Grenada

You can dive Grenada all year, but January to April usually gives the most reliable combination of calm seas, lower rainfall, and clear water. During this drier season, visibility on west coast reefs and wrecks often reaches 20 m to 30 m, and water sits close to 27°C. From June to November, the island is greener and less crowded, but short squalls and river outflow can reduce visibility, especially in late summer and early autumn. If you want both good viz and reasonable prices, late February through May is a strong window.

Think of Grenada as the wreck and sculpture hub, and Carriacou as the laid back reef extension. If you want famous sites like the Bianca C and the underwater sculpture park, easy access to restaurants, and short airport transfers, base primarily on Grenada near Grand Anse or St. George's. If your priority is quiet reefs, shallower multi dive days, and village ambience, spend at least a few nights on Carriacou. Many travelers split a week into four or five nights on Grenada and two or three on Carriacou to sample both.

The underwater sculpture park sits inside the Moliniere Marine Protected Area on Grenada's west coast. Most visitors join a guided trip with a dive or snorkel operator based around Grand Anse or St. George's, which includes boat transport, guides, and gear. There is a per person MPA entry fee plus daily user fees for scuba, snorkel, and other marine activities. In practice your operator will either include these charges in the trip price or collect them separately.

The Bianca C is a large cruise ship lying in deep water, with the deck around 30 m and the seabed significantly deeper. Because of this profile, most operators require at least Advanced Open Water or equivalent, solid buoyancy, and recent deep dive experience. Nitrox is strongly recommended to give more no deco time on the upper structure. If you are newly certified, use a trip to Grenada to build experience on shallower reefs and wrecks like Veronica L before attempting the Bianca C.

Yes. The sculpture park was sited in relatively shallow, sheltered water so that non divers could enjoy it. Most statues sit in roughly 5 m to 8 m, and guided trips provide flotation vests, briefings, and boat support. You should still be comfortable swimming with fins and a mask and listening closely to instructions about staying away from the reef and statues. Non swimmers can usually remain on the boat and watch from the surface.

Licensed taxis are widely available at the airport, in St. George's, and along the main resort strip, and your accommodation or dive shop can usually arrange set price transfers. Colorful minibuses run between towns on Grenada for very low fares, making them a fun way to reach markets or beaches during the day if you travel light. On Carriacou, walking and taxis cover most needs, and local buses link Hillsborough with outlying communities. To travel between islands, choose either the fast ferry or short SVG Air flights and build in buffer time around international connections.

Entry rules vary by nationality, but many travelers from North America, the UK, the EU, and several Commonwealth countries can visit Grenada visa free for short stays. You will need a passport valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date, proof of onward or return travel, and in some cases proof of sufficient funds. Visitors arriving from countries with yellow fever transmission may be asked to show a valid vaccination certificate. Because visa policies change, always check with the Grenada consulate or an official government travel advisory service before booking flights.

Grenada has access to a hyperbaric chamber in St. George's that is used for diving emergencies and other medical indications. In the event of suspected decompression sickness or serious dive related illness, inform your dive operator immediately, call local emergency services, and contact Divers Alert Network if you hold a policy with them. Keep your dive insurance details and a log of recent dives ready to hand over to medical staff so they can assess your exposure and treatment needs.

Leatherback turtle nesting on Levera Beach in northern Grenada typically runs from around April to July, with peak months in April, May, and June. During this period, night access to the main nesting beach is controlled, and visitors must join a guided tour that uses red light and follows strict protocols. This is a land based wildlife experience rather than an in water activity, so plan it as an evening excursion on a no dive or light dive day and book early, as group sizes are limited.

With water temperatures usually between 27°C and 29°C, most divers are comfortable in a 3mm full suit or a thinner suit plus rashguard, especially on multi dive days or deeper wrecks. Bringing your own mask, computer, SMB, and perhaps regulators improves comfort and familiarity, while renting BCDs and tanks locally keeps baggage weight down. Add a lightweight hooded vest if you get cold easily, and remember essentials like reef safe sunscreen, polarized sunglasses, and a hat for surface intervals.