Diving and Snorkeling in St. Kitts

In recent years, St. Kitts and Nevis have slowly begun to emerge as two of the hottest islands in the Caribbean for diving and snorkeling. 

With so many sites still virtually unexplored, the waters surrounding these islands are a top choice for adventurous divers.  Water visibility in St. Kitts and Nevis ranges from about 60 to 100 feet deep, allowing visitors excellent views of surrounding reefs, underwater caves, and sunken ships.  The west coast offers an especially great climate for snorkeling due to the calm, clear waters.

Diving vs. Snorkeling

If you're thinking of exploring the underwater realms of St. Kitts and Nevis, it is important to weigh your options.  There are many locations around the islands at which visitors can both snorkel and dive, but many more may only be available for one sport or the other.  Because of this, learning the differences between the two will be helpful in deciding which sport you would like to participate in – or if you'd like to sign up to do both. 

To snorkel, you simply wear a dive mask, flippers, and a snorkel, and swim along the surface of the water.  With your head dipped just bellow the surface, you will allow the top of your snorkel to stick out into the air, feeding you fresh air to breath as you take in the underwater sites.  It is recommended that snorkelers remain in shallow waters, but good swimmers can venture out a bit further.  Many island resorts have snorkeling equipment available free of charge, but you can also purchase everything you need to get started at a dive shop.

Diving, on the other hand takes a bit more work.  Scuba divers use an air tank worn to their back, and breath air from the tank as they delve deeper underwater.  The use of an air tank during scuba diving requires training and certification.  Luckily, most resorts offer what are called “resort scuba diving lessons” where they teach guests to dive in the safety of an on property pool.  Once the guest has completed the class, they can get certification and do small dives.  You can also take lessons through a dive shop, and sign up for dive trips with them.

Sites with Sights

It is said that over 400 ships have met their demise off the coasts of St. Kitts and Nevis, yet only a handful have been discovered.  Although competent divers may seek out these lost shipwrecks, most snorkelers and divers will stick to sites that are known to provide excellent views, coral, and sea life. 

Beached Tug Boat

Beached Tug Boat is located close enough to the surface of the ocean that snorkelers can catch a glimpse as they swim overhead. 

Brassball

The Brassball shipwreck is only between 20 and 25 feet below the surface of the ocean, and visibility is good here.  Divers and snorkelers alike will enjoy the views, and the wreck is especially good for novice divers who are not yet confident enough to dive deep enough to reach some of the islands' other wrecks.

Black Coral Reef

Black coral is rare, and hard to spot, but it can be found at depths of 40 to 70 feet at the Black Coral Reef Snorkel and Dive spot.

Blood Bay Reef

If colorful coral excites you, check out Blood Bay Reef, where there are a few different varieties located.  Other sites here include sea fans, sea anemones, and bristle worms.

Coconut Tree Reef

Beginning at 40 feet feel, and continuing down to about 200 feet deep, Coconut Tree Reef is one of the largest reefs surrounding St. Kitts and Nevis.  This is a good spot for viewing loads of colorful fish. 

Grid Iron

Between St. Kitts and Nevis is a channel that is a popular snorkeling and diving site.  The Grid Iron Sea Shelf is only about 25 feet deep, and there is coral and other sea life located in even more shallow waters.

Monkey Reef

Monkey Reef, which is located off the west coast, combines both hard and soft coral, and is formed into an interested flat form. 

MV Talata

MV Talata is a wrecked freighter that coral and fish have begun to overtake.  This wreck dive is for the more experienced diver. 

Nags Head

Because the currents are strong at Nags Head, where the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean meet, it is a spot for more experienced divers.  If you've got the experience, this site is worth the visit for the variety of sea life living in the reef. 

River Taw Wreck

At a depth of about 50 feet underwater is the River Taw Wreck, a 144 foot long ship that sank in the last decade.  The ship is still in excellent condition, and divers can view the coral that is beginning to form on the hull.

Sandy Point Bay

Because Sandy Point Bay was the site of numerous sea battles, many believe that the reef here sits on top of a sunken battleship.  Divers consistently find ship pieces in the area, but a full ship has never been discovered.  Divers and snorkelers can explore the finger-shaped reef here, and divers will find breathtaking canyons.

Tips

When snorkeling and diving in St. Kitts and Nevis, it is important to keep the following safety tips in mind:

• Be aware of currents and stay watchful of your location. Getting too far off course can make returning difficult.
• Wear a watch so you don't lose track of time - it's easy to do underwater.
• Don't feed the fish or touch the animals or coral. Their protective layers can be stripped away.
• Never stand or walk on a reef, and tread carefully in shallow water around reefs. (Shuffle your feet to avoid stingrays, and watch out for sea urchins, spines.)
• Never wear jewelry. Caribbean fish, barracudas especially, seem to be drawn to shiny objects that look like their natural prey, small silver fish.
• Avoid jellyfish, fire coral, and other stinging creatures.
• Never reach into holes or crevices; animals - especially moray eels - like to make their homes in them.
• Shark sightings are rare, and sharks that are spotted are usually passive. If you do see a shark, stay calm, and if necessary, move slowly out of the water.
• Never remove anything from dive sites and reefs; it is illegal to do so.

Planning to go snorkeling or diving during your St. Kitts and Nevis trip can take your trip to a whole new level.  Just make sure to play it safe and respect your surroundings.  A knowledgeable guide will help to guide you to a primo destination, but from there it is up to you to enjoy every moment of your underwater experience.