The Caribbean packs a whole lot of fun for savvy scuba divers who want to get their feet wet. Gorgeous beaches with pristine white sands stand out in the sunset like precious gold lining the earth – these are Caribbean beaches where tourists and locals flock all year round to enjoy the best scuba diving experience they can find. With an array of picturesque beaches strategically located throughout the islands, the Caribbean is the ideal scuba diving hotspots getaway for adventurous swimmers who want to explore the ocean.
Here are some top scuba diving beaches that the Caribbean has to offer sea lovers who want to dive in and discover what life is like underneath the ocean.
The Top 10 Best Scuba Diving Beaches in the Caribbean:
10. Isla Verde in Puerto Rico
Isle Verde Beach in Puerto Rico is no stranger to beach lovers and devoted scuba divers. With no passport needed to visit this little island paradise, this beach is the place to be at any time of the year for scuba diving fun. With an array of water sports plus an exciting nightlife, Isla Verde is a dream comes true for many enthusiastic divers. In addition to the many outdoor activities and busy nightlife, this beach boasts an astounding selection of luxurious hotels of various sizes, comforts and beauty.
The sand is a glorious white in color and one can spend the time onshore relaxed and laid back if he or she wants to spend time out of the water. The coastline has a remarkable display of coconut palm trees making a bee line in the sand where one can always get some shade from the sun if needed. This beach has a rich history that divers and other visitors often want to indulge in.
9. Anses d’Arlet in Martinique
Famous for its scuba diving offering, the beach of Anses d’Arlet dive spot is one of the Caribbean’s top scuba diving beaches where divers can get the best underwater experience. The pristine sands are soft and the waters carry an amazing blue color that sets the tone for diving. The calm waters can also prove to be a great snorkeling paradise for snorkelers as well.
At the dive site, divers and especially beginners can have the time of their lives meeting and learning about the various fish species such as; The tangs, angel fish, puffer fish, squid, and many more that make their home in the sea. Many sea turtles are present at the beaches of Anses d’Arlet that can really hold the interest of divers and sightseers for hours. Some other top scuba diving beaches in the area of Anses d’Arlet are; Anse Dufour, Deep Turtle Plongee, Grande Anse, Rocher du Diamant, and Petit Anse where there is an amazing underwater aquarium present.
8. Anse Chastanet in St. Lucia
Anse Chastanet, which is situated in the Caribbean island of St. Lucia, has an abundance of natural beauty surrounding it. It is a sweet diver paradise for scuba diving in crystal-clear waters where beginner divers can get their first taste of rich coral reef while veteran divers continue to have their fill of fun and adventure.
The waters at this beach are calm. Which means that the entire family can enjoy a refreshing time there. Some magnificent sea creatures divers can view while below the ocean depth are; Grunts, squirrel fish, needle-fish, cuttlefish, sea urchins, crabs and many other species occupying the Caribbean waters.
Divers who want to take a break from diving while at Anse Chastanet can hike through any of the several trails designed for hikers. Visiting divers to the beach can enjoy tasty Caribbean cuisine at the restaurant situated at the beachfront while sipping refreshing cocktail drinks to soothe their thirst.
7. Anse La Roche in Grenada
In Grenada, Anse La Roche is a must visit beach for beginner scuba divers. The waters in the bay area are calm and consist of a sandy bottom. Scuba divers can visit easy diving areas in the region known as Arc Du Vero, which is a lovely reef dive located in a breathtaking coral garden and spreading out, and Triggerfish Alley, which is also another hotspot diving area best suited for beginner divers.
When diving in the ocean, divers can expect to see spotted drums, parrotfish and spiny lobsters. For bonus some divers get to see large stingrays resting on the ocean bottom. Anse La Roche is more of a private setting that sits unspoilt in a cool surrounding right at the foot of the renowned High North Range. The beach is serene and the sea at this paradise location is turquoise. The beach can get secluded at times thus giving divers a chance for some privacy. This is a great hotspot for beginner scuba divers to get their taste of underwater exploration.
6. Turtle Beach in the US Virgin Islands
Turtle Beach in the US Virgin Islands, was voted as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world by National Geographic. It still stands out today as a main attraction for scuba divers and beach lovers due to its Underwater Snorkel Trail, lavish white sands, abundant sunshine, sumptuous food, and bountiful amount of turtles that feed on the underwater sea grass.
Since the beach is ideally situated in a sheltered area, there are few boisterous waves for beginner swimmers and divers to deal with. The beach is quiet during the daytime, which gives time for tired divers and visitors to relax, sunbathe and even catch a little snooze if necessary. Exploring divers can have fun exploring the reef and closely following the underwater signs that help keep them on the trail.
The lovely white sands has a delightful and stunning look to it that makes the entire family wanting to play in it. It is no wander that President Kennedy designated Turtle Beach in the US Virgin Islands as a national monument. Both new and veteran scuba divers will love this beach destination because of the many wonderful memories it leaves them.
5. Pinney’s Beach in the Nevis
Pinney’s Beach, which is situated in the Nevis Caribbean waters is a much talked about seashore by locals and foreigners alike. It has all the attractions that scuba divers and snorkelers love to see. Below the water’s surface are lineups of black and wire corals as well as an array of exotic sea life inclusive of parrot fish, stingrays, grunts, barracuda, tangs, damselfish, crabs, lobsters and many others.
The waters at Pinney is usually calm, which makes it easy for swimmers to navigate and for outdoor sports enthusiasts to enjoy beach games such as volleyball, soccer, basketball, rugby as well as many other sporting activities. In addition, apart from scuba diving, one can enjoy other water sports such as springboard diving, water polo, synchronized swimming, rescue swimming and many others. Scuba divers will enjoy spending time at this stunning beach and exploring the underwater world.
4. Laughing Waters Beach in Jamaica
The famous Laughing Waters Beach became better known to the world since the first James Bond movie known as Dr. No was filmed there. It has some shallow waters area that is good for beginner scuba divers.
With golden sands and gurgling waterfalls to spice up its looks, Laughing Waters Beach is a must see for beach lovers and many scuba divers who are looking for a place to do some underwater exploring. Surface swimmers and scuba divers can enjoy the waters two layers – the waterfall’s cold spring water, which settles at the top, and the warm water that is found at the bottom of the sea.
Scuba divers can benefit greatly from the healing waters at Laughing Waters Beach by seeing an improvement in their emotional wellbeing, lowering of their stress level, reduction in their blood pressure, and having their concentration heightened. Furthermore, the health effects of the sun and salty waters on the diver can benefit the skin and bones greatly while giving the individual a longer life span when one dives at Laugh Waters Beach in Jamaica.
3. White Bay Beach in British Virgin Islands
For a perfect scuba diving experience, White Bay Beach is the picture-perfect place to be. The sand is unspoiled and the beach itself is a panoramic view that is full of docked sailboats anchored in the bay. This is a scenic spot that beginner and expert scuba divers often visit any time of the year.
The sand is soft to walk on, which makes traveling on foot easy. The atmosphere on the beach is usually one of more like relaxation in the day and party-like as it gets later in the afternoon. Scuba divers enjoying the underwater world. They can later take a rest and sunbathe in one of the chairs on the beach. If divers should become a bit thirsty, they can enjoy drinks at Soggy Dollar Bar located on the property. In addition, juicy mouthwatering burgers are available for sale at One Love Bar and Grill for hungry scuba divers to partake of just in case there is a hunger game on.
2. Paradise Beach in the Bahamas
The sand at Paradise Beach Nassau, Bahamas stands out superbly and is a sight to behold by local and foreign scuba divers who are looking for their next hotspot getaway destination. The unflustered water is impressive to look at, especially when the sun’s rays make contact with it.
Adventurous divers can enjoy a tour of the underwater wonders such as; Caves, sea gardens, and shipwrecks lying on the ocean bottom. Divers can also explore Blue Lagoon, which is an underwater snorkeling trail. For a change of activity or scenery, divers can also visit the marine habitat, and Mayan Temple found close by. Paradise Beach is only 2 miles long but yet it attracts many scuba divers to it both locally and internationally.
1. Glovers Reef in Belize
Glovers Reef, Belize is a top scuba diving destination for beach lovers worldwide. Its remoteness makes it a set-aside top coral reef destination for sea creatures. And also a plus for tourist divers who at times want to get away from the crowdie island seashores. The surroundings of this exotic location are tremendous. And once you visit this spectacular place, you will have access to the lagoon, warm sunshine and magnificent display of stars in the sky. For food, you can enjoy mouthwatering dishes prepared by top chefs living on the island and drink a vast amount of coconut water as you relax in the bathing sunshine or cool of the evening.
The Caribbean countries are ideal getaways when one is considering scuba diving destination options because of the many scenic and delightful views that are on the seashore and within the ocean floor. The region promises scuba divers plenty to discover on the ocean bottoms and many memories for them to keep for many years to come.