Barbados West Coast Dive Sites & Boat Operators
You’ll be pleasantly surprised to know that Barbados is a great Caribbean diving destination. The island has over twenty dive sites, most of which can be reached in less than 20 minutes by boat. Scuba diving conditions are good, with water temperatures off Barbados’ shores ranging from the high-70s to mid-80s (25-29c) with good visibility up to 70 feet (21m) deep. Off Barbados’ west coast, divers can experience a variety of coral reefs and some truly amazing shipwrecks.
Some of the most popular dive sites in Barbados are located off the protected west coast of the island. Divers will enjoy calm waters and an abundance of marine life when exploring the shallow (30 – 60 feet / 9-18m) fringing reefs of the west coast. In terms of shipwrecks, the 360-foot freighter Stavronikita, sunk in 140 feet (43m) of water, is considered to be one of the most impressive wrecks in the Caribbean.
Barbados reefs are full of marine life. There are a variety of corals and both reefs and wrecks in the area are home to large barrel sponges and colourful sea fans as well as sea urchins, rays, eels, and even seahorses, conch shell and starfish. In Barbados, you’re sure to see a Hawksbill, Green or maybe even a Leatherback turtle. The ocean also has plenty of colourful tropical fish and larger fish, including some sharks.
The Best Barbados Diving off the West Coast can be found at:
- Sharks Hole – For advanced divers under the right sea conditions only, this dive site ranges in depth from 60 to 100 feet (18-30m) and features walls with a hole/tunnel along with large boulders and plenty of schools of fish, and of course Sharks. Great drift dive site.
- Maycock’s Reef / Bay – This dive site ranges in depth from 50 to 125 feet (15-38m) and is actually several large coral reefs separated by sand channels. This awesome site has plenty of corals, sponges, tubes and fans along with large schools of fish.
- Cement Plant – Great for beginner divers, this shallow site bottoms out around 30 feet (9m) deep. Along with plenty of fish, you may also spot seahorses and lobster! Good night dive location.
- Bright Ledge – This popular dive site ranges from 65 to over 125 feet (20 to >38m) deep and features colourful corals and sponges along with schools of tropical fish and turtles
- Pamir Shipwreck – This 165-foot wreck has holes to explore the interior and sits in just 30 to 60 feet (9-18m) of water making it great for all levels of diver. There’s plenty of sponges and fish to see. Good photography and night dive location.
- Great Ledge – This large barrier reef site ranges in depth from 50 to 80 feet (15-24m) and features plenty of colourful tropical fish as well as turtles and barracudas.
- Farm / Heyman’s
- Spawnee – Great for beginner divers, this shallow site offers a wide variety of marine life to see
- Boom
- Fisherman’s – This site features a scattering of coral heads accompanied by tropical fish as well as rays and eels
- Church Point – This site ranges in depth from 40 to 60 feet (12-18m) and features scattered reef and coral heads with plenty of fish
- Dottin’s – This popular reef site off the shores of Holetown ranges in depth from 40 to 80 feet (12-24m), has sections of sand and features a variety of corals along with large fish, schools of tropical fish as well as turtles
- (Little) Sandy Lane – This popular dive site ranges in depth from 75 to 140 feet (23-43m) and features beautiful colourful sponges and sea fans as well as a wide variety of fish. Eels and lobsters can also be spotted. Potential drift dive site.
- Allens
- Johnson’s – This popular reef site can be found at a depth of 75 feet (23m) and features a colourful array of corals, sponges, tubes. There’s also plenty of tropical fish as well as barracudas, turtles and eels.
- Paynes Bay – Great for beginner divers, this shallow reef ranges in depth from 30 to 50 feet (9-15m) and features large coral heads visited by plenty of small fish
- Victor’s Reef – This unappreciated reef ranges from 50 to 125 feet (15-38m) deep and features hard and soft corals.
- Stavronikita Shipwreck – This 365-foot freighter was built in the 1950s and sunk in 1978. The wreck sits upright in 140 feet (43m) of water, although the sponge and coral encrusted masts can be found around 25 feet (8m) from the water’s surface. Best suited for advanced divers, the wreck’s interior cabins and cargo holds are accessible for exploration. Barracudas, eels and a wide variety and quantity of other fish call the wreck home. Good photography location.
- Lord Combermere Shipwreck – Great for beginner divers, this shallow wreck was a small barge sunk in the 1980s
- The Village – This site can be found at a depth of 70 feet (21m) and features giant barrel sponges along with fish, turtles and lobster. Good drift dive.
- Barracuda Junction – This site ranges in depth from 60 to 80 feet (18-24m) and features colourful corals and sponges along with barracuda and other fish species. Great drift dive.
- Clarke’s / Silver Bank – This site, just off Brighton Beach, ranges in depth from 30 to 125 feet (9-38m) and features a healthy coral reef with sea fans, visited by a wide variety of fish as well as eels. Note: This is an area frequented by the Atlantis Submarine.
- Tropicana – This excellent site ranges in depth from 60 to 80 feet (18-24m) and features a fringing reef full of marine life including coral, fish and turtles as well as shrimp and anemone.
Also, check out Scuba Diving off Barbados’ South(west) Coast; and Carlisle Bay. Feel free to take a look at our Barbados Snorkeling page too…
Planning a Barbados Scuba Diving vacation? Go back to our Barbados Diving page for a list of local Dive Centres / Boat Operators who’ll take good care of you
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