5 January 2021
The best diving in Antigua is in the south of the island, around English Harbour. The north is shallow and quite sandy, but calm and good for beginners.
The sea is always warm in Antigua, with surface temperatures never dropping below around 26 oC. From August to October water temperature rises to over 28 oC.
When to go? Hurricane season is from July to November, especially from August to the middle of October. The dry season begins in January - but the island gets busier and more expensive around this time. Prices get cheaper after April, making May a good time to visit.
When travelling to Antigua you need a negative PCR test taken within the last seven days. Make sure you have insurance which covers Covid-19.
Antigua Diving • Antigua Dive Operators • Your Comments
One of the richest sites for coral and marine life in Antigua. You can only dive it in calm weather as there is no mooring and the boat needs to sit very close to the cliff. An underwater peninsular is 12 m on the shore side, 20 m on the deeper side and 5 m on the top. It then drops off again to over 25 m. Really well preserved coral as it is so seldom dived. Dived by DiveCarib.
Carpenter's Rock. Photo copyright: DiveCarib
"Pinnacle dive which drops to around 130ft/40mt at the back. "
G Field, UK
"Great reef dive, topography is great. Lots of boulders that have fallen of the island, which create lots of holes for critters and morays. You always see a turtle here! "
G Field, UK
"Located underneath Eric Clapton's house. Great elk horn's and soft coral, dolphins came through too. We also saw a great spotted moray. "
G Field, UK
Pleasant, easy dive due to the abundance of fish and sheltered location. The site runs along a cliff with large boulders with coral growth and many ledges under which fish and lobster hide. It has a fun swim through. Popular choice for night divers or as a second dive.
Black's Point. Photo copyright: DiveCarib
An intact wreck lying up-right on the sea floor. Penetration possible.
A small dive site but full of many fishes plus lobster, turtles and nurse sharks. A plateau partially surrounded by a ledge from 12-18 m, it is full of holes, cracks and ledges. As it's off a headland it is often rough so not always diveable.
Best done in calm weather by experienced divers as a drift dive. The cliffs below Shirley Heights continues underwater ending in many large boulders. Depths of 30 m can be reached just 15 m away from the shore. There is also a shallow but wide cave often full of tarpon. All divers need to be advanced with good air consumption for this dive.
Recommend a dive operator or list your diving company on this page.
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Antigua's only independent 5 star PADI facility. The owners, Leigh and Bryan each have over 20 years experience as instructors in the dive industry. PADI Courses, Tec diving and yacht services available.
National Sailing Academy
Dockyard Drive
English Harbour
Tell: 1 (268) 732 3475
E-mail: divingantigua@gmail.com
Dockyard Divers
Nelsons Dockyard
English Harbour
Antigua
West Indies
Tel: +1 268 729 3040
E-mail: dockdivers@hotmail.com
Antigua Scuba Centre
Nelson's Dockyard
English Harbour
Antigua
West Indies
Tel: from overseas: (212) 380-1502, from the UK: +44 (0) 208 0904534, from Antigua: 729-4698
E-mail: diveinfo@antiguascuba.com
Jolly Dive
P.O. Box 149
Jolly Harbour
Antigua
West Indies
Tel: +268 462 8305
Fax: +268 462 8305
Mobile: +268 727 5130
E-mail
"Cptn Paul is the "old salt" of diving in Antigua. He is low key, but knows dives sites since the 70"s. If you want the best, go with Paul, Ron and Katerina"
David Hurt, USA, April 2018
Indigo Divers
P.O. Box 155
Jolly Harbour
Antigua
West Indies
Tel: +1 268-562-3483
Fax: +1 268-560-4901
E-mail: info@indigo-divers.com
Mamora Bay Dive Centre
St James Club
Mamora Bay
Antigua
West Indies
Tel: +1-268-764-4905
Fax: +1 268-560-4901
E-mail: MamoraBayDivers@sjcantigua.com
"I can highly recommend Linda & Leon at Mamora Bay Dive Centre based in The St James Club, Antigua Linda taught my partner her Open Water and we have both dived regularly with Linda on our visits to the island Safe, friendly, excellent dive boat, great access to decent dive sites and fantastic local site knowledge "
James Alexander, May 2020
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