Scuba Diving is one of the fastest growing sports worldwide, and Tobago diving offers a great place to discover a fascinating underwater world. Blessed with nutrient rich waters, the marine life is diverse and abundant. Situated at the southern end of the Caribbean islands, Tobago offers a variety of dive sites.
Many of the Tobago diving sites are drift dives. Drift diving is easy, just adjust your buoyancy and go with the flow, keeping in mind that it is important to listen closely to dive briefings and follow the Dive Master at all times. The Tobago beach resort offers PADI courses and programmes off site at an additional cost. Water temperatures range from “summertime” highs of 82F to lows of 75F in January and February.
At the south end of the island, drift along on Flying Reef past huge plate coral colonies and the “soft wall” of Bermuda Chub, keeping an eye open for Nurse Sharks and Sting Rays resting where the reef meets the sand.
Divers Dream is, well, a dream. The current in this area can be strong at times so this is a site for experienced divers.
A little further north on the Caribbean side, the wreck of the M/V Maverick sits at 100 ft. waiting to be explored. Originally named The Scarlet Ibis, she was the first passenger ferry offering service between Trinidad and Tobago. Before being sunk as a dive site she was cleaned, inspected and made safe for divers. Snapper and Rainbow Runners lurk in the shadows inside the car deck and schools of bait fish swirl across the upper deck, which is at a depth of 60 ft., making it accessible to all diver certification levels.
At the northwestern end of the island The Sisters is a series of rock pinnacles rising up from the deep. Hammerheads and mantas are occasionally seen here.
London Bridge is the most well-known of the sites around the St. Giles Islands, off the northeastern tip. This dive can be spectacular because tarpon, turtles and sharks are frequently sighted as well as octopus. Another Charlotteville area favorite with divers is Boulder Valley at the mouth of Man O War Bay. As divers swim among the huge sponge and coral encrusted boulders, sections of this site look like a colored carpet of bright colors.
On the Atlantic side of the island is Speyside. Most of the dives here are drift dives along the sloping reefs around the two offshore islands, Little Tobago and Goat Island. Kelleston Drain is home to what is reputed to be the largest brain coral in the Caribbean, some say in the world. As you come up on the brain coral you will find nurse sharks often resting in the recess underneath.
Detail information and dive packages are available through Guest Services at guest.service@magdalenagrand.
