9 marine life: Reef life includes elkhorn, brain and many other hard

Transcription

9 marine life: Reef life includes elkhorn, brain and many other hard
fish, wrasse barracuda and flying gunards.
Dive centres: Dominica has a number of dive
operators including centres at some hotels. All
are members of the Dominica Watersports Association - www.dominicawatersports.com
Websites: www.discoverdominica.com;
www.dominicawatersports.com
The eastern side of the island of Hispaniola,
the Dominican Republic offers diving on both
its Atlantic and Caribbean coastlines. It has
more than 100 miles of fringing reefs along
both coasts and around islands.
Visibility can reach 100 feet, but is generally
lower on the rougher northern Atlantic side.
Type of diving: Boat diving on wrecks, reefs,
walls and rock formations suitable for levels
from beginner to advanced.
Highlights: The Montecristi national park,
bordering Haiti in the northwest has some of
the best corals on its barrier reef. Notable reef
areas off the south coast include tee island
of Saona, in Del Este national park, and another park, Jaragua. These parks account for
almost one fifth of the country’s coral reefs.
There are also reefs on the offshore banks of
Navidad and La Plata. They are within a marine
mammal sanctuary protecting the breeding
grounds for 3,000 humpback whales. Catalina
Island near La Romana has a spectacular wall,
rated as one of the best dives in Dom Rep.
Marine life: Reef flora and fauna includes
huge vase and barrel sponges, hard and soft
corals, moray eels, stone crabs, lobsters, angelfish, snappers, grunt and trunkfish. Jaragua
has populations of manatees, crocodiles and
four species of turtle – leatherback, green,
hawksbill and loggerhead. Whale-watching in
the northeast between January and March.
Grenada’s sister island Carriacou or ‘Island of
Reefs’ offers excellent and varied diving opportunities with every kind of coral imaginable
and a vast array of marine life.
Marine life: Reef life includes elkhorn, brain
and many other hard corals, sea fans, parrotfish, butterflyfish, triggerfish, moray eels,
turtles and barracuda.
Type of diving: Diving in Grenada is varied,
with reefs, walls, the largest variety of fish and
the largest number of wrecks in the Caribbean.
Sites vary from 8m/20ft to 40m/120ft. Visibility varies from 30ft – 100ft.
Dive centres: There are several dive centres
in the main diving areas, offering lessons and
dive trips. Some are based at hotels.
Highlights: Grenada recently became home
to the world’s first Underwater Sculpture Park
– a collection of sixty-five sculpture situated
on the sea bed within a designated National
Marine Park. The sculptures highlight ecological processes whilst exploring the intricate
relationship between modern art and the environment.
Also known as the ‘Titanic of the Caribbean’ the
600ft Bianca C which sank in 1961 is for the
experienced diver and is still relatively intact.
It is now encrusted with hard and soft corals
and sponges and is frequented by schools of
jacks and barracuda as well as eagle rays.
Website: www.lesilesdeguadeloupe.com
There is no diving in Guyana.
Website: www.guyana-tourism.com
Marine Life: Grenada and Carriacou offer
a vast variety of marine life including finger
coral, sea whips and brown coral trees, angel
fish, parrot fish, snake eels, lobster, barracuda,
morays, nurse sharks and turtles.
Dive centre: There are several dive centres on
the islands. Many of them are located at hotels and offer a variety of diving packages for
divers of all ages from beginners to advanced
and experienced divers.
Website: www.grenadagrenadines.com
Haiti is virtually unknown as a diving destination, but it has some unique underwater treasures including reefs with huge sponges and
historic shipwrecks.
Type of diving: Limited diving, usually from
main resorts.
Highlights: Huge elephant ear sponges including one 135 feet deep off Amani-les-Bains,
north of Port-au-Prince . Snorkelling and diving are very good there.
© Grenada Board of Tourism
Dive centres: There are dive centres at all the
popular diving areas, including some based at
resort hotels.
Marine life: Little is known about Haiti’s reefs,
but studies in the 1980s at Les Arcadins found
35 species of hard corals as well as 12 gorgonians and 54 species of sponge according
to UNEP’s World Atlas of Coral Reefs. It says
there are also coral reefs in other areas, including round the islands of La Gonave and Vache,
and along the north coast from Cap Haitien to
the border with the Dominican Republic.
Dive centres: There are dive centres at some
hotels, at Port Morgan (South) and Comier
beach (North).
Website: www.godominicanrepublic.com
Website: www.port-morgan.com
From lazy drift dives to adventure diving, the
pristine waters of Grenada offer fun and excitement for divers of all levels. Known as the
‘Diving Capital of the Caribbean’, the island
offers more wrecks than any other Caribbean
island and is home to the Bianca C, the largest
and most famous wreck in the Caribbean. With
fascinating walls and reefs and the world’s first
Underwater Sculpture Park, Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique is fast becoming
one of the most sought after dive destinations
in the world.
There is plenty to see under the waters of this
archipelago, including an underwater reserve
established by and named after diving pioneer
Jacques Cousteau, on the west coast of BasseTerre.
Type of diving: Shallow reefs, wrecks and
drop-offs down to more than 150 feet appeal
to all grades of diver. Visibility often exceeds
100 feet.
The presence of all-inclusive resorts offering
diving, gives many guests the opportunity to
experience diving for the first time, or do a few
dives as part of their stay.
Highlights: Guadeloupe’s most popular
dive site is the Pigeon Islets on the west of
Basse-Terre. Other top sites include Les Heures Saines at Rocher du Malendure and Les
Saintes, with La Sec Pate highly rated.
A number of protected marine areas have been
set up to help maintain coral reefs around the
holiday resort areas of Montego Bay, Negril
and Ocho Rios and Ocho Rios has been a protected area since 1966.
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Warm water and good visibility are trademarks
of diving in Jamaica.
Type of diving: A great variety of diving to
suit all levels from learners up to advanced
is available, with spur and grove corals on its
fringing reefs, caves, canyons, tunnels, walls,
overhangs and wrecks.
Highlights: Montego Bay is famed for its walls
and the ‘Airport Reef’ is rated as one of
Jamaica’s best dives.
Some of the best dive sites/reefs are Port
Royal, near Kingston airport, Ocho Rios which
has a pinnacle called Devil’s Reef, which drops
down to 200 feet from 60 feet. Furthermore the
Cayman Trench wall which comes close to the
shore between Ocho Rios and Runaway Bay
plunging to 3,000 feet. The Canyon at Runaway Bay includes two parallel walls in depths
from 40 to 130 feet and the wreck of Canadian
minesweeper Kathryn. Chubb Castle, situated
off-shore Falmouth has tunnels, caves and a
wall with sponges and black coral. In Port
Antonio, advanced divers can meet hawksbill
turtles at Alligator Head. Negril has many reefs
and several wrecks, among them two Cessna
planes.
Marine life: Coral growth has recovered to
an extent on shallow reefs in recent years,
according to UNEP, while deeper reefs were
far less affected, particularly on the island’s
southern shelf. Hard and soft corals, sponges,
invertebrates and numerous fish including
nurse sharks await divers in Jamaica.
Dive centres: All-inclusive hotel groups such
as Couples Resorts, Sandals and SuperClubs
lead the way for diving facilities, while there
are dive centres at many other hotels.
Jamaica also has several licensed and regulated private dive centres and has the added
benefit of a decompression facility on the
north coast.
Dive centres: There are a number of dive centres, including some at hotels with diving close
by.
Website: www.GoToPuertoRico.com
Despite the volcano which destroyed much of
the island’s tourism infrastructure and sights,
diving is still available. Because of its small
population even prior to the eruption there has
been little pollution or damage to the corals on
its surrounding reefs.
Type of diving: Activity by the Soufriere Hills
Volcano currently limits diving to the northern
part of the island. Most diving is done on the
west coast, which is in the lee of the Atlantic waves and trade winds most of the time.
The northwest can get rough with heavy surf.
Montserrat has shallow reefs inshore, with
deeper reefs, boulders and ledges further out
leading to drop-offs from its continental shelf.
Dive excursions are also available to the uninhabited neighbouring island of Redonda.
The pristine reefs and waters around St Eustatius, formerly Statia, are now preserved by a
marine park with 30 buoyed dive sites.
Highlights: Dives in the Woodlands Bay area
include the Horn, a seamount which was once
a volcano and rises to 60 feet from the surface, its slopes teeming with life. A nearby reef
known as Inner Horn has abundant wire coral.
Type of diving: Dive sites in the national park
range from coral reefs, drop-offs and canyons
to historic and recent wrecks.
Marine life: Typical reef and dwellers including cleaner shrimps, octopus and lobster.
Larger pelagics and turtles patrol deeper waters, where there are huge barrel sponges,
plus brain, staghorn and star corals.
Dive centres: Green Monkey Dive Shop and
Scuba Montserrat offer courses and equipment rental.
Websites: www.visitmontserrat.com;
www.divemontserrat.com;
www.divedestinationmontserrat.com.
Four nature reserves protect nearly a quarter
of Puerto Rico’s diverse and well-developed
coral reefs. They skirt much of Puerto Rico’s
coast and encircle its offshore islands. Visibility is generally up to 100 feet and often more.
Highlights: The coral reef between St-Pierre
and Le Pecheur, three wrecks at St-Pierre and
the canyons of Les Canyons de Babodi, which
drop 150 feet just 300 feet from the shore.
Marine life: Reefs have abundant fish and
corals.
Dive centres: There are about 20 diving
schools on the island, some of them at hotels.
Website: www.welcome2martinique.com
Highlights: Popular dive sites include two
coral-encrusted wrecks in 60 feet known as
Double Wreck; historic wreck sites such as
Lil Dutchman Reef and Big Aquil; the Cliffs, a
spectacular wall covered in sponges and coral
near the southern tip that drops from 60 to
250 feet; and shallow and colourful Hangover
Reef.
Marine life: Prodigious flora and fauna with
many types of hard and soft coral, gorgonians and sponges, and fish including longlure
frogfish, queen angelfish, groupers, seahorse,
blacktip reef sharks and turtles.
Dive centres: There are a few dive centres in
the capital, Oranjestad.
Website: www.statiatourism.com
Website: www.visitjamaica.com
Type of diving: Reef, canyon and wreck diving. The island has nearly two dozen dive sites.
Diving is particularly good off the south coast
and in the north.
On the western side of the island, near Lowertown, divers and snorkellers can explore partially sunken warehouses and the old city wall
just a short swim from the shore. Clay pipes,
cannonballs and glass fragments from old
wine bottles can be found on old shipwreck
sites.
Type of diving: Puerto Rico appeals to all diving grades with an offering of shore and boat
dives, night dives, shallow reefs, walls, ledges,
caves, pinnacles, swim-throughs and wrecks.
Highlights: The best diving is off the south
and west, at sites such as the highly rated Parguera Wall off La Parguera and Guánica, which
has deep wall and reef diving. Other top diving sites are the islands of Vieques, Desecheo,
Culebra, and Mona (known as the Galapagos
of the Caribbean), the latter is located 40-miles
west from the mainland. Shore diving is available off the northwest at Aguadilla and Isabela.
Marine life: Multitude of corals and prolific
fish life, including the chance to see turtles,
seahorses and manatees on dives, and watch
for dolphins and humpback whales from the
boat.
The Atlantic and Caribbean waters surrounding St. Kitts offer divers a wealth of experiences from colourful reef formations to fascinating wrecks, easily making it one of the top
Caribbean diving destinations. Whether it’s
shallow reef tops, walls, wrecks, drift diving
or just incredible diversity in fish and critters,
dive companies offer an exhilarating choice of
scuba diving sites.
The reefs and more than 400 wrecks, of which
only a few have been identified as yet, are the
hallmark of St. Kitts and its sister island of
Nevis. Most diving is on the western, leeward
side and in the channel between the two islands and visibility is spectacular, often reaching 100 feet. There are fringing reefs around
both islands and deeper reefs on the steep
slopes.
Type of diving: There are dives for all levels
of ability, and many sites are a short boat trip
from the shore. Diving is generally relatively
easy with little current.
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Highlights: A good dive for novices is the
wreck of the freighter River Taw, which sank
10 years ago in 50 feet. It is already encrusted
with coral and is home to large numbers of
fish. Other wrecks are even shallower, while
a deeper site for more experienced divers is
Nags Head, where the Atlantic and Caribbean
meet and produce strong currents. ~ The terminal vents reef begins at a shallow 35 feet
and plunges to 95 feet. This reef is covered
with large ‘Black Coral’ trees that stem from
the side of the reef. With overhangs and small
canyons, this reef provides good hiding places
for Spotted Drum, High hats Arrow Crabs and
some of the largest Lobsters. Divers can visit
the hot vent where 100 F water fizzes from the
bottom.
Marine life: Stingrays, turtles and large species can be seen at deeper sites such as Nags
Head, while smaller tropical reef fish are to be
found on shallower reefs and wrecks. There
are many different types of corals, sea fans
and sponges including huge basket sponges.
Dive centres: There are dive Centres in both
St Kitts & Nevis, which are mainly situated at
hotels.
Websites: www.stkittstourism.kn;
www.nevisnaturally.com;
www.scubanevis.com
Wreck diving has become popular with the
sinking of several ships as artificial reefs off
St Martin and St Maarten, and there are reefs
close to the shore in shallow water.
St Barts is not as well known for diving as
some of its Caribbean cousins but has several sites near main town Gustavia. There are
a couple of diveable wrecks and some large
caves. A marine reserve protects some coastal
areas.
Type of diving: Reef diving in shallow and
moderate depths. Wreck diving.
Highlights: St Barts’ top dives are around Pain
de Sucre, an islet off Gustavia harbour, around
l’Ane Rouge cape and Coco islet. St Maarten’s
most popular sites include HMS Proselyte that
sank in 1801 on a reef near Great Bay, and the
freighter Teigland that was sunk as an artificial
reef on Cable Reef.
Marine life: Many species of corals and reef
fish. Divers may also see turtles, sharks, barracuda, stingrays and eagle rays.
Dive centres: There are several centres, including some based at hotels.
Websites: www.st-martin.org;
www.st-maarten.com;
www.comstbarth.fr
walls, caves, pinnacles for all levels.
At the tip of an underwater volcano, Saint Lucia has everything from shallow sloping reefs
to dramatic walls and seamounts. Wrecks include a number of artificial reefs, which have
become home to huge gorgonians, giant barrel sponges, vase sponges, black coral and
lace coral. You can visit the award-winning
Soufriere Marine Management Area which is a
project that helps protect Saint Lucia’s coastal
environment.
Type of diving: Shallow coral gardens, reefs
and wrecks for all levels.
Highlights: Anse Chastenet reef in the south
west of the island is one of Saint Lucia’s most
dramatic dive sites. The shallows, with depths
to 25ft, can be entered directly from the beach.
The reef falls away from 20 to 140 feet in a
unique coral wall that continues from Anse
Chastanet Bay around the head land of Grand
Caille and in towards the harbour of Soufriere.
Every August after full moon, huge numbers of
ruby brittle stars come out at night to spawn
all over the reef. The Key Hole Pinnacles coral
and seamounts and the artificial reef Lesleen
M Shipwreck are also excellent dives, while the
wreck of the Waiwinette off the south coast is
a challenging dive because of the currents. Another good dive is at the base of the Petit Piton
mountain called Superman’s Flight which was
used in the movie for Superman II. This sight
is a drift dive and divers can “fly” along its gentle wall that drops to 1600ft. Strong currents
provide crystal clear viewing for perfect underwater exploration.
Marine life: Reefs covered with hard and soft
corals, sponges and gorgonians teem with fish
and marine life such as featherduster worms.
Species include goatfish, parrotfish, chromis,
wrasse and squid in shallow waters, and triggerfish, turtles, groupers, jacks and snappers
on deeper sites. Divers may also come across
“The Thing”, a mysterious creature reportedly
up to 15 feet long with feathered gills and a
segmented body that only comes out at night.
Highlights: For experienced divers, Horseshoe Reef at the Tobago Cays is a drop-off
dive plunging down to 120 feet. Unusual dives
include volcanic sulphur deposits between 65
and 100 feet off Petit St Vincent, which bubble
warm water. Sites off Bequia include a dramatic wall and a rock pinnacle known as the Bullet,
which soars 140 feet into the air and plunges
nearly 100 feet down. Both sites are subject to
rough water and strong currents but offer an
excellent chance to see big pelagic fish.
Marine life: Reefs and rocks have many soft
and hard corals, sponges, anemones and gorgonians, and profuse fish life including filefish,
trumpetfish, barracuda, moray eels and scorpion fish. Deep dives bring encounters with
nurse sharks, rays, turtles, groupers, jacks
and tuna. St Vincent and the Grenadines is
also known as the critter capital of the world.
Dive centres: Dive centres are located on St
Vincent and virtually all islands including
Mustique.
Website: www.svgtourism.com
© Young Island, St. Vincent & The Grenadines
There is little or no diving in Suriname.
Website: www.suriname-tourism.org
Dive centres: Six dive operators run centres in
St. Lucia, including a few at some of the main
resorts.
Website: www.stlucia.org
The unspoilt waters of St Vincent and the
Grenadines provide a perfect setting for divers
offering a variety of dives. The reefs of Petit St
Vincent, the Tobago Cays and islands such as
Bequia offer the best reef diving, while St Vincent and Bequia also offer fantastic wall and
cave dives.
Type of diving: Shallow reef dives, drift dives,
Tobago offers the main diving opportunity.
Trinidad’s diving is more limited because of the
effect of sediment from the Orinoco River. But
it also brings nutrients to the waters of Tobago
on the Guyana Current and they mix with those
of the North Equatorial Current to produce a
rich source of food for corals, sponges and
fish.
Diving is year-round on both islands, but from
August to early November visibility can drop
from the normal 70 to 90 feet, particularly on
its south coast and in the top layer of water.
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Type of diving: Tobago is suitable for divers
of all abilities, and is known for its drift diving
on strong currents with some great adrenaline
diving on its Atlantic coast, for more for experienced divers. The island boasts opulent hard
corals and massive barrel sponges, twisting
them into strange shapes. And the plankton
living in the coral sometimes attract nature’s
marine giants – manta rays and whale sharks
from November to June.
Highlights: Soaring over huge sponges and
forests of coral on powerful currents, and
chance encounters with mantas and whale
sharks. The wreck of The Maverick off Mt. Irvine wall offers great diving.
Marine life: Big sponges and huge coral formations, including the largest known brain
coral in the world. Lots of fish, large and small
including seahorses, stingrays, nurse sharks
and turtles.
Dive centres: Most hotels have dive centres
including the Coco Reef, Toucan Inn, Turtle
Beach by rex resorts and Blue Waters Inn.
Some dive centres offer a pick-up service.
Websites: www.gotrinidadandtobago.com;
www.tobagoscubadiving.com
Outstanding diving in visibility often in excess
of 150 feet; consisting of shallow banks surrounded by deep water. The reefs encircling
the banks and islands are extremely diverse,
with 37 coral species and more than 400 fish
species recorded. The islands have a system
of marine sanctuaries to protect the undersea
environment.
Type of diving: There is shallow reef diving
as well as exceptional wall diving on deep
walls, canyons, seamounts, ledges and swimthroughs. These varied types of diving cater
for everyone from the novice diver to the advanced diver.
Highlights: The remote island of Salt Cay is
one of the best places to experience the rare
chance to dive with humpback whales as they
pass through the Columbus Channel on their
way to their mating grounds. The migration
season is from December to April, with February being the most likely time to see them. Salt
Cay is home to the wreck of the 1790 British
man o’ war Endymion, which sank in about 40
feet of water. West Caicos is a popular diving
area and has some of the best wall dives.
Marine life: Abundant marine life from small
nudibranchs to the giant humpbacks. The walls
attract large pelagic species including manta
and eagle rays, turtles, sharks, groupers, dolphins and whale sharks.
vertical walls with many large pelagic fish.
Marine life: More than 50 coral species have
been identified at Los Roques along with
nearly 300 species of coral reef fish. Large fish
frequently seen include big eye jacks, tarpon,
eagle rays, sharks and barracuda plus turtles.
Whether newly certified or advanced, diving in
the U.S. Virgin Islands is easy, accessible and
offers an array of experiences for all divers.
Combine St. Croix’ underwater national monument, St. John’s protected underwater reserve
and St. Thomas’ collection of wrecks and reefs
together with 500+ species of tropical fish,
40 types of coral, dozens of experienced dive
operators and an unwavering commitment to
reef preservation, and the result is the U.S.
Virgin Islands.
Type of diving: Shallow reefs to drop-off walls
in St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas provide
diving for all levels.
Highlights: Nowhere else in the Caribbean can
you dive a wreck, wall, pier and reef all in one
day! St. Croix is one of the only dive destinations with so much diversity including one of
only two underwater national monuments,
Buck Island. Known for its low-impact diving,
St. John has sites such as Eagle Shoal, Horse
Shoe Reef and Leaf Lobster Hut that average
40 to 60 feet in depth and overflow with grown
in which sea life thrive. St. Thomas offers
the opportunity to mix and match 14 wrecks,
some lying as deep as 90 feet in crystal blue
water below the surface. Among the essential experiences for wreck divers are the W.I.T.
Shoal, W.I.T. Power and Miss Opportunity, all
lying 90 feet below the surface.
Marine life: Reefs and wrecks teem with corals, sponges and over 500 species of tropical
fish.
Dive centres: Dive centres with schools
abound throughout the USVI, with many based
at resort hotels.
Website: www.VisitUSVI.com
Venezuela
Venezuela’s marine treasures are concentrated
off its offshore islands, notably Los Roques.
An archipelago of 40 islands, it was declared a
national park in 1972 and is one of the largest
marine parks in the Caribbean as well as being
the oldest.
Other reefs exist off the mainland coast at
places such as Morrocoy and Mochina, also
both national parks nearly 30 years old, although the coral is less diverse.
Dive centres: There are many dive centres
but they are mainly located on Grand Turk and
Providenciales.
Type of diving: Liveaboard diving in Los
Roques or day charters from Gran Roque.
Diving on reefs, rocks, ledges, pinnacles and
walls with depths from 25 feet to more than
150 feet. Strong currents in places.
Website: www.turksandcaicostourism.com
Highlights: Virgin reefs teeming with fish, and
Dive centres: Liveaboard from Caracas, and
dive resort in Los Roques. Others can be
found on the Venezuela mainland.
Website: www.venezlon.co.uk
AIRLINE ALLOWANCES
Getting to and around the Caribbean is easy,
and airlines have expanded capacity to the
region from the UK with extra flights and
bigger aircraft. The region is well served by
airlines with schedules services from the
UK and there are also a growing number of
charters and international carriers offering
good connections.
Divers have to bear in mind weight allowances, especially if they plan to take their
own equipment.
Airlines are getting much stricter on what
you are allowed to take on board, particularly since September 11. No sharp objects
can be taken in the cabin, and both airlines
and airports enforce cabin luggage entitlement. Some airlines give divers an
additional allowance for diving equipment.
Please ensure you check with the airline regarding allowances before travelling.
Inter-Island Airlines
Inter-Caribbean travel is almost entirely by
air – though boats can be found in some
islands. There are some regular ferry services available i.e. between the Eastern Caribbean islands or a faster service between
the French West Indies and the Virgin Islands. There are also several national and
regional airlines.
Caribbean Tourism Organisation
22 The Quadrant, Richmond,
Surrey, TW9 1BP
Telephone
020 8948 0057
Fax
020 8948 0067
email
ctolondon@caribtourism.com
website
www.caribbean.co.uk
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CARIBBEAN TOURISM ORGANISATION (UK) MEMBERS
Airlines, Cruise Lines, Hotels & Accommodation and Tour Operators
Airlines
Air Europa
Tel: 020 7153 6925
Web: www.aireuropa.com
Air Jamaica
Tel: 020 8570 7999
Web: www.airjamaica.com
bmi
Tel: 0870 607 0222
Web: www.flybmi.com
British Airwarys
Tel: 0844 493 0787
Web: www.ba.com/caribbean
Caribbean Airlines
Tel: 0870 774 7336
Web: www.caribbean-airlines.com
Elegant Hotels Group
Tel: 0800 587 3427
Web: www.eleganthotels.com
Sirenis Hotels & Resorts
Tel: 00 34 971 312 512
Web: www.sirenishotels.com
Individual Holidays
Tel: 01753 892 111
Web: www.individual-hoildays.com
Essential Detail
Tel: 0208 874 9534
Web: www.essentialdetail.co.uk
SuperClubs
Tel: 0208 339 4150
Web: www.superclubs.org
ITC Classics
Tel: 01244 355300
Web: www.itcclassics.com
Fairmont & Raffles
Tel: 0845 0710153
Web: www.fairmont.com;
www.raffles.com
The Caribbean Collection
Tel: 0208 704 4466
Email:
lynng@thecaribbeancollection.co.uk
Jetlife
Tel: 0871 902 7877
Web: www.jetlife.co.uk
Group Promotions
Tel: 01582 79 22 60
Web: www.group-promotions.com
The Landings, St Lucia
Tel: 0800 652 9575
Web: www.thelandingsstlucia.com
High Profile Marketing
Tel: 0161 929 8612
Web: www.highprofileuk.com
Cayman Airways
Web: www.caymanairways.com
Hilton Hotels
Tel: 08705 90 90 90
Web: www.hilton.co.uk
LIAT
Tel: 001 268 480 5601
Web: www.liat.com
Hodges Bay Club
Tel: 0845 803 3919
Web: www.hodgesbayclub.com
Virgin Atlantic Airways
Tel: 0870 574 7747
Web: www.virgin-atlantic.com
ITG Sales & Marketing
Tel: 01895 450710
Web: www.itgmarketing.co.uk
Cruise Lines
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines
Tel: 01473 742 424
Web: www.fredolsencruises.co.uk
Hotels & Accommodation
Advantage Management Group
Tel: 020 8487 9881
Web: www.amgltd.biz
Almond Resorts
Tel: 0870 907 9601
Web: www.almondresorts.co.uk
Biras Creek Resort
Tel: 0800 883 0756
Web: www.biras.com
Blue Waters Hotel
Tel: 0870 360 1245
Web: www.bluewaters.net
Cara Hotel Marketing
Tel: 020 8874 8333
Web: www.amresorts.com
Jolly Beach Resort & Spa
Antigua
c/o International Hotel Destination
Marketing Ltd (IHDM)
Tel: 01372 469 818
Web: www.jollybeachresort.com
Third Turtle Club & Spa
Tel: 020 8875 2850
Web: www.thirdturtleclub.com
Toad Hall Caribbean
Tel: 01548 852407
Web: www.toadhallcaribbean.com
True Blue Bay, Grenada
Web:www.truebluebay.com
Tour Operators
Abercrombie & Kent
Tel: 0845 0700 614
Web: abercrombiekent.co.uk
British Airways Holidays
Tel: 0844 493 0756
Web: www.ba.com/caribbean
Kerzner International Resorts
Tel: 01753 899 800
Web: www.atlantis.com
Caribbean Collection
Tel: 00 353 21 463 5556
Web:www.caribbeancollection.ie
LCM Communications
Tel: 01732 86 3 048
Email:
lynne@lcmcommunications.co.uk
Caribtours
Tel: 020 7751 0660
Web: www.caribtours.co.uk
Marketing & Reservations
International
Tel: 0208 741 5333
Web: www.rexresorts.com
Marriott Hotels International
Tel: 0800 221 222
Web: www.marriott.com
Mustique Cotton House Hotel
Tel: 00 33 1 53 89 88 88
Web: www.glahotels.com
Caribbean Hotels
Tel: 020 7462 5990
Web: www.caribbeanhotels.co.uk
Old Bahama Bay
by Gin sur Mer
Tel: 001 242 350 6500
Web: www.oldbahamabay.com
Clear Marketing International
Tel: 0845 217 7844
Web: www.clear-marketing.com
Resort Marketing International
Tel: 0870 160 9650
Web: www.resort-marketing.co.uk
Eagle Travel Marketing
Tel: 020 8339 6888
Web: www.classichideaways.com
Sandals & Beaches Resorts
Tel: 0800 742 742
Web:www.sandals.co.uk
Club Caribbee
Tel: 020 8682 7222
Web: www.clubcaribbee.com
Elegant Resorts
Tel: 01244 897 999
Web: www.elegantresorts.co.uk
Funway Holidays
Tel: 0844 557 0624
Web: www.funwayholidays.co.uk
Golden Caribbean
Tel: 0845 085 8080
Web: www.goldencaribbean.co.uk
Harlequin Worldwide Travel
Tel: 0845 277 3397
Web: www.harlequinholidays.com
Havanatour
Tel: 01707 646 463
Web: www.havanatour.co.uk
A good travel agent can advise you on all aspects of travel to the region. Please visit
www.caribbean.co.uk/travelagents for a specialist in your area or call 020 8948 0057.
Kenwood Travel
Tel: 020 7749 9222
Web: www.kenwoodtravel.com
Kuoni
Tel: 01306 742 222
Web: www.kuoni.co.uk
Lastminute.com
Tel: 0871 222 5952
Web: www.lastminute.com
Newmont Travel
Tel: 020 8920 1122
Web: www.newmont.co.uk
Onyx Travel
Tel: 0118 947 2830
Web: www.onyxtravel.co.uk
Q Holidays (Sackville Travel)
Tel: 0870 720 1127
Web: www.qholidays.co.uk
The Holiday Place
Tel: 020 7644 1749
Web:
www.theholidayplace.co.uk
Thomas Cook Signature
Tel: 0844 871 6650
Web: www.thomascook.com
Thomson Worldwide
Tel: 0871 664 0011
Web:
www.thomsonworldwide.co.uk
Trailfinders
Tel: 0845 054 7777
Web: www.trailfinders.com
Travel Focus Ltd
Tel: 00 353 2142 51025
Web: www.travelfocus.ie
Trips Worldwide
Tel: 0117 311 4400
Web: www.tripsworldwide.co.uk
Tropic Breeze
Tel: 01548 831 550
Web: www.tropicbreeze.co.uk
Tropical Sky
Tel: 0870 907 9605
Web: www.tropicalsky.co.uk
Virgin Holidays
Tel: 0870 220 2757
Web: www.virginholidays.co.uk
Please note that all details
were correct at time of
printing (March 2009)
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CARIBBEAN national Tourist Office
Anguilla Tourist Board
Suite 11, First Floor,
Parsons Green House,
Parsons Green Lane
London SW6 4HH
Tel: 0207 736 6030
Fax: 0207 371 8728
E: info@anguilla-tourism.com
W: www.anguilla-vacation.com
Antigua & Barbuda
Tourist Office
2nd Floor, 45 Crawford Place
London W1H 4LP
Tel: 0207 258 0070
Fax: 0207 258 3826
E: tourisminfo@antigua-barbuda.com
W: www.antigua-barbuda.com
Aruba Tourism Authority
c/o Saltmarsh Partnership
The Copperfields,
25D Copperfield Street
London SE1 0EN
Tel: 0207 928 1600
Fax: 0207 928 1700
E: aruba@saltmarshpr.co.uk
W: www.aruba.com
Bahamas Tourist Office
10 Chesterfield Street
London W1J 5JL
Tel: 0207 355 0800
Fax: 0207 491 9459
E: info@bahamas.co.uk
W: www.bahamas.co.uk
Barbados Tourism Authority
263 Tottenham Court Road
London W1T 7LA
Tel: 0207 636 9448
Fax: 0207 637 1496
E: btauk@visitbarbados.org
W: www.visitbarbados.org
Belize Tourist Board
64 Regent Street
P.O Box 325
Belize City, Belize
Tel: +501 227 2420/2417
Fax: +501 227 2423
E: info@travelbelize.org
W: www.travelbelize.org
Bermuda Department
of Tourism
26 York Street
London W1U 6PZ
Tel: 020 7096 4246
Fax : 020 7096 0509
E: cjoell-deshields@bermudatourism.
com
W: www.bermudatourism.com
Tourism Corporation Bonaire
Basis Communicatie B.V.
PO Box 472
Wagenweg 252
2000 AL Haarlem
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 23 543 0704
Fax: +31 23 543 0730
E: europe@tourismbonaire.com
W: www.tourismbonaire.com
British Virgin Islands
Tourist Board
BVI House,
15, Upper Grosvenor Street
London W1K 7PJ
Tel: 0207 355 9585
Fax: 0207 355 9587
E: tin@bvi.org.uk
W: www.bvitourism.com
Cayman Islands Dept. of Tourism
6 Arlington Street
London SW1A 1RE
Tel: 0207 491 7771
Fax: 0207 409 7773
E: info-uk@caymanislands.ky
W: www.caymanislands.co.uk
Jamaica Tourist Board
1-2 Prince Consort Road
London SW7 2BZ
Tel: 0207 225 9090
Fax: 0207 225 1020
E: mail@visitjamaica.uk.com
W: www.visitjamaica.com
Cuba Tourist Board
1st Floor, 154 Shaftesbury Avenue
London WC2H 8JT
Tel: 0207 240 6655
Fax: 0207 836 9265
E: tourism@cubasi.info
W: www.cubatravel.cu
Martinique Tourist Board
Comite Martiniquais du Tourisme
2, rue des Moulins
75001 Paris
France
Tel: +33 1 44 77 86 00
Fax: +33 1 49 26 03 63
E: infos@martiniquetourisme.com
W: www.martiniquetourisme.com
CuraCao Tourist Bureau
Vastland 82-84
3011BP, Rotterdam
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 10 414 2639
Fax: +31 10 413 6834
E: info@ctbe.nl
W: www.curacao.com
Discover Dominica
c/o Saltmarsh Partnership
The Copperfields,
25D Copperfield Street
London SE1 0EN
Tel: 0800 012 1467
Fax: 0207 928 1700
E: dominica@saltmarshpr.co.uk
W: www.discoverdominica.com
Dominican Republic
Tourist Board
18-21 Hand Court
High Holborn
London WC1V 6JF
Tel: 0207 242 7778
Fax: 0207 405 4202
E: dominican.rep@btconnect.com
W: www.godominicanrepublic.com
Montserrat Tourist Board
c/o Saltmarsh Partnership
The Copperfields,
25D Copperfield Street
London SE1 0EN
Tel: 0207 928 1600
Fax: 0207 928 1700
E: montserrat@saltmarshpr.co.uk
W: www.visitmontserrat.com
Nevis Tourism Authority
Main Street, Charlestown,
Nevis
Tel: 0808 234 2064
Fax: +1 869 469 7551
E: nta2001@sisterisles.kn
W: www.nevisisland.com
Puerto Rico Tourism Company
Suite 200, Parkway House,
Sheen Lane
London SW14 8LS
Tel: 0844 880 6867
Fax: 020 8878 9124
E: info@puertoricotourism.co.uk
W: www.gotopuertorico.com
Grenada Board of Tourism
c/o Representation Plus
11 Blades Court
121 Deodar Road
London SW15 2NU
Tel: 0208 877 4516
Fax: 0208 874 4219
E: grenada@representationplus.co.uk
W: www.grenadagrenadines.com
Office du Tourisme de
St. Barthélemy
Quai du General de Gualle
Gustavia 97133
Ile de Saint Barthelemy
Tel: +590 590 278 727
Fax: +590 590 277 447
E: odtsb@wanadoo.fr
W: www.comstbarth.fr
The Guadeloupe Islands
Tourist Board
23-25, rue du Champ de l’Alouette
75013 Paris
France
Tel: +33 1 40 62 99 07
Fax: +33 1 40 62 99 08
E: infoeurope@lesilesdeguadeloupe.
com
W: www.lesilesdeguadeloupe.com
St. Eustatius Tourism
Development Foundation
Fort Oranje, Oranjestad
St. Eustatius, Netherland Antilles
Dutch Caribbean
Tel: + 599 318 2433/2107
Fax: + 599 318 2433
E: info@statiatourism.com
W: www.statiatourism.com
Guyana Tourism Authority
National Exhibition Centre
Sophia
Georgetown
Guyana
Tel: +592 219 0094/ 0095/ 0096
Fax: +592 219 0093
E: info@guyana-tourism.com
W: www.guyana-tourism.com
Haiti Ministry of Tourism
8, rue Légitime
Champs de Mars
HT-6112, Port-au-Prince
Haiti
St. Kitts Tourism Authority
10 Kensington Court
London W8 5DL
Tel: 0207 376 0881
Fax: 0207 937 6742
E: uk@stkittstourism.kn
W: www.stkittstourism.kn
St. Lucia Tourist Board
1, Collingham Gardens
London SW5 0HW
Tel: 0207 341 7000
Fax: 0207 341 7001
E: sltbinfo@stluciauk.org
W: www.stlucia.org
St Maarten Tourist Bureau
W.G Buncamper Road 33
Philispburg
St. Maarten
Netherlands Antilles
Tel: +599 542 2337
Fax: +599 542 2734
E: info@st-maarten.com
W: www.st-maarten.com
St. Martin Tourist Office
30, rue St. Marc
75002 Paris
France
Tel: +33 1 53 299 999
Fax: +33 1 42 961 516
E: otsxmparis@aol.com
W: www.st-martin.org
St.Vincent & The Grenadines
Tourist Office
10 Kensington Court
London W8 5DL
Tel: 0207 937 6570
Fax: 0207 937 3611
E: svgtourismeurope@aol.com
W: www.svgtourism.com
Suriname Tourism Foundation
Dr. J.F. Nassylaan 2
P.O. Box 656
Paramaribo
Suriname
Tel: +597 424 878/ +597 410 809
Fax: +597 477 786
E: info@suriname-tourism.org
W: www.suriname-tourism.org
The Tourism Development
Company of Trinidad & Tobago
(TDC)
c/o International Hotel Destination
Marketing (IHDM)
Lion House
111 Hare Lane, Claygate
Surrey KT10 0QY
Tel: 0800 804 8787
Fax: 01372 470 057
E: trinbago@ihml.com
W: www.gotrinidadandtobago.com
Turks & Caicos Islands
Tourist Board
42 Westminster Palace Gardens
1-7 Artillery Row
London SW1P 1RR
Tel: 0207 222 2669
Fax: 0207 222 9025
E: info@tcilondon.org.uk
W: www.turksandcaicostourism.com
US Virgin Islands department
of Tourism
P.O. Box 6400
St. Thomas, VI 00804
Tel: (340) 774-8784
Fax: (340) 774-4390
E: info@usvitourism.vi
W: www.VisitUSVI.com
Venezuela Tourism Department
c/o The Embassy of the Bolivian
Republic of Venezuela
1 Cromwell Rd
London SW7 2HR
Tel: 0207 584 4206
Fax: 0207 589 8887
E: tourismo@venezlon.co.uk
W: www.venezlon.co.uk
Please note that all details were correct at time of printing (March 2009)
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For more information on the diving in
Grenada and Carriacou please contact;
Grenada is the diving capital of the Caribbean, with over 50 dive sites including
15 wrecks, from depths of 12m to 40m. The ultimate challenge is the Bianca C, the
‘Titanic of the Caribbean’, one of the world’s top 10 wreck dive sites. Discover an
amazing array of marine life including sharks, barracuda, stingrays and manta rays,
while for a completely different experience, try the unique Underwater Sculpture Park.
Away from the diving, Grenada’s rainforests, waterfalls and beaches are stunningly
beautiful, while the relaxed ambiance makes it a pleasure to chill out in the local
bars and restaurants before the next day’s diving.
For more information call us on 020 8877 4516, visit www.grenadagrenadines.com
or contact one of our dive partners.
AQUANAUTS GRENADA LTD
DIVE GRENADA
aquanauts@spiceisle.com
www.aquanautsgrenada.com
info@divegrenada.com
www.divegrenada.com
ARAWAK DIVERS
ECO DIVE AND TREK
arawakdivers@spiceisle.com
www.arawak.de
dive@ecodiveandtrek.com
www.ecodiveandtrek.com
CARRIACOU SILVER DIVING LTD LUMBADIVE
scubamax@spiceisle.com
www.scubamax.com
lumbadive@lumbadive.com
www.lumbadive.com
DEVOTION2OCEAN
SCUBATECH
info@devotion2ocean.com
www.devotion2ocean.com
info@scubatech-grenada.com
www.scubatech-grenada.com
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BAH0901025 210x297 brend::
3/9/09
4:27 PM
Page 1
bahamas.co.uk
I t makes everyone's day when
Georgette joins us for lunch.
Brendal Stevens, captain, free-diver
and chef – Abaco Island
In The Islands of The Bahamas,
every story starts with a smile.
I remember as clear as the water round Green Turtle Cay,
how excited those first folks were when we went conch diving
for our lunch. But it wasn’t just my cooking and spotting reef
sharks that made their trip, it was meeting my old friend
Georgette when she came up to the beach to be hand-fed
by everyone. Must be 20 years ago and I’m still doing the
trips, but now a whole family of rays comes to see us.
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For more colourful, real-life stories about Brendal,
his friends and our islands, visit bahamas.co.uk
24/03/2009 00:36:21