Diving the Grenadines??

[That Guy]

We’re heading down through the Grenadines at the end of May through mid June and I’m trying to figure out a diving plan. I was hoping I could get some advice as we’ve not been in the area before. I’d kinda prefer the freedom of diving on our own without guides, but I’m not sure if it’s worth it.

1) I’ve not found any kind of guide book for the area. If we choose to rent tanks and weights and dive on our own, I wonder if we’ll even be able to find any good dive sites?

2) Tank fill sites...I think I’ve only found them at Bequia, Union and Carriacou. Another challenge that might make it not worth diving on our own???

3) We’ve got 3 divers on our trip. We also have 4 non-divers who’d like to play around a little underwater with our gear (before the safety patrol berates me for allowing non-divers to dive, I will be a certified instructor by the time of this trip). If we dive on our own, I thought 2 tanks per diver plus 1 tank for each non-diver for a total of 10 tanks. Not sure if it’s worth the expense.

Any other thoughts that might help me with this decision?

[Flagman101]

Tobago Cays and Mayreau Garden are the best dive sites.
Dive the inward side of the reef in tobago cays.
Dive Mayreau Garden with is basically the same reef.
Non divers can enjoy snorkelling, the beach and Walking around in Mayreau.
Dive operators in Mayreau and on Union

[That Guy]

Originally Posted by Flagman101

Dive operators in Mayreau and on Union

So there's a fill site on Mayreau, correct?

Thanks for the info!

[njoynthewater]

We spent a fair bit of time in the area over the last hurricane season. Tobago Cayes is a Marine park and the wardens were adamant that you could only dive the park with a local dive guide. As to diving the inner side of the reef it's shallow as in snorkelling shallow. I didn't see any diving going on while we were in Tobago Cayes area. Saw no dive boats or shops on Mayreau. Off Cariacou is Sandy Island which is in the Marine park. We did a few dives on the back side of Sandy Island. Pretty reef and easy dives. Found at least 3 moorings that we tied to. No anchoring allowed in the park.We saw a sign on the island later in our trip that said you have to use a local guide to dive in the park but nobody said anything while we were diving. A dive shop boat as well as a coast guard boat passed by as we geared up. We used a local dive shop to take us out to Sisters Rocks off Cariacou due to distance and currents at the site. It was the nicest dive we did in the area. We had company join us and tried to rent a tank for a week from a local dive shop. Nobody would rent a tank unless it was returned that day and it didn't matter what was offered for a deposit. On the southeast corner of Cariacou is Saline island. Looks like the diving would be very good but there is a wicked current running along that side of the island so passed as we didn't have anyone to stay in the dinghy. Hope this helps.

[Flagman101]

Should have read windward not inward

[Flagman101]

Originally Posted by That Guy

So there's a fill site on Mayreau, correct?

Thanks for the info!

Not sure about a fill station. Contact Denis Hideaway on Mayreau. He can arrange

[That Guy]

NJOYNTHEWATER:
Great info! Thank you! Do you have any beta on Bequia??

FLAGMAN101:
Thank you as well...Denis Hideaway on Mayreau...is that a persons name or a place? How do I find contact info? Thanks!

[Flagman101]

Originally Posted by That Guy

NJOYNTHEWATER:
Great info! Thank you! Do you have any beta on Bequia??

FLAGMAN101:
Thank you as well...Denis Hideaway on Mayreau...is that a persons name or a place? How do I find contact info? Thanks!

It's a place. Just google the name, it will come up.
I will be there in a few weeks