Diving in St. Vincent
Why dive here
St. Vincent offers some of St. Vincent & the Grenadines's richest diving, with 267+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, humpback whales, nurse sharks, orcas and sea turtles. Water sits around 28°C.
St. Vincent is a quiet surprise, often overshadowed by its Grenadine neighbours. But for divers who really look, it’s a macro heaven. We love the volcanic topography here; the dramatic slopes and swim-throughs are just begging to be explored. You’ll find walls draped in black coral, swaying gently in the current, and closer inspection reveals a staggering array of tiny residents. This isn’t about big pelagics, though a reef shark might cruise by. St. Vincent is for the patient observer. We’ve spent whole dives mesmerized by the hunt of an Inshore Lizardfish, or spotting the perfect camouflage of a Pacific Spotted Scorpionfish. Look for the Sawcheek Cardinalfish tucked into crevices and the tiny, almost invisible, Stippled Clingfish on sponges. The currents can be moderate, especially on drift dives, but they generally bring nutrients, making for active reef life. Early morning dives often offer the best visibility before the day heats up, and you’ll find more critters out and about before divers arrive. The wrecks are fun, but it’s the volcanic reef and its miniature inhabitants that truly capture our attention here.
St. Vincent Dive Site Map
Dive sites and dive centres in St. Vincent
St. Vincent Dive Sites
37 dive sites in St. Vincent
Almond Tree
Dream Gate is one of our picks for a foundational cenote dive, a real taste of what makes these sites so special. You're exploring part of the sprawling Sac Actun system here, and even at a shallow seven metres, the feeling of being deep underground is palpable. We love the two distinct circuits, each around 40 minutes, giving you ample time to really soak in the formations. Think immense calcareous columns stretching between floor and ceiling, stalactites like frozen tears, and stalagmites rising up to meet them. Visibility hovers around a remarkable 30 metres, which is crucial when you're navigating such intricate spaces. While you won't find bustling reefs here, the geology is the star. It's a dive for those who appreciate the quiet grandeur of natural architecture, the subtle play of light on ancient stone. We’d suggest going early to catch the best light rays piercing the gloom, illuminating the delicate structures. It’s an easygoing dive, perfect for getting comfortable with the cavern environment before tackling anything more complex.
Almond Tree
Almond Tree is one of those St. Vincent sites we always look forward to, a gentle drift along a sloping reef that just feels right. You're usually heading south to north, carried by a mild current that makes the whole dive wonderfully relaxed. We love the gorgonian tree field here, a swaying forest of purple and orange against the blue, and it's where we often spot the more unusual residents. Keep an eye out for frogfish and seahorses, though they are masters of disguise. This is a dive that suits everyone, from newer divers enjoying their first drift to seasoned pros who appreciate a calm, productive exploration. The maximum depth of 21 metres keeps it comfortable, and the final safety stop among the shallow coral heads is always a good place to find a busy belt of cardinalfish or a curious hamlet. We've seen some impressive chain morays tucked into the coral here, and the sheer number of dwarf wrasse and clown wrasse keeps the shallows buzzing. Visibility averages 15 metres, which is perfectly good for taking in the slow-motion theatre.
Anchor Reef
Anchor Reef feels like a secret garden, a calm, shallow spot that really surprised us on St. Vincent. It’s got a lovely, gentle slope from about five meters down to eighteen, making it a perfect easy dive. We love the way the sunlight filters through the water here, illuminating not just the corals, but also a scattering of old anchors, remnants from the 18th century, which give the place its name. The reef itself isn't a dramatic wall, but it’s dense with life. We’ve spent ages just watching the Bladed Wentletraps navigate the corals, or spotting the silvery flash of Silver Mojarras darting between overhangs. Keep an eye out for the Slender Parrotfish, they’re often busy grazing, and if you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of a Glaucus, their delicate blue a real treat. This is our pick for a relaxed afternoon dive, maybe a second dive of the day, when you just want to soak it all in without fighting a current. It suits beginners perfectly, or anyone who appreciates a slower pace to really observe the smaller, quieter inhabitants of the reef.
Bequia Head
Bequia Head is a commitment, a proper trek by boat, so it's a two-tank minimum. We’ve only been out there a handful of times when the conditions align perfectly, and trust us, you need perfect conditions. This site is exposed to everything. That means negative entry, you're dropping onto a steeply sloping reef that goes down to 40m, and the current can be genuinely ripping. It’s a drift, plain and simple, and you'll want to be comfortable with your SMB deployment. When it all comes together, though, Bequia Head delivers. The reef here is healthy, vibrant, and the big draw for us is the sheer volume of pelagics. We’ve seen huge schools of snapper and jack, walls of them, often with the deeper shadows of Caribbean reef sharks cruising by. Keep an eye out for mottled conger morays tucked into crevices and the occasional saddle stargazer half-buried in the sand. It’s a proper rush, a high-octane dive for experienced divers only, but the reward is a truly wild, untamed Caribbean experience.
Bequia Head
Deep Blue, off Carriacou’s Sisters Rocks, is one of those sites that just grabs you. We love a good drift, and this one delivers, pulling you around the twin rocks in a lively current. It’s an advanced dive, for sure; you’ll feel the tug, and the landscape rushes by, but that’s precisely its charm. The visibility generally holds around 20 metres, so you get a good, clear view of the action. We've seen schools of black surgeons so dense they cast shadows, weaving through barracudas that seem to hang suspended, just watching. Keep an eye out for green morays tucked into the rocks and those perfectly camouflaged scorpionfish. The maximum depth is 22 metres, which means you have plenty of bottom time to soak it all in. If you’re comfortable with a bit of pace and love feeling like you’re flying through the water, Deep Blue is a top pick.
BOSCO
The wreck of the BOSCO, a yacht sunk by fire in 1979, sits upright at 18 meters, making for a relaxed dive that’s perfect for those newer to wreck diving. She’s not massive, but the fire damage means she’s pretty open, so you can easily peek inside the cabin and engine room. Over the years, the metal has become a home for all sorts of critters. We’ve spotted moray eels tucked into crevices, plenty of schooling fish swirling around the mast, and often a few curious trumpetfish nosing about the deck. It’s a gentle introduction to wreck exploration in St. Vincent.
Brown’s Bay
El Peñon offers a longer reef system, often broken into a few dive spots, all sitting around 13 meters. It’s a bit of a boat ride out from Punta Cana, which means fewer divers and a calmer experience once you’re in the water. We usually see a good variety of the usual Caribbean suspects here – nurse sharks often resting under ledges, barracuda hanging in the blue, and plenty of snapper and parrotfish going about their day. Visibility averages around 19 meters, so you’ll get a clear view of the coral formations and any passing hawksbill turtles or stingrays gliding by. It’s a good option for divers looking for a more relaxed dive away from the crowds, without super deep depths.
Brown’s Bay
Brown’s Bay is one of those sites we always come back to when we want to just drift and watch the world go by. It’s a short boat ride from Port Elizabeth, a real easy entry, and then you’re just floating along. Usually, the current pushes you south to north, a gentle ride over a sloping reef that starts at about five metres and maxes out around 15m. We love the boulders here, covered in sea fans that sway with the current, and you’ll find some robust pillar and staghorn corals too. It’s a great spot for spotting some of the smaller, more unusual stuff if you take your time and really look. We’ve had fantastic luck finding Spinyhead Blennies tucked into crevices, and Goldline Blennies poking their heads out. Keep an eye out for Mottled Conger Morays in the deeper cracks; they’re a bit shyer than the usual green morays. It’s a perfect site for a relaxed dive, especially if you’re newer to drift diving, or just want to take it easy and let the reef come to you. You’ll be comfortable here, whether you’re making your first few dives or just fancy a mellow afternoon.
Cathedral
Fuikbaai, or Newport as some call it, is one of those places we return to specifically for the feeling of discovery. You’re not just pulling up to a busy dock here; it’s a quiet boat ride, often from a small dinghy launched from inside Fuikbaai itself. We usually drop by the navaid, which is a good reference point for the discharge pipe. Our favourite approach is to head against any current you find right away, saving the drift back for the end of the dive. This is a classic Caribbean wall, but it’s the smaller stuff that truly shines here. We consistently find Candy Basslets darting in and out of the crevices, and the Threespot Damselfish are always busy. Around the discharge pipe itself, especially in the 12-meter range, we’ve found decent aggregations of Great Star Coral. Keep an eye out for the resident Red Hogfish – they’re surprisingly bold. Visibility usually sits around 22 meters, giving you plenty of light to explore the wall’s nooks and crannies. If you’re a macro enthusiast, this place delivers. It’s also a good spot for lionfish hunting, if that's your thing; we often find them congregating near the discharge pipe.
Coral Nursery
We’ve always had a soft spot for Hastings Reef, and the Fish Bowl really shows off what it does best. It’s not about grand pelagics or deep wrecks here; it’s about sheer fish density, hence the name. Drop in on the southern edge and you’re immediately enveloped. Schools of fusiliers are so thick they can genuinely block out the sun, and the wall itself, while not plummeting to insane depths, is just plastered with coral. Our favourite time to dive it is mid-morning, after the initial rush, when the light really punches through the shallows. You’ll spot parrotfish everywhere, the Batavian and Princess varieties are particularly colourful, along with big schools of spangled emperor and sweetlips. We often find giant clams embedded in the coral, their mantles a vibrant blue or green. Keep an eye out for cleaner mimics flitting around the bommies. It’s an easy dive, maxing out around 13 metres, so you can really take your time observing the smaller details. If you love just immersing yourself in a cloud of reef fish, this is your spot.
Deep Boulders
The House Reef at Selayar Dive Resort is one of those places we genuinely appreciate for its sheer convenience and consistent charm. You literally just step off the jetty and you're in, no boat trip needed, which is a massive plus when you're feeling lazy after a big breakfast. We often find ourselves dropping in for a casual afternoon dive or a quick night dive when we don't want the fuss of a boat. From the moment you descend, a limestone wall drops away to about 23 meters. It’s absolutely smothered in gorgonian sea fans, soft corals, and sponges. You’ll see big clusters of mushroom corals and bowl corals, providing plenty of nooks and crannies for reef fish. We've often spotted big groupers lurking in the shadows and inquisitive snappers darting around. Anemonefish are everywhere, of course, and if you’re patient, you might even catch a glimpse of a leatherback sea turtle cruising by. The current is usually mild here, making it a very relaxed dive. Visibility hovers around 17 meters, which is more than enough to soak in the colours. It’s a perfect spot for divers who want easy access to a vibrant wall or for photographers looking for an unhurried session with plenty of subjects.
Devil's Table + dinghy mooring
Devil’s Table is one of our favourite dives in St. Vincent, mostly because it’s a bit of a trick. You drop onto what looks like a typical Caribbean reef, but then you hit the swim-throughs and small caves that honeycomb the volcanic rock. We love exploring these darker pockets, shining a torch into the crevices to find dusky cardinalfish hovering, their eyes catching the beam, or maybe a sleepy spotted trunkfish tucked away. It’s not about huge pelagics here; it's the smaller stuff, the stuff you have to look for. Keep an eye out for a saddle stargazer buried in the sand near the edges, just its eyes peeking out. The dinghy mooring itself doesn't add much, but the surrounding reef provides enough interesting ledges and overhangs to keep you busy. This site is great for divers who enjoy poking around, taking it slow, and appreciate the subtle beauty of a healthy, varied reef. It’s a relaxed dive, usually with minimal current, making it a good choice for a second dive of the day.
St. Vincent Dive Centres
2 dive shops and operators in St. Vincent
Ocean Wildlife in St. Vincent
267 species recorded in St. Vincent
St. Vincent Daylight & Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrise and sunset times for St. Vincent, calculated from coordinates
Today - Monday 24 August
Sunrise
05:54
Sunset
18:22
Daylight
12h 28m
Golden Hour
17:54
First light (dawn) at 05:33 · Last light (dusk) at 18:44
Monthly Averages
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 06:32 | 17:57 | 11h 26m |
| Feb | 06:29 | 18:11 | 11h 42m |
| Mar | 06:14 | 18:16 | 12h 2m |
| Apr | 05:54 | 18:18 | 12h 25m |
| May | 05:41 | 18:24 | 12h 43m |
| JunLongest | 05:39 | 18:33 | 12h 53m |
| Jul | 05:46 | 18:36 | 12h 50m |
| AugNow | 05:53 | 18:28 | 12h 34m |
| Sep | 05:55 | 18:08 | 12h 13m |
| Oct | 05:56 | 17:47 | 11h 52m |
| Nov | 06:04 | 17:36 | 11h 32m |
| DecShortest | 06:20 | 17:41 | 11h 22m |
Times are approximate local times based on longitude. Actual times may vary slightly depending on the exact timezone observed in St. Vincent.
Where to Stay near St. Vincent
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Marine Protected Areas near St. Vincent
26 protected areas near St. Vincent - please respect local regulations when diving
Tobago Cays-Mayreau MP/MR/Wildlife Reserve
Tobago Cays-Mayreau MP/MR/Wildlife Reserve
Union-Palm Island Marine Conservation Area
Canouan Marine Reserve / Marine Conservation Area
Mustique Marine Reserve
Bequia Marine Conservation Area
South Coast Marine Park
Isle Quatre Marine Reserve / Marine Conservation Area
Petit St. Vincent Wildlife Reserve
Battowia Island Wildlife Reserve
Petit Canouan Wildlife Reserve
Chateaubelair Islet Wildlife Reserve
Showing 12 largest of 26
Getting to St. Vincent
Bequia
Kingstown
Vieux Fort
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