Diving and Snorkeling in Anguilla

Anguilla is considered to be a great Caribbean locale to visit if you are looking to escape the fast paced, crowded, big-city life.  To further get away, try exploring a whole new world; a world where it is quiet and calm, where you can go at your own pace and experience no interruptions. 

This world, of course, is below the surface of the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Anguilla, which you can explore by diving and snorkeling. Coral reefs surrounds the island, making almost every location a great one for snorkeling, and there are nearly twenty sanctioned dive sites, including four shipwrecks. 

The waters surrounding Anguilla range in visibility from 60 to 100 ft below the surface, and tend to stay around 80 degrees Fahrenheit.  Divers and snorkelers can expect to see a number of tropical marine animals on their underwater trips, including turtles, Tarpon, eels, and Spotted Eagle Rays.

Choosing the Right Activity for You

Snorkeling is a popular activity because anyone who is able to swim can dip their head underwater and check out what lies beneath.  Donning a dive mask, swim fins, and a snorkel, snorkelers can remain under water, albeit close enough to the surface so that water does not get into their snorkel, and explore Anguilla's shallow reefs.  No training is required, and you can typically obtain snorkeling equipment free of charge from your hotel or resort.  If this is not a possibility, local dive shops offer equipment for purchase or for rent.

Scuba, which is an acronym for “self contained underwater breathing apparatus,” allows the participant to delve deeper into the sea by utilizing an air tank in order to stay submerged for an extended period of time.  Scuba diving does take some training, and many of Anguilla's resorts offer scuba classes as one of their amenities.  If your hotel does not offer these classes, there are numerous dive shops on the island that cater to new scuba divers.

Marine Parks

Anguilla was not always a top dive and snorkel destination; despite having great visibility, there were few reefs worth visiting.  In 1980, a group of islanders enlisted the help of the government to improve underwater life.  As a result, several ships were sunk to create an artificial reef system, and by 1993 a series of five marine parks were created: Shoal Bay, Little Bay, Sandy Island, Prickle Pear Cays, and Dog Island.  Some of the best snorkeling opportunities can be found at these locations.

Other Dive Sites

As you can snorkel at pretty much any beach in Anguilla and find spectacular views, the following is a list of Anguilla's 18 dive sites.

Tips

• 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.
• Do not feed the fish.
• Do not 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 urchin 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 spottings 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.

Anguilla appears to be a sleepy island upon first glance, but in actuality it is alive with beautiful marine life just waiting to be discovered.  Plan to make a day of snorkeling or diving, and bring home memories that will last you a lifetime.