Grenada is the ultimate in sensory
destinations. The island’s fragrant spices, nutmeg, cinnamon, clover,
ginger and cocoa, perfume the air, while verdant rolling hills, mountains,
and azure water views offer visitors artisan views at every turn. The
melodic songs of exotic tropical birds and rare tropical flowers offer a
warm welcome for travelers from far and wide. Grenada is located in the
Eastern Caribbean, only 100 miles north of Venezuela, to the north of St.
Vincent and the Grenadines, and to the south of Trinidad and Tobago.Grenada, and its sister islands: Carracou, and Petit Martinique, make up this
nation of unique islands located in the Eastern Caribbean. Grenada is by far the
largest island offering visitors mountainous, volcanic terrain with Mount St.
Catherine, which reaches over 2,750 feet. This unusual geography is the most
varied of all in the Caribbean. Crater Lakes offer a staggering variety of plant
and animal life such as dwarf forests, mountain rainforests, dry forests and
lowlands that lead to mangrove coasts and onto brilliant white sandy beaches.
Framed by sparkling blue waters and graceful coral reefs, the landscape gives
way to a plethora of tropical birds, tiny frogs and lizards, while rare orchids
punctuate the dense rainforest providing shelter for a wide variety of animals;
the broad-winged hawk, swift, opossums, armadillos, mongooses, and the mona
monkey. The most famous beach of all is Grand Anse, as its smooth expansive
beach stretches for two-miles and gently curves around to Grand Anse Bay.
Grenada is only 100 miles north of Venezuela, to the north of St. Vincent and
the Grenadines, and to the south of Trinidad and Tobago. Colorful Saturday
markets; year-round festivals and fairs, complimented by an easy-going and
friendly people, complete with a rich history and culture weave the tapestry of
St. George, Grenada’s capital city. This city has earned the reputation of being
one of the loveliest cities in the Caribbean as its horseshoe shaped harbor is
sprinkled with pastel houses and terra cotta tiled warehouses, very traditional
for this old-world city. Centuries-old spice plantations and rum distilleries
still use the methods of days-gone-by, emphasizing quality over quantity, an
integrity that is widespread and gives the island its own unique flair.
Dive Sites
| There are over
30 different dive sites across Grenada.
Here are some descriptions about a few of them!
Marine Park
Dive the first established part of Grenada's Marine Park north of
St.George's and enjoy easy diving in protected bays, a place for
divers and snorkelers alike.
Happy Hill -- Wall dive with the most prolific fish life close to
shore. Shoals of fish patrol the edge of the reef facing into the
current. The wall itself is overgrown with deep water sea fans and sea
whips and hiding place for moray eels and lobster. At the edge of the
wall you may encounter large school of southern sennets.
Dragon Bay -- A good varied dive with interesting marine life at
whichever depth you choose. Sand channels cut into angular volcanic
rocks give attractive terrain at shallower depth while dipping over
the reef down the slope at 45 feet black corals add to the scenery.
Beautiful angelfish and lots of flamingo tongues are crowding this
place.
Bucaneer Wreck -- The wreck of a 43 foot yacht was deliberately sunk
as a dive site. It is only small but houses colorful marine life.
Bushy black corals trees grow on the deck and inside the hull in
white, orange and green varieties. While telesto adorns much of the
superstructure and there are any number of encrusting sponges and
tunicates.
Shark Diving
Get in the excitement of meeting these fascinating creatures up close
and personal. Grenada offers one of the best spot to encounter sharks
in their natural habit.
Shark Reef -- The gentle slope drops down to a 60 feet deep sandy flat
bottom, where you might spot sting rays. Most of the nurse sharks
sighted here however were found in the shallows, hiding under corals
and stones. Sometimes you will loose count on the sharks and turtles,
some other day you will see a few only. But the reef itself is
beautiful and always steaming of fish and marine life.
Wreck San Juan (advanced) -- The recently rediscovered wreck of an 80
ft. inter island fishing vessel, also known as the Shark Wreck lies
almost undamaged in 90 feet of water. Due to its location two miles
off Grenada's south on the Atlantic side, mostly strong currents sweep
over it.
A school of rainbow runners will guide you the way to the small boat
laying in the middle of nowhere on a plateau. The 1975 sunken vessel
is packed by nurse sharks of all sizes you may imagine up to 9 feet.
King Mitch (advanced) -- Advanced diving at its best; currents, blue
water descent, depth, 4 miles out in the Atlantic ocean! The former US
Navy minesweeper turned cargo vessel sank 1981 after the ship leaked
and the bilge pump failed. However all crew survived and today nurse
sharks, reef sharks, eagle rays, sting rays, turtles and swarms of
barracudas and other pelagic fish meet here.
Grand Canyon -- Get caught in the current between the two oceans. This
is exiting rafting through an under water canyon and schools of
pelagic fish. If the current washes you out in to the plain just enjoy
and watch out for rays and turtles
Wreck Diving
Well that is the reason to visit Grenada during your dive vacation -
the "Titanic of the Caribbean" and many other fascinating wrecks with
a rich history.
Bianca C (advanced) -- The Bianca C was a 600 feet long cruise ship
traveling the oceans since 1949 last owned by the Costa Line Genua/Italy.
On her last voyage in October 1961 while anchoring off St. George's
she caught fire after an explosion in the engine room. In a selfless
response of the town all passengers and crew but two members of the
crew, burnt in the initial blow, were rescued and taken care of by the
hospitality of the Grenadiers. In failed attempt to tow the luxury
cruise liner to shallow waters, it sank to 160 feet where it lies
today. It is possible to dive the wreck right into the swimming pool
at 130 feet as a no decompression dive.
Because of its size it is not possible to see her completely in one
dive. The central structure has been collapsed downward and to
starboard. There are plenty of deck features to explore, like the
promenade decks. While moving forward you pass the davits overgrown
with elegant black coral trees, delicate hydroids and sponges. The top
of the bow is at 90 feet and the foremast is still standing upright
usually populated with large schools of fish and circulated by
barracudas, jacks and mackerels. Since sometimes strong currents
floating over her and because of the depth, it is a dive for advanced
and experienced divers only.
HEMA 1 --The freighter HEMA 1 sank on March 5. 2005 on its way to
Trinidad. It now lays in the Atlantic current just a few miles off the
south coast and soon will become one of the major dive attractions for
Grenada. Already sharks have been sighted cruising the wreck, it is
expected to facilitate a quick coral growth and will become home for
rays, turtles, moray eels and lobsters.
Shakem Wreck (advanced) -- One of the newer wrecks in Grenada's
collection, which sank on May 30th, 2001 after a troubled journey from
Trinidad to Grenada overnight. The load of cement bags shifted and the
vessel went down just in sight of the harbors entrance. As it lays
perfectly on keel at a bottom of 110 feet with its many hatches, open
bridge, hallways, galleys, cabins, freight rooms and crane it is the
perfect playground for wreck lovers.
Reef Diving
Splash in the beauty of our world under water - relax in healthy coral
gardens, search for well camouflaged creatures or enjoy the ride on a
drift dive!
Whibbles Reef (advanced) -- The dive takes you along a sloping wall
descending sharply to 170 feet. A forest of soft corals and sea rods,
single brain corals sticking out, providing cleaning stations for
swarming fish. Sandy aisles between the reef patches are favorable for
stingrays. In the current on the edge of the reef there is usually a
real fish soup to drift through.
Stingray City -- Relatively close to shore on the mouth of prickly
bay, the sandy ground is a resting place for rough tail stingrays
large as a carpet, southern stingrays and electric rays. In the large
holes of the reef hide lobster, moray eels and margates. Atlantic
spade fishes and black durgons patrol over the reef.
Windmill Shallows (advanced) -- A narrow ridge 30 feet wide, running
from 60 feet at the top to 90 feet on the land ward side. On the
seaward side the slope drops to 140 feet. It is a beautiful reef with
abundance of marine life, both fish and coral. The site is subject to
tidal currents bringing bigger fish in to feed, it is not unusual to
spot rays, barracudas and turtles.
Isle de Rhonde
Fantastic unspoiled reefs around uninhabited islands north of Grenada.
Frigate Rock -- Frigate Rock builds a dramatic background for exciting
dives at:
Deep Blue a wall dropping to 180 feet / 60 m and keep on sloping,
depend on current the dive either starts North or south through a
pristine reef stuffed with nurse sharks, lobsters and plenty of fish
schooling.
Sisters Rock -- At neighboring sisters rock straight walls above and
below give the impression of a fort, defended by sea gulls. This wall
is soon enough turn into a beautiful healthy coral garden with
bountiful marine life to discover.
Isle de Rhonde reef is an extensive reef with a beautiful coral garden
in the shallows and a gentle sloop of huge star and brain corals where
rays, turtles and sharks are cruising. Among the shallow soft coral
forests you encounter conch shells of several sizes, lobsters and many
other critters.
Advanced Diving
Exciting diving for experienced divers, dive deep, nitrox, at night or
with an underwater scooter. Several sites were already mentioned
above, but here are a few others!
Car Pile -- During an island clean up this pile of cars was
deliberately thrown in the water to create an artificial reef, which
it has become now. You find old VW Bus and Chrysler now driven by
stingrays and moray eels. Nicely overgrown after a few years in our
nutrition rich waters it is a great dive, with a scooter easy to cover
the whole pile. If you set your compass right or follow your guide, a
reef wall for enjoyable safety stops is nearby.
Rum Runner Wreck -- This recently rediscovered wreck of a work
catamaran is lying in the sand of 120 feet. Offering the perfect home
for some huge groupers and a collection of angel fish; queen, french
and gray. Schools of rainbow runners and mackerels are passing by and
sometimes a huge hawksbill turtle cruises around. You finish this dive
as a drift along a close by reef. |
|
|