Spotlight on: Diving in Grenada

Grenada has the benefit of being at the southern tip of the Caribbean, so a lot of the nasty winds and potential hurricanes usually don’t make landfall here – and the sea around the island remains somewhat clear year-round as a result. Of course, as always, the best scuba diving in Grenada will be during the dry season (Jan – May), but if you’re around during the rainy season and the day is mostly dry, it will still be good. 

The most popular and famous dive site on the island is Bianca C, the largest shipwreck in the Caribbean and now home to an entire marine life ecosystem. Sometimes referred to as the ‘Titanic of the Caribbean’, it sunk in 1961. Sadly, it’s not really possible to get right inside the wreck, but you can take a dip in what was once the ocean liner’s swimming pool. If you’re keen on wildlife, eagle rays and reef sharks are often spotted here, as are smaller creatures of all stripes. 

The Japanese Gardens are part of Boss Reef, which itself is almost five miles long. The gardens are a particularly bright and colourful part of the reef that is also much easier for beginner divers to traverse, and full of cool sea life like moray eels. If you’re lucky, you might also manage to spot a turtle! 

Fans of Prince might get a bit excited by our next favourite Grenada dive spot: known as Purple Rain, it’s one of the most populous reefs in the entire sea around the Spice Isle. There’s everything from sponges to black durgeons, and, of course, purple Creole wrasse. 

If you’re a bit more of an advanced diver, then Face of the Devil is an absolutely astounding dive: located right near an active underwater volcano called Kick’em Jenny, just north of the main island, there are a whole host of interesting fish and coral available to view, as well as the added exhilaration of knowing you’re swimming near something with such awesome power. Don’t fret, though – the volcano hasn’t erupted for two decades, and most eruptions before then were so small they didn’t cause any change on the surface of the sea. 

Those who want to dive around somewhere where the route is a little more set, but also still want to see some interesting and unique sights, should head to Grenada Underwater Sculpture Park. Located right by the Molinere Reef System, the sculptures will have the eventual fate of becoming reefs themselves. Part dive, part historical and cultural tour of Grenada’s past, snorkellers can also have a swim through as it is incredibly shallow. 

Our final favourite Grenada dive is Flamingo Bay. This explosion of colour is also in the Molinere Reef System, and there are dozens of different fish and coral species floating around at all times of the year. It’s also one of the best spots for night diving as the currents don’t get too strong, and the lighting is usually good. Again, like the Sculpture Park, you can snorkel here too – although you definitely will not be able to see it in all its glory, as the dive goes well below what most people can manage without specialist equipment. 

Ideally located on the country’s southwestern coast just off Grand Anse Beach, this diving school is perfect for beginners. For those looking for a smaller commitment, they offer the PADI Discover Scuba Diving course, which teaches you basic skills in a comfort pool before you’re taken out to dive some of the nearby coral reefs with a trained instructor. At USD 165 for the course and rental, it’s well worth it if you’re keen to dip your toe into the world of Grenada dives. 

However, if you know this is where you want to begin your scuba diving journey proper, then the PADI Open Water course is also available at USD 595, or USD 695 for the e-learning version if you want to complete your theory before you hit the Spice Isle.