DIVE SITES
Diving in Tobago can be separated into three areas, the Caribbean coast, South coast and Speyside, not only for geographic purposes but also for diving diversity. Due to our location, the dive sites that we utilize are on the Caribbean and South coasts. A sampling of the many sites that we visit are as follows:
The Caribbean Coast stretches from Store Bay to Charlotteville and can generally be described as rock reefs with encrusting sponge and coral growth, but also comprises of wreck diving (M.V. Maverick) and pinnacles (Sisters).
Kariwak Reef - 20’/40’
Located in Store Bay, this site is quite often used for check dives or tuition. It is home to one of the largest Green Morays you’ll ever set eyes on and be sure to look for juvenile Hawksbill Turtles.
Mount Irvine Wall - 30’/60’
More of a picket fence than a wall, this site is great for searching out the unusual. With lots of crevices, we see more Octopi here than on any other site. Hawksbill Turtles are common as are a variety of Morays, with occasional appearances by Eagle Rays, Seahorses and Bat fish.
The Sisters - 50’/130’
Cold upwellings from December thru April, draw Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks closer into these pinnacles. Averaging nine feet in length, an encounter with the ‘big boys’ is sure to make for a memorable dive. On the other end of the scale, keep your eyes open for the rare dwarf Angel Fishes such as Cherub Fish and Flameback Angels.
M.V. Maverick - 60’/100’
Originally named the M.V. Scarlet Ibis, this car ferry once provided a vital link between Tobago and Trinidad. She now provides shelter for a number of fish and a playground for divers, since being deliberately sunk in 1997 as an artificial reef. Laying perfectly upright on the sea floor, she gives the appearance of still being underway.
The South Coast is bathed by the Atlantic Ocean and hosts the only true drift dives in Tobago. The dive sites are a mixture of coral reef, rocky ledges and wrecks, providing more encounters with Stingrays, Hawksbill Turtles and Nurse Sharks than anywhere else on the island.
Cove Ledge - 30’/40’
The ledge shelters Green Morays, Hawksbill Turtles and Nurse Sharks. Enough said.
Diver’s Dream - 30’/70’
A plateau 3 km south of the Airport, this site plays home to huge schools of Grunts and Snapper and provides encounters with Barracuda, Stingrays, Hawksbill Turtles, Eagle Rays, Nurse and Black Tip Reef Sharks. Let’s not forget the schooling pelagics such as Horse Eyed Jacks.
Flying Reef - 30’/50’
This favourite runs parallel to Tobago’s runway, and with the right drift, will allow you to cover over a mile of reef during a single dive. Multiple sightings of Stingrays and Hawksbill Turtles occur on this dive, and sightings of the rare Cornet fish are fairly common.
S.S. Kioto - 40’
Built in 1918, this 347 foot British merchantman met her end on the 15th September 1942 at the hands of Hans Juergen Auffermann, the commander of U-514. Due to the shallow depth, she has broken open over the years with the boilers and propeller providing excellent photo opportunities, as do schooling Barracuda and Nurse Sharks.
   
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CONTACT Evelyn and Derek Chung
Tel: 868 631 2626
Cell: 868 680 4209
Fax: 868 639 7759 undersea@tstt.net.tt |
