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(left) Island Safari and Stingray Fantasy Antigua and Barbuda - Consisting of two islands, this island nation is roughly adjacent to St Kitts. Antigua has an underwater world all its own with every type of Caribbean fish present and accounted for, underwater caves and a thriving reef life. Diving Adventures Come dive with Big John and the crew at Antigua's longest established, most experienced dive operation. We have over 35 years of diving experience, more than 25 of them in Antigua's beautiful waters. |
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We have the experience to know the best dive site for any given conditions and many sites not known to other dive operations.
Cades Reef Snorkel Cruise
Departure Point - Tour departs from selected St. John's hotels; Sandals, Halcyon, Royal Antiguan, Jolly Beach and Jolly Harbour.
Departure Time - Hotel pick-up times vary. Your departure time will be advised when you call the tour operator to re-confirm your booking.
Snorkeling Island Adventure
A diverse tour taking advantage of some of the islands main attractions. Enjoy a wide array of activities including snorkeling and sightseeing. This tour is an all in one combo and a fun packed excursion for the whole family.
Highlights - Conducted in English
This tour is both historical and fun. Start with a
Caribbean and open ocean sail, passing Devil's Bridge on
the way. Enjoy snorkelling and a visit to the deserted
beach before eating a delicious lunch.
Later, enjoy an informative guided tour of Nelson's Dockyard, the English Harbor dockyard that was established in 1725. The dockyard was given up by the royal navy in 1889. In it's heyday there were as many as 5,000 troops stationed here at a time. Today Nelson's Dockyard has been restored and is now the only Georgian dockyard in the world.
Explore English Harbor and the surrounding natural beauty while listening to rhythmic island music.
Schedule details
Triple Destinations "Plus" Tour
Departure Point: Tour departs from selected St.
John hotels; Sandals, Halcyon, Royal Antiguan, Jolly Beach
and Jolly Harbour
Departure Time: Hotel pick-up times vary. Your
departure time will be advised when you call the tour
operator to re-confirm your booking.
Bird
Island Snorkel
Enjoy a gentle sail to this uninhabited little island designated as a national park for all to enjoy nature as it should be. These reef-bound waters are perfect for children and beginner snorkellers or for simply enjoying a swim in the protected bay.
The water is warm and calm, the underwater sea life is colourful and exciting, snorkeling on this reef is a truly perfect experience.
Schedule details
Bird Island Snorkel Safari
Departure Point: Tour departs from selected St.
John's hotels; Sandals, Halcyon, Royal Antiguan, Jolly
Beach and Jolly Harbour
Departure Time: Hotel pick-up times vary. Your
departure time will be advised when you call the tour
operator to re-confirm your booking.
Cades Reef on the southwest corner of the island offers numerous dive sites and Ariadne Shoals, about 12 miles off the southwest of Antigua is an exciting site visited by dive operators on the west coast.
Close to English Harbour, The Pinnacles of Hercules offers perhaps the
greatest diversity of underwater life in these waters and often has
visibility in access of 100 feet.
Turning to the East out of English Harbour we come to Carpenter's
Rock, the most colourful site with an abundance of coral and sponge
growth and, in the top 20 feet, an aquarium with large schools of
Sergeant Majors and Chubb.
Among other possibilities the great sites of Sunken Rock and Cape
Shirley await the experienced diver.
Sunken Rock, with depths to 120 ft, is a rock pinnacle which offers a
trail through a deep cleft leading to the rock itself. From the drop
off a mostly vertical dive with coral overhangs of magnificent
gorgonians in many flamboyant colours. Here we find larger fish,
barracuda, sting rays and occasionally turtle and dolphins.
Cade's Reef is our primary diving location. It is only a 20 minute boat ride aboard our dive boat to the southwest side of the island.
This 7-mile-long, Caribbean reef system offers a wide variety of dive sites with many types of marine creatures including hundreds of colorful corals, tropical fish, lobster, stingrays, barracuda, turtles and other exotic wonders.
Sandals Grande Antigua Dive Sites
Billy's Grotto
Large knoll with rocky ledges on the east. Contains sea fans and soft corals. Minimum amount of hard coral and sponges. Marine life is abundant. Nurse sharks, turtles, barracudas and large schools of small fish. Lobsters are usually abundant and stingrays occasionally. Depth: 52ft
Jettia's Wreck
Old French steam powered freighter sunk in 1817 and sits at a depth of 25'. The wreck is broken up into mainly the bow, the boiler, the engine and the stern. There is coral growth and lots of small fish surrounding it, including parrot fish, grunts, trumpet fish, blue tangs and Spanish hogfish. Occasionally a large barracuda puts in an appearance along with a large dog snapper. Depth: 25ft
Boon's Reef
Patch reef, dead coral in some areas surrounded by live coral, some damage due to hurricanes. This site is primarily used as a first time diver's site. Parrot fish, snappers, blue tangs, grunts, occasional eel, barracuda and turtle. Depth: 30ft
John's Cave at Ariadne Shoal
Long rocky ledge. Visibility usually 100' - 150'. Barracudas are always present along with the usual parrot fish, trumpet fish, grunts, etc. Occasionally nurse sharks, jacks and other pelagic are seen. Depth: 57ft
The Chimney
Dive site starts at 40' and gradually descends like stairs to below 80'. There is a hole in the rock face which comes out at the top of the ledge. Blackjacks, angelfish, Atlantic spade fish, barracudas are usual. Nurse sharks occasionally rest in the chimney. Depth: 80 ft
Snappers' Ledge
Dive site begins at 40' and gradually slopes to 80'. There are several rock ledges and undercuts where numerous amounts of fish and other forms of life reside, puffer fish, black jacks, school master snappers, trumpet fish, and parrot fish are usually spotted. There is also a large green moray that hides in the area. Depth: 80ft
Pillars of Hercules
The site is named from the limestone formation in the cliff above the site. The site is mainly composed of large boulders which have fallen from the cliff above. Sergeant majors, chromis, blue tang snappers and other pelagic cruise around the site. Depth: 70ft
Pillars
This site was a spur and grove formation resembling fingers. It was named for two large columns of pillar corals. Small fish are in abundance and the occasional nurse shark and eagle ray are spotted. Depth: 36ft
Mary K
Also a spur and grove site with small ledges and undercuts. Lobsters, barracudas and lots of small fish are usually present. The occasional turtle and stingray put in an appearance. Depth: 42ft
Stereo Reef
Small knoll of dead coral surrounded by live coral. Many varieties of hard and soft corals. Large schools of small brown chromis swim around the knoll along with blue tangs and bogas. Parrot fish, grunts, and other fish are also present, fish populations come and go on this site. Depth: 36ft
Horseshoe Reef
Parallel pile of coral approximately 100' apart. Parrot fish, snappers, blue tangs, bogas and brown chromis, barracudas, eagle rays and moray eels show up every once in a while. Depth: 36ft
Monk's Head
Coral knoll with sandy patches at the top and bottom. Parrot fish, trumpet fish, snappers, creole wracks are usually seen. Large numbers of southern stingray are occasionally seen. Depth: 47ft
Try Reef
Long pile of coral named for the try spotted at the site. Barracudas are sometimes abundant. Parrot fish, chromis, snappers and blue tangs are permanent residents. Depth: 30ft
Papaya Channel
Long "road" of sand with reef on both sides leading to a mini wall. Stingrays and barracuda are common along with creole wracks, parrot fish, sergeant majors and grunts. Depth: 36ft
Sandy Island Barge & Knoll
Small round knoll with lots of soft and hard corals on it. There's a sunken barge laying next to it which is home to several different creatures. Stingrays, barracuda, Atlantic spade fish and moray eels show up occasionally. Parrot fish, snappers, grunts, lobsters and chromis are usually present. Depth: 47ft
Sandy Island Ridge
Long coral ridge with sand at the base. There are several large coral heads along the ridge where lobsters, eels, napes, grunts, squirrel fish, and others hide. Nurse sharks are also spotted, but not as often. Depth: 42ft
Wreck of Joe Young
90' long tug-boat intentionally sunk. visibility is poor due to the fact that is sits at the edge of the harbour's shipping lane.12' to 15' visibility is normal. On days of dead calm weather, the visibility gets up to 40'. There is no growth on the wreck but queen angels are in abundance. Large fish such as tarpon, cobia and grouper live in the hull. Depth: 40ft
Jewel Box at Sandy Island
Parallel lines of sand and reef with small ledges for creatures to hide. Lobsters, barracudas and eels are occasionally spotted. Depth: 25ft
Bluff Cut
Parallel lines of sand and reef with several undercuts. Large amount of soft corals, sea whip and sea fans. Marine life spotted here includes angel fish, stingrays, nurse sharks plus the usual collection of fish. Depth: 50ft
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