Grenada, Caribbean

Sand, sea, spice and some good Caribbean diving make Grenada a great place to while away a week or two.

So what’s new?

Not much, we hope. The whole point of coming here is to enjoy life – and diving – at a your own pace. Located approximately 100 miles north of Venezuela, Grenada is one of the least developed Caribbean islands. Tourism has had little impact on its reefs, wrecks and coral walls over the years. Known as the ‘Spice Island of the Caribbean’, this volcanic island is a year-round destination, sitting south of the hurricane belt. Most of the dive sites are located in the south of the island and the sumptuous LaSource resort serves as an ideal base from which to explore Grenada’s underwater attractions.

And how’s the diving?

The shore-based diving on offer here may not provide the breadth of experience you might get from a liveaboard trip, but Grenada can hold its own with the better-known Caribbean diving destinations.

Most of the dive sites are easily accessible, located within 20 minutes of Point Salines in the south. Much of the area has yet to be explored, but the LaSource dive centre covers about 30 sites that are reliably good. Grenada offers classic Caribbean diving, with exciting drift dives in the deeper southern sites and relaxed diving in the sheltered St George’s Bay.

Several dives have emerged as classics, notably Shark Reef, a perennial favourite with local dive guides. This colourful outcrop of soft corals and sea fans is home to an abundance of reef fish and nurse sharks, and provides an inspiring back-drop to regularly-seen shoals of grouper, barracuda and eagle rays. However, its main attraction is its large population of loggerhead turtles, which are hard to find in most other places. A new attraction is a wreck called the Shakem, a cargo carrier that sank in 2001, which lies at 28m and is still largely intact. Swimming up through the captain’s cabin and control deck, I felt an almost tangible presence of its past, with a resident green moray keeping watch from a top porthole.

However, Grenada’s most popular dive site is a wreck called the Bianca C, known as the ‘Titanic of the Caribbean’. This 200m-long passenger liner caught fire while anchored off St George’s Harbour in the early 1960s, and was towed to sea where it sank in 50m of water. Due to its depth and frequent strong currents it is an advanced dive, and is certainly a majestic sight. The wreck is broken up in quite a number of places, but still boasts a tiled swimming pool, mast and an abundance of corals and fish life, including large shoals of barracuda, and tuna. Eagle rays are regularly spotted and white-tip reef sharks are a possibility, depending on the currents.

While Grenada is a year-round diving destination, the visibility can be affected by the heavy autumn rainfall (August to November). Dive boats and emergency facilities on the island are limited, but the dive centre at LaSource serves as a convenient base and offers unlimited complimentary diving from RIBs to its guests, subject to place availability on the boat. Air and equipment is also included at the resort, with the exception of wetsuits and nitrox.

Accommodation any good?

The LaSource resort is located on the Pink Gin beach, with a fantastic view over the bay. The bedrooms are very comfortable, all en-suite and pleasantly air-conditioned. All meals and drinks are inclusive and of a very high standard, with a traditional Caribbean theme.

Tell us about the island

Grenada is a small island, with an area of only 33 square miles and a population of just 98,000. It lies at the southernmost tip of the Windward Islands and much of its charm lies in the fact that it is still relatively undiscovered and unspoiled. The capital of St George’s is a quaint harbour town known for its vibrant spice market, and annual carnival in August. It is an island of contrasts, with a narrow coastal plain and picturesque beaches which border a mountainous rainforest interior. Nature trails in the Grand Etang national park are a popular tourist attraction.

If you don’t feel like diving, you can also visit a nutmeg processing station or one establishment that claims to be the oldest rum distillery in the Caribbean. If the heat doesn’t knock you out, then the 150 proof rum certainly will!

 

While this destination is fairly pricey, with packages starting at £1,525 per person for seven nights, it nevertheless offers good value considering this price includes return flights from London Gatwick, all meals, drinks, diving and other activities, and even a daily spa treatment – a welcome remedy for a hard day’s diving! If you’re looking to combine an active diving holiday with some relaxing and sightseeing, Grenada is ideal. Its strength is the combination of good-quality dives sites, a truly indulgent and stunning destination and the chance to experience an island rich in culture.

 

DIVE travelled with tour operator Tropical Locations and stayed at LaSource. For more details and a free brochure, phone 0870 220 2344 or see the website: www.theamazingholiday.com. Package bookings can be made through Tropical Locations, tel: 020 7724 6644. Alternatively, the Grenada Board of Tourism supplies a useful guide and listing of accommodation and diving, and can be contacted on 020 8328 0644.