Barbados yes or no

[Murphy in NC]

So a friend suggested heading out to Barbados. I don't recall it being a regular dive location. Any thoughts here? All I read so far was that it was a ripoff at 90 USD per tank.

Anything postive here about Barbados?

If not I will redirect my friend to St. Croix or elsewhere

Looking to head out in March

Thanks

 

[d^2b]

If I remember correctly, March can be pretty hot and humid in Barbados.

I have enjoyed diving there when I've been there for other reasons, I'm not sure if it would be my first choice of diving in the Caribbean. You see all of the typical Caribbean reef fish and critters, and occasionally something a bit more unusual like that attached frogfish.

There are not a lot of walls that I can remember, a few easy but nice wrecks (Pamir up north and the larger Stavronikita). There are a few places where you can reliably find seahorses. The cement factory (near the Pamir) is the best, but is often inaccesible. Carlyle bay also has seahorses. It is shallow and full of enthusiastic but not too experienced divers, so it depends on your tolerance for people kicking up sand.

It's generally a pretty safe place (or it was 6 years ago) and easy to get around on the public bus system. It isn't especially cheap (as you observed) although you may be able to do better than that USD90/tank figure by booking multiple dives.

 

[JohnN]

Just got back from Barbados. Only 4 dives (it wasn't a diving holiday). Barbados had some extreme water temps last year, I was told 36.5 oC, so there is substancial coral bleaching

I dove with High Tide Watersports, a little North of Holetown. Very professional operation, I'd dive with them again

Book Now! - Dive Hightide Barbados

The BEST Scuba Diving happens at HIGHTIDE

www.divehightide.com

 

[Chenryiv]

I headed there in march, so I'll definitely check out High Tide WS.

 

[d^2b]

I also have dove many times with High Tide and enjoyed. Say hi to Edwin if he still works there.

 

[TNEngineer]

We strongly recommend Barbados, having dived there several times with multiple shops.

The west coast has very nice reef walls. We did our first lion(fish) safari there years ago. It's rich with life, clear water, really nice in every way.

The south coast is shallow, sandy, and you'd think boring but... as noted above it's got a lot going for it. Saw our first three seahorses there - on the same tank! Visited five separate wrecks on another tank. You're so shallow that the tanks last forever, you can just keep exploring. A good DM is important in the south because they know where the gems are in the midst of all that white sand.

There's a large expat community on Barbados, and their economy is in pretty good shape. National pride is high thanks to voting away from UK rule a couple of years ago. English is spoken everywhere, they take US Dollars, and the locals have always been warm and gracious.

We plan to go back for 1-2 week stay, diving every day and further exploring the topside too.

Highly recommended!

 

[Sneruh]

Just got back from Barbados. Only 4 dives (it wasn't a diving holiday). Barbados had some extreme water temps last year, I was told 36.5 oC, so there is substancial coral bleaching

I dove with High Tide Watersports, a little North of Holetown. Very professional operation, I'd dive with them again

Book Now! - Dive Hightide Barbados

The BEST Scuba Diving happens at HIGHTIDE

www.divehightide.com

I'm heading down in April and will be in Holetown. What were Hightide's prices like? TIA

 

[JohnN]

I'm heading down in April and will be in Holetown. What were Hightide's prices like? TIA

 

[JohnN]

Check the link in my post