Dive Sites

The dive sites around Barbados vary from inner fringe reefs, depth from 30ft to 60ft, to the outer barrier reefs, depth start around 40ft to 150ft+ obviously we do not dive to the maximum depths of a reef for safety reasons and there is no point! most of the best life is the 40-60ft range. Bellow are described some of the available sites in Barbados, We dive most of these on a regular basis depending on conditions and experience levels.

 For the Wreck lovers see our separate description!

All the reefs described here are all within easy access of the dive shop.

       This dive site is not dived very often due to it being one of the most northerly sites, depth from 30-100ft, good quality corals as you would expect from a rarely dived location with schools of Barracudas on the reef edges.

Another rarely dived site, this reef is a little deeper starting at 50ft dropping off to 100ft. Snapper and large Groupers can be spotted here ......if you are lucky.

The most northernmost dive site dived regularly by dive shops, although it is not dived too frequently because of it's location, most reefs in Barbados run parallel to shore, this is one of the exceptions running perpendicular to shore. The reef system consists of fingers of reef running to shore in 60-100ft of water, the fingers are separated by sand valleys approximately 50-100 feet apart, the fingers run out to the seaward for around 500ft then drop of into deep water, 140ft+. Lots of Parrot fish on this site which makes for a very colorful dive!

Another colorful site, this site because of the colors of the reef itself! Very wide variety of corals and sponges all competing for space in this reef, one of natures coral Jigsaws! As with the abundance of corals, this reflects in the fish life also. Barracudas and turtles found on this site very regularly.

Very similar in structure to Bright Ledge, with all the fish life to boot.

As with most of the reefs described, permanent moorings have ensured that the reefs don't suffer anchor damage, Spawnee is no exception this reflects in the amount of healthy reef and fish life, Caribbean reef squid and lots of Trumpet fish abound as well as the usual small tropicals. A great reef for finding the unusual! such as Atlantic Spade fish! The Green Moray in our Gallery was photographed here!

Small circular reef in a very popular area, the reef is in good condition despite this, Horse Eyes, Barracuda, Atlantic Spade fish are found on this dive regularly! depth 50-80ft.

A site at the end of the Whitegates/ Tropicana reef system, the north end of the reef dropping below our safe dive limits and then climbing to the 80-60ft depth at Spawnee, lot's of ledges and potential for nurse Sharks and the bigger Green morays to inhabit, a very pretty reef with slightly different structure to it's counterparts.

A long reef around 50-100ft wide with ledges along the sides making a habitat for Nurse sharks which are rare in the diving area of Barbados, although they are sometimes spotted on this reef they are by no means common. Lots of Moray eels and if you are very lucky you may get an interest from a passing Manta ray, again a rarity. Depth in the 60-80ft range.

South of Tropicana with a similar depth and reef structure hosting an abundance of life! A favourite of mine and well deserved as the possibilities for different creatures are mind blowing, some of the big Hawksbill males patrol the reef feeding and looking for a mate, Blackjacks and Barracuda feeding on the edge of the reef are a common site, a great site for all levels of experience!

A really great dive for the beginner and advanced diver alike! lots of small tropical fish and creatures to see including Seahorse, Frogfish, Batfish along with the less unusual tropical's. Southern Stingrays and Spotted Eagle rays are seen here due to the bottom composition of Coral interspaced with sand patches that the Rays like to forage on! A great Reef for the patient photographer to get that stunning shot! 

Depth 30-50ft.     

Continuation of Merlin, further North with all the possibilities of creatures seen on Merlin, a little different in the terrain but a great reef for all levels of experience to enjoy, again a photographic great as there is no current to speak of and a good bottom time due to the depth!

Depth 30-50ft.

Five minutes from our shop a barrier Reef with lots of potential for the bigger creatures off the edge of the reef, Lot's of the bigger Turtles seen here patrolling the reef, Barracudas are common as well as Yellow Tailed Snapper, Creole Wrasse and French Angel fish.

Depth 70+. 

South of The Boom with a similar type of life and reef structure though a little shallower in the main, starting about 60 feet and getting deeper depending on direction of travel, again life is abundant on the reef, going south average depth around 70 feet, north will give a deeper average though giving a good bottom time with a safety stop! as we always do on all dives bellow 60 feet.

Depth 60-100 

In close proximity to its neighbor Dottins, this reef comes to within 20ft of the surface, which on a bad day can cause problems with surge, as the west coast is very protected from the weather most of the time, it does happen. Very typical of a west coast reef.

Depth 40-60

One of the most popular of the dive sites on the west coast for a number of reasons, the dive site has a lot to offer divers with all levels of experience as the depth ranges from less than 40ft on top of the reef to over 100ft on both the inside and outside drop offs. This site is notable for Turtles, Bar Jacks, Yellowtails, Barracuda to name but a few.

Depth 40+

An extension of Dottins so shares a similar aspect as far as reef and fish are concerned.

Another typical west coast reef in all it's glory, although this one has it's busy days and it's quite days as far as fish life is concerned, well worth a dive even if the fish life is not so abundant, as the corals remain as beautiful as ever harboring all the small reef creatures often missed when you are concentrating on not missing bigger critters!