Scuba Diving and Watersports
Tobago is one of the best diving spots in the southeastern Caribbean, internationally recognized for its exciting, though difficult, drift dives. The island's aquamarine seas are home to three hundred species of South Atlantic coral and a variety of spectacular multicoloured tropical fish. Tobago is best known for the enormous number of manta rays that are frequently encountered and the largest brain coral in the world. Speyside is known as "the Disneyland of diving", while Goat Island is popular for drift dives and Little Tobago is where many of the manta ray encounters occur. The island's diving industry was established in the 1980s and remains low-key, ensuring quiet dives, personal service and inexpensive rates. Prices for one to three dives are US$30-35 each; one-day resort courses US$55-65; five-day PADI open-water certification courses US$350-375; and advanced open water from US$225. Reliable operators include SubLime (tel 868/639-9642, , sublime@tstt.net.tt ), Proscuba (tel 868/639-7424, ), Manta Dive Centre (tel 868/639-9969 or 9209, mantaray@tstt.net.tt , ). Much of the exotic plant and fish life in Tobago's waters can also be seen snorkelling . Recommended sites include Pirate's Bay in Charlotteville, Arnos Vale, and Englishman's and Great Courland bays. Most dive operators rent out snorkelling equipment for US$10 a day, so note that if you plan to do plenty it's cheaper to bring your own. Jetskis have yet to become a regular feature amid the surf (though you can rent them from R & Sea Divers Den on Pigeon Point, US$25 for 20min), while kayaking costs about US$10 an hour at Pigeon Point. Wild Turtle (tel 868/639-7936, ) and World of Watersports (tel 868/660-7234, info@worldofwatersports.com , ) offer a variety of watersports including water-skiing and inflatable bananas (TT$80 for 15min), as well as jet skiing (TT$200 for 20min) and windsurfing (TT$200 for 60min). The most popular local surfing site is Mount Irvine beach - a well-kept secret, local surfers are trying to keep it that way; keen surfers should bring their own equipment as it's difficult to hire. Note that the water here is shallow and directly over coral reef, so surf fins can be badly damaged and no protective footwear is allowed to protect the reef from overeager surfers jumping in and damaging the coral.
Your Tip for Tobago
Help other backpackers! Write your own guides and backpacking tips to Tobago - they will appear instantly on this page - Please only write a tip/guide to Tobago - visit the main Tobago forum to ask a question!
Please do not post links to your site here (they won't work) - please use the Tobago webguide section below! Thanks.
|
