Better Diving in Grenada or Carriacou?

[bigbrisf]

I am planning a trip in June to the Grenadines (Bequia, and Mayreau or Union) and also Grenada or possibly Carriacou.

1. Has anyone dived both Grenada and Carriacou and if so, which did you prefer? I am still a pretty new diver, so I am not looking for anything too challenging, but would rather see lots of pretty fish and corals and hopefully bigger stuff like turtles and sharks...

2. The waters are pretty warm in Grenada and the Grenadines, yet all the dive ops website show people wearing full wetsuits. What's up with that? I dove in Aruba in Nov with trunks and a t-shirt and it was great!

3. I am also traveling solo, so am hoping to stay somewhere that is conducive to meeting other divers or non-divers to hang out with.

4. I love to snorkel too! So any suggestions on good snorkeling sites would be great too!

5. Any other info or suggestions on diving in Grenada, Carriacou, or the Grenadines would be appreciated!


It is cold and rainy here in SF and I am dreaming about swimming with the fish in warm waters!

 

[Damselfish]

As far as #2, some people in the pictures may have been the local divemasters. People who are used to the local warmer climate tend to wear more wetsuit than people visiting from a cold climate.

Or, even though they were full wetsuits, most were probably only 1-3mm thick. A full suit is a good idea for protection even if it's thin. I started in a t-shirt too, just because I could, but decided full coverage of some sort is smarter.

And, some people just run colder than others. I've often used a lycra skin and have never worn more than 1mm, occasionally with a 3mm vest, for any tropical diving, no matter how many dives per day. But I know there are people in the same places that swear by no less than 5 or even 7mm.

 

[Lottie375]

2. The waters are pretty warm in Grenada and the Grenadines, yet all the dive ops website show people wearing full wetsuits. What's up with that? I dove in Aruba in Nov with trunks and a t-shirt and it was great!

I agree with damselfish - and talking from first hand experience, even diving in 27C waters at this time of the year, i feel cold while diving, so i'm wearing a 3mil full length wetsuit with a 3mil shorty over top to keep me warm. Other divers on the boat have been wearing rash guards and shorts. I think i've acclimatized too much to the caribbean!!

 

[DougY]

Hi,
I have dived in both although it was 5 years ago. I would say that there is more variety in Grenada and more dive sites. I remember them both having quite a lot of fish and the occasional turtle.
Carriacou is pretty small there is not much in the way night life, Grenada is bigger and you may have more chance of meeting up with other divers.
I wore a 3mm shortie or a 3mm full length and that was november. Personally I think I would have been cold with out a suit.

I hope this helps.
Doug

 

[off the pace]

Hi

I live in Grenada. My choice, so I'm probably bound to say that it's a pretty good place. It is however small, Caribbean laid-back and missing the conventional night life of the big cities. Carriacou makes Grenada feel like Rio at carnival time. It has taken tranquil to a new level.

WRT diving there isn't any argument. Shore based diving in Granada is (effectively) all at the southern end of the island, over-dived and over-rated. North of Grenada - Cariacou and the Grenadines is quite lovely and little used.

Peter Hughes' Wind Dancer will be in town (I think) at the time of your trip and does the tour up and down the Grenadines. There's no other way that I know of getting that amount of diving over that range of islands with that level of comfort and at that price. I hop on board when I need a dive fix.

Mail me direct if you want any more info.

Wet suit? You can survive without one. Some people do. I wear a thin full suit just because I'm more comfortable with it on. Your choice.

Peter