Scuba diving in Anguilla is a perfect approach to expertise the superior underwater world across the island. There’s quite a lot of dive websites that encompass vibrant reefs and wrecks which might be explored by newbie divers and skilled divers. It has been lengthy stated that the island shouldn’t be seen as a scuba diving vacation spot. Nonetheless, it gives probably the most thrilling scuba diving experiences within the Caribbean.
The adventures are countless and fulfilling when diving in Anguilla. The island has varied dive websites, every with their very own particular attributes and divers who go to the island all the time touch upon how nice the diving is. These accolades might be attributed to the well being of the underwater ecosystem, the various marine life, and exquisite seashores throughout the island. If you’re planning a scuba diving vacation in Anguilla, just remember to know:
- Methods to get to Anguilla
- One of the best time to go to the island
- The place the favored dive websites are positioned
- The sorts of marine life round Anguilla
- How one can follow protected scuba diving
Methods to Get to Anguilla
Anguilla is a small island within the Japanese Caribbean. It’s within the neighborhood of Puerto Rico, Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Martin and sits on the high of the Leeward Islands chain. The island is definitely accessible by sea or air. All company who enter Anguilla by sea or air need to clear Customs and Immigration.
Company preferring to journey by air, have a number of choices. The island receives year-round direct flights from Miami and Toronto, and seasonal direct flights from Montreal. Moreover, connections can be found to the island’s Clayton J. Lloyd Worldwide Airport through Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, and Antigua and Barbuda.
Alternatively, company who wish to journey by sea from a neighbouring island can achieve this through ferry. There are every day ferry companies from St. Martin and Sint Maarten. There are additionally personal boat companies to the island. One of many firms that provides personal charters to Anguilla is Calypso Charters.
Greatest Time for Scuba Diving in Anguilla
One of the best time to scuba dive in Anguilla is everytime you really feel like going. The island is a year-round diving vacation spot with waters that vary from 26 levels (C) within the cool months to 30 levels (C) in hotter months. For those who journey in the course of the excessive season months between December and April, you’ll extra exercise on the island. Throughout off-season – Might to November, there are extra probabilities for tropical climate and rain and in consequence visibility could also be impacted.
Fashionable Dive Websites in Anguilla
There are over 30 seashores in Anguilla and nearly all of them provide some alternatives for scuba diving. Nonetheless, the most well-liked dive websites are these near or in marine parks. Due to government-imposed protections within the underwater marine parks, marine life is prospering. A few of the restrictions are not any anchoring zones, seaside safety acts that prohibit constructing on the ocean flooring, and fishing laws. One of the best diving websites in Anguilla are Stoney Bay Marine Park, Prickly Pear Cays, Canine Island Wall, Frenchman Reef, Blowing Rock, Scrub Island, Anguillita Reef, Chikuzen Wreck, The Wall, and Little Bay.
Wrecks in Anguilla
Lots of the dive websites in Aruba are house to shipwrecks. These historic vessels are an integral a part of the biodiversity that exists within the water. There are at the least six wrecks, every with its personal distinctive story and a spot in historical past. The Meppel Wreck, which lies 80 ft beneath the floor of the Caribbean Sea, was as soon as a battleship for the British. The Commerce Wreck is the previous Commerce which was destroyed by Hurricane Klaus in 1984. There’s additionally the Sarah Wreck, which is the most important wreck on the island. She too was destroyed by hurricane Klaus in 1984. These wrecks at the moment are precious synthetic reefs that entice a number of species of fish.
Marine Life in Anguilla
Divers who’ve visited dive websites round Anguilla, particularly these with shipwrecks, have seen quite a lot of marine life. There are numerous species of fish, reptiles, crustaceans, and coral. A few of the key marine and fish species in Anguilla are:
Turtles: Hawksbill Turtles, Inexperienced Turtles
Lobsters: Caribbean Spiny Lobster, Noticed Spiny Lobster
Crabs: Pink Eye Sponge Crab, Atlantic Ghost Crab,
Corals: Mind Corals, Star Corals, Branching Corals, Sea Followers, Sea Rods
Eels: Noticed Moray Eel, Backyard Eel
Worms: Christmas Worm, Bearded Hearth Worm, Magnificent Feather Duster, Yellow Fan Worm
Groupers: Nassau Grouper, Mutton Grouper, Graysby, Pink Hind, Rock Hind, Coney, Black Grouper, Tiger Grouper, Yellowfin Grouper, Yellowmouth Grouper, Yellowfin Grouper, Goliath Grouper
Parrotfish: Striped Parrotfish, Redband Parrotfish, Stoplight Parrotfish, Princess Parrotfish, Queen Parrotfish
Wrasses: Bluehead Wrasse, Yellowhead Wrasse, Slippery Dick Wrasse, Clown Wrasse, Hogfish, Spanish Hogfish, Creole Wrasse, Puddingwife
Damselfish: Bicolour Damselfish, Dusky Damselfish, Longfin Damselfish, Cocoa Damselfish
Grunts: French Grunt, Juvenile Grunt, Bluestriped Grunt, Smallmouth Grunt, White Grunt, Caesar Grunt, Tomate Grunt, Striped Grunt, Sailors Grunt, Black Margate Grunt, White Margate Grunt
Snappers: Yellowtail Snapper, Pink Snapper, Gray Snapper, Mahogany Snapper, Lane Snapper, Schoolmaster Snapper, Mutton Snapper, Cubera Snapper, Canine Snapper, Blackfin Snapper, Silk Snapper, Southern Pink Snapper, Queen Snapper
Angelfish: French Angelfish, Queen Angelfish, Grey Angelfish, Rock Magnificence Angelfish
Triggerfish: Queen Triggerfish, Ocean Triggerfish, Sargassum Triggerfish, Black Durgon Triggerfish
Squirrelfish: Squirrelfish, Longspine, Reef, Dusky, Longjaw, Black Bar Soldierfish,
Bigeyes: Glasseye Snapper
Goatfish: Noticed Goatfish, Yellow Goatfish
Surgeonfish: Blue Tang, Ocean Surgeonfish, Doctorfish
Sharks: Nurse Shark, Lemon Shark, Reef Shark, Blackfin Shark, Tiger Shark
Rays: Southern Stingray, Noticed Eagle Ray, Large Manta Ray
Lionfish: Pink Lionfish
Barracudas: Nice Barracuda
Methods to be Secure When Scuba Diving in Anguilla
Accountable divers will not be solely targeted on their security, however the security of the atmosphere that they’re diving in. In Anguilla, there are numerous efforts to keep up the well being of the waters across the island, the coral reef methods, and the marine life that dwell there. Divers ought to be sure that they:
- Just remember to are match sufficient to dive.
- Evaluate and observe the native rules for diving.
- Don’t contact or take away something from the reefs.
- Dive with a good and skilled dive firm.
- Don’t use alcohol or medication earlier than diving.
- Obey all directions out of your dive crew.
- Know your strengths and dive inside snug limits.
- Study concerning the sorts of marine life within the space.
- Don’t fly till at the least 18 – 24 hours after your dive.
As well as, no matter wherever you select to go scuba diving within the Caribbean, it’s best to observe these fundamental guidelines of protected scuba diving.
FAQs
Listed below are just a few continuously requested questions on scuba diving in Anguilla:
What are one of the best locations to dive in Anguilla?
One of the best locations to dive in Anguilla are Stoney Bay Marine Park, Prickly Pear Cays, Canine Island Wall, Frenchman Reef, Blowing Rock, Scrub Island, Anguillita Reef, Chikuzen Wreck, The Wall, and Little Bay.
How a lot does it value to scuba dive in Anguilla?
Scuba diving charges fluctuate and are based mostly on talent degree, tools leases and dive places. For examples of scuba diving charges, go to the hyperlinks beneath:
Can novices scuba dive in Anguilla?
Sure. Learners can scuba dive in Anguilla. Nonetheless, it is strongly recommended that you simply enroll in a fundamental scuba diving course earlier than embarking in your first dive.
Are there sharks in Anguilla?
Sure, there are sharks in Anguilla. Shark species which were sighted across the island embrace the Nurse Shark, Lemon Shark, Reef Shark, Blackfin Shark and Tiger Shark. Nonetheless, not a lot is understood about their inhabitants numbers.
Study Extra About Scuba Diving in Anguilla
For extra details about scuba diving in Anguilla, please go to the next hyperlinks:
Floor Interval: Scuba Diving In Anguilla
Loop Information: 5 Greatest Dive Websites in Anguilla
PADI: Diving in Anguilla
The Wholesome Vacation Firm: Scuba Diving in Anguilla
Dive Report: Anguilla
Simply Gotta Dive: Underwater Historical past Lesson: The Wreck Dives Of Anguilla
All At Sea: Historic Ship Rediscovered Off Anguilla Coast in 2010
Stuart Wynne: Standing of Anguilla’s Marine Sources 2010
Authorities of Anguilla: Creating an Adaptive Administration Plan for Anguilla’s Marine Park System and Related Shallow Water Habitats and Fisheries (2015-2025)
Marine Conservation Society: Sharks and Rays in Anguilla
Anguilla Division of Fisheries and Marine Sources: Anguilla Fisheries Improvement Plan
Picture: Francesco Ungaro through Unsplash
