The Caribbean is one of the world's top diving regions — 4,000+ marine species, year-round 26-29°C water, 30+ meter visibility on best days.
Bonaire (ABC Islands) — Diver's nirvana
- Entire coast is a marine park since 1979
- 86 marked shore dive sites — drive up, dive in
- Klein Bonaire uninhabited island — pristine reef
- Visibility: 30m+ year-round
- Best for: independent divers, marine biology, photographers
Cayman Islands — Wall diving capital
- Bloody Bay Wall (Little Cayman) — 1,800m vertical drop just 6m from shore
- Kittiwake wreck (Grand Cayman) — purpose-sunk 76m USS ship
- Stingray City — interact with wild southern stingrays
- Visibility: 30-50m
Belize — Mesoamerican Reef (2nd largest)
- Great Blue Hole — 124m wide circular sinkhole, stalactites
- Hol Chan Marine Reserve — nurse sharks, eagle rays
- Lighthouse Reef atoll
- Snorkel from San Pedro (Ambergris Caye)
Roatán (Honduras) — Bay Islands
- Wall diving along Mesoamerican Reef
- West End and West Bay — most dive shops
- Cheap PADI courses ($250-400 Open Water)
British Virgin Islands — Wreck diving
- Wreck of RMS Rhone (1867) — sunk in hurricane, 25m, intact
- The Indians — pinnacles, swim-throughs
- Painted Walls — colorful sponges
- Snorkel: The Baths Virgin Gorda
Bahamas — Long Island — Deepest blue hole
- Dean's Blue Hole — world's deepest at 202m
- Bimini — bull sharks, hammerheads
- Andros — barrier reef + 100s of blue holes
Cuba — Jardines de la Reina ("Gardens of the Queen")
- Marine park since 1996 — pristine, restricted access
- Caribbean reef sharks, goliath groupers, manatees
- Liveaboard only
Dominica — Critter diving + Champagne Reef
- Champagne Reef — volcanic gas bubbles up through reef
- Soufrière–Scotts Head Marine Reserve
- Best dive at Toucari Bay
- Whale watching adds during winter (sperm whales)
Saba — Pinnacle diving
- Underwater pinnacles rising from the deep
- Diamond Rock, Tent Reef
- Smallest marine park, most protected
Curaçao — Shore diving + Tugboat wreck
- Tugboat wreck — 5m deep, snorkel-friendly
- Mushroom Forest reef
- Klein Curaçao day trip
Top snorkel spots (no certification needed):
- Trunk Bay, USVI (underwater trail)
- Buck Island, USVI (reef + sandy beach)
- Buccoo Reef, Tobago
- Tobago Cays Marine Park
- Stingray City, Cayman
- Klein Curaçao
- Saona Island, DR
- Champagne Beach, Dominica
- Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos
Cost guide:
- Open Water PADI: $400-700 (Roatán cheapest, Cayman most expensive)
- 2-tank boat dive: $100-180
- Shore dive Bonaire: $25-40 (tank refill + equipment)
- Liveaboard week: $1,500-3,500
- Snorkel rental: $10-15/day
Safety:
never dive within 24h of flying. Check insurance covers diving (DAN insurance recommended).