Holetown has a few small local style restaurants with AWESOME food . one called Ragamuffins I believe has the queens old cook working there. It's ver cool colonial wise ... they have caves .. they have mountains .. rainforest .. great diving .. surfing .. wind surfing .. kite boarding ... and most of all the people are really nice and friendly.

Barbados isn't like Cayman where i live and known for it's scuba diving for the sole reason people go there for other reasons as well .. there is too much to do. But the diving is great .. anyone who says otherwise just had a bad experience or at a bad time of year weather wise.

If you do want to go I can also recommend some hotels that I love there .. and a definate have to go do is http://www.harbourlightsbarbados.com/ which is a great live music on the beach style club .. lots of dancing .. and few nights of the week like mon wed fri .. you pay something like $28 (i think Barbados dollars too) and you get to drink top shelf liquor and beer (oh their local beer Banks is amzing also).

Did i mention the diving is actually quite good as well ?

ps another dive company if West Side is busy .. http://www.divehightide.com