Dive Sites of Antigua

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DiveCarib is based in the grounds of the National Sailing Academy, which is situated in Falmouth Harbour, English Harbour Town, in the south of Antigua.

We chose this location as our base due to the fact that the vast majority of dive sites in Antigua are a short boat ride from here.

We select dive sites based on the experience level of the divers we have on the trip, combined with how weather conditions affect each site, while taking into account requests for specific dive sites from our guests.

We have beautiful dive sites with amazing diversity of marine life, healthy reefs, with water clarity in excess of 60ft (18m) the majority of the time.

All the dive sites listed are no more than a thirty minute boat ride from our base, with most dive sites within twenty minutes.

We maintain our own permanent moorings at the dive sites. Currently we have half of the dive sites moored, and the other half we use as drift dive sites.

Most of our dive sites are suitable for divers of all experience levels, but we do have sites that are more challenging from a depth and exposure point of view, whereby we do require advanced certification and specifically Deep Diver specialty for the wreck of the Montserrat.

We also recommend Enriched Air Nitrox certification for our guests planning to dive our deeper sites, and offer Nitrox training and certification for divers wishing to advance their knowledge and skill set in order to extend the no decompression limit on our deeper dive sites, and/or reduce inert gas loading across the board.

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Depth: 10-30ft (3-9m)

Suitability: Snorkellers, and divers of all levels.

Frequently sighted: Spotted eagle rays (Aetobatus narinari), southern stingrays (Hypanus americanus), spotted spiny lobsters (Panulirus guttatus), sexy shrimp (Thor amboinensis), spinyhead blennies (Acanthemblemaria spinosa), great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), Atlantic blue tang (Acanthurus coeruleus), elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata).

Blacks Point is at the tip of Falmouth Harbour, heading windward. It is only a ten-minute boat ride from our base, making it our closest dive site. The site is permanently moored, with the mooring line secured in 15ft (5m).

Due to the fact the site is just inside the harbour mouth, the headland breaks the waves making calm surface conditions, even when the weather conditions (wave height out of the harbour) are far from ideal. This site is ideal for snorkelling, first time divers, through to experienced certified divers.

The dive site extends about 100ft off shore, and consists of huge, coral-covered boulders. The boulders are a by-product of thousands of years of erosion, as well as cinder blocks fired from the now extinct volcano.

A sensational coral reef has enveloped the boulders, which is home to an abundance of marine life. If you look closely, you can spot some of the beautiful macrofauna; spinyhead blennies inhabit empty tubes in hard coral left by vermetid mollusks and serpulid worms, and in amongst the sun anemones (Stichodactyla helianthus) that cover some of the rocks, you will see sexy shrimp.

Above these large rocks you will spot many parrotfishes and more often than not, a school of Atlantic blue tang, cleaning the rock and keeping algal growth in check.

On the deeper side of the boulders we regularly spot spotted eagle rays gliding passed, as well as southern stingrays hiding in the sandy bottom.

Our usual turning point is close to a short swim-through, which with the right conditions, and the right divers, is easily accessible. This is home to animals that are more often seen at night, like spotted spiny lobsters, and balls of baitfish. It is around this area that Barry the resident great barracuda normally makes an appearance.
Depth: 13-50ft (4-15m)

Frequently sighted: Spotted eagle rays (Aetobatus narinari), green turtles (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata).

Suitability: Snorkellers, and certified divers of all levels.

The Pillars of Hercules is situated just outside English Harbour/Nelson’s Dockyard. We have the dive site permanently moored, about 100ft off shore with the mooring line secured in 30ft.

Due to the dive site’s location, the headland above (Shirley Heights) breaks the waves, making relatively calm surface conditions, even when the forecasted wave height is above average. This site is suitable for certified divers of all levels, as well as snorkellers.

The dramatic pillar-shaped formations on the cliff face, due to erosion, set the scene for a great dive trip. Like Black’s Point, this site is made up of large coral-covered boulders, teeming with life.

Here, especially in the winter months, we often see a number of spotted eagle rays. You will almost definitely see the enormous 17th-century anchor, and if you’re lucky you may see a resident green/hawksbill turtle.
Depth: 35-75ft (11-23m)

Suitability: Certified divers that are accustom to boat diving.

Frequently sighted: Caribbean spiny lobsters (Panulirus argus), nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum), southern stingrays (Hypanus americanus), green moray eel (Gymnothorax funebris), yellowhead jawfish (Opistognathus aurifrons)

Carib House is our closest dive site to base, leeward from Falmouth Harbour, and along with Blacks Point at the windward tip of Falmouth Harbour we consider these to be our house reefs.

We have Carib House permanently moored, with the mooring line secured in 40ft. Water clarity along with our other offshore dive sites is regularly 100ft+.

Although Carib House is a continuation of the same reef as Red Rocks, the seascape is very different, with many more overhangs, sand gulleys, and rubble patches along route. Nurse shark, and green moray eel sightings are very common, and if you concentrate, you will see the many yellowhead jawfish that call the rubble patches home.
Depth: 35-75ft (11-23m)

Suitability: Certified divers that are accustom to boat diving.

Frequently sighted: Caribbean spiny lobsters (Panulirus argus), nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum), southern stingrays (Hypanus americanus), brown garden eels (Heteroconger longissimus), and burrfish.

Red Rocks is to the Leeward side of the island from our base in Falmouth Harbour; it is about a quarter of a mile off shore, and is a fifteen-minute boat ride from our base. We have the site permanently moored; the mooring line is secured in 40ft.

This coral reef is spectacular! It is a dense sloping soft coral reef with huge barrel sponges, tube sponges, sea fans, sea whips, sea rods, sea fingers, sea plumes, and many hard corals in-between. While exploring the deep overhangs and sandy gullies along route, we tend to find giant Caribbean spiny lobsters and nurse sharks.

A gradually sloping reef leads down to a sandy seabed in 70ft, where we frequently see southern stingrays hiding, and brown garden eels bobbing.

There is a fantastic diversity of marine life at this site; we often spot moray eels, barracudas, triggerfish, burrfish, porcupinefish, and turtles.

Water clarity at this site is usually 60ft-100ft.
Depth: 35-70ft (11-21m)

Suitability: Certified divers that are accustom to boat diving.

Frequently sighted: Caribbean spiny lobsters (Panulirus argus), nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum), southern stingrays (Hypanus americanus).

Godzilla’s Lair is towards the Leeward side of the island from Falmouth Harbour; the site is about a quarter of a mile off shore, a fifteen-minute boat ride from our base.

We have the dive site permanently moored, with the mooring line secured in 40ft.

This is a dense sloping soft coral reef with huge barrel sponges. However the site owes its name to the gigantic Caribbean spiny lobster we often find hiding in the barrel sponges, which could be mistaken for Godzilla!

Southern stingrays and nurse sharks are also common sightings.
Depth: 20-60ft (6 – 18m)

Suitability: Certified divers that are accustom to boat diving, and confident to drift dive.

Frequently sighted: Atlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus), Caribbean spiny lobsters (Panulirus argus), spotted lobsters, banded cleaner shrimp, black jacks/trevally.

Tarpon Alley is towards the windward side of the island from Falmouth and English Harbour; about a twenty-minute boat ride from our base. Due to the dive site’s close proximity to land, it’s exposure to the Atlantic , and the unpredictable direction of the current, we always plan a drift dive at this site. The alley itself is an impressive overhanging rock, home to a load of very large tarpon fish! Be sure to explore the crevices of the cliff face, and the large boulders that pepper the site, for all sorts of critters.
Depth: 40-70ft (12-21m)

Suitability: Certified divers that are accustom to boat diving, and confident to drift dive.

Frequently sighted: Caribbean spiny lobsters (Panulirus argus), nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum), southern stingrays (Hypanus americanus), mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis).

Rendezvous Bay is towards the Leeward side of the island from our base, a twenty-minute boat ride.

The dive site is not permanently moored; this is a drift dive site.

The dive site is about half a mile off shore, and slightly more exposed than the next closest dive site in the same direction (Red Rocks).

Rendezvous Bay is a dive site with a beautiful coral reef, with interesting overhangs along route, where we regularly come across large adult nurse sharks, and gigantic Caribbean spiny lobsters. Due to the fact that it is one of the dive sites that we dive least often, we regularly see a ~dozen invasive lionfish when diving here.
Depth: 13 – 75ft (4 – 23m)

Suitability: Certified divers that are accustom to boat diving, and confident to drift dive.

Frequently sighted: Caribbean reef sharks (Carcharhinus perezii), spotted eagle rays (Aetobatus narinari), green turtles (Chelonia mydas).

Nanton Point is towards the windward side of the island from Falmouth and English Harbour; about a twenty-minute boat ride from our base. Due to the dive site’s close proximity to land, it’s exposure to the Atlantic , and the unpredictable direction of the current, we usually plan a drift dive at this site.

The dive site is close to shore, and consists of monstrous boulders, as well as fingers extending several hundred feet away from the cliff face, creating small walls, with a vibrant coral reef and an abundance of life. More often than not, this dive includes Caribbean reef sharks.

If the weather and the group’s dive experience allow you to get here, we’re confident it will be a favourite.
Depth: 20-60ft (6m-18m)

Suitability: Certified divers that are accustom to boat diving, and confident to drift dive.

Frequently sighted: Caribbean reef sharks (Carcharhinus perezii), spotted eagle rays (Aetobatus narinari), nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum), green moray eels (Gymnothorax funebris), Bermuda chub (Kyphosus sectatrix), Atlantic blue tang (Acanthurus coeruleus).

Carpenters Rock is another one of our close to shore sites, in-between Nanton Point and Stoney Cove. Carpenters Rock is a stunning drift dive site, not dived very often due to it being entirely exposed to the Atlantic Ocean, requiring us to have calm weather.

The site itself is made up of large coral-covered boulders. In amongst and underneath these boulders are moray eels, nurse sharks, and invasive lionfish. However, time exploring these boulders is often limited, as you’ll find yourself tracking the several Caribbean reef sharks and spotted eagle rays that circle. There are also usually several large schools of fishes, including Bermuda chub, Atlantic blue tang, and horse-eye jack.

If the weather and the group’s dive experience allow you to get here, we’re confident it will be a favourite.
Depth: 35ft-75ft (11 -23m)

Suitability: Certified divers that are accustom to boat diving.

Frequently sighted: Caribbean spiny lobsters (Panulirus argus), nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum), black jacks/trevally (Caranx lugubris), schoolmasters ( Lutjanus apodus), bait balls.

New Freedom is a short swim from our mooring at Hogfish Hill, which is to the Leeward side of the island from our base in Falmouth Harbour; it is about a quarter of a mile off shore, and is a twenty-minute boat ride from our base. We have the site permanently moored; the mooring line is secured in 40ft.

The History Behind The Wreck

Tony Fincham of Dockyard Divers, and his famous yacht ‘New Freedom’ (watch Tony recite the story himself – first part here)

Tony Fincham, adventurer and photographer, has been diving for over 60 years. He has dived and sailed extensively across the Pacific and the Caribbean.

After leaving England to drive his motorcycle (Francis-Barnett Scrambler) across the globe to Australia (a story in itself), Tony eventually captained inter-island trading ships in the remote Pacific, before deciding that he wanted to design and build an 84ft ferrocement schooner. He travelled back to England, in order to build said yacht, at Benfleet Yacht Club (Canvey Island).

Tony managed to persuade the yacht club to let him build his yacht by offering to build them a road and a slip. The plan was to enter the world famous Whitbread Round The World Race (now named The Ocean Race @theoceanrace ), before heading back to the Pacific to capture some amazing remote dive sites on film. Tony drummed up a huge amount of publicity during the build (1972-1974), as Tony’s ‘New Freedom’ would become Britain’s largest ferrocement yacht, and the largest ocean racing yacht built in Britain since World War ll.

Unfortunately a number of setbacks and accidents meant that they missed the race, and so Tony set off for the Caribbean, in order to offer charters and recoup money for his sponsors.

Tony arrived in Antigua (and Barbuda) in 1974, and immediately offered ‘New Freedom’ as a luxury charter boat. With little competition, the yacht became one of the top charter boats in the region, accommodating the likes of Mick Jagger, Jerry Hall, Charlie Watts; and even Princess Margaret made a brief appearance on board.

While living in Antigua, Tony co-founded the ‘Tall Ships Race’ for 70ft+ yachts, which would go on to become the ‘Classic Yacht Regatta’; winning several prizes with ‘New Freedom’ over the years.

‘New Freedom’ had enjoyed success as a charter boat, but eventually she faced competition from the growing number of super yachts arriving to the Caribbean, and Tony had to adapt in order to survive.

Having previously scuba dived extensively across the Pacific, Tony decided to open a scuba diving centre in the iconic Nelson’s Dockyard: and so ‘Dockyard Divers’ was born in 1988.

Dockyard Divers was part of the local scuba diving scene for more than 30 years, and although the diveshop has now closed its doors, Tony is still an active diver at the age of 86.

Feel free to check out Tony Fincham on YouTube for a taste of his underwater videography, as well as a taste of ‘Fincham’s Follies’; a theatrical/musical event in aid of charity that was once held annually in the harbour, produced and directed by Tony himself.

Unfortunately, Tony’s dive equipment wasn’t the only thing to be taken away from him. The years took their toll on ‘New Freedom’, and in its state of disrepair, and with debts owed locally, the authorities seized the yacht.

With the help of ‘Hood Marine Diving Services’ and others, National Parks stripped, dragged, and sank ‘New Freedom’ on to a close-to-shore reef, with the hope that it can become an artificial reef, and an attraction for scuba divers.

DiveCarib and Tony Fincham have been out to inspect the wreck, and although, like all wrecks, it will have a ‘settling’ period, where loose/light parts fall and settle, we can see that over time the wreck will become one with the reef, and many divers will enjoy the novel sight of this famous 84ft yacht.

It is obvious that ‘New Freedom’ will continue to have a future in the limelight.
Depth: 6-80ft+ (2-25m+)

Suitability: Certified divers that are accustom to boat diving, and confident to drift dive.

Frequently sighted: Caribbean reef sharks (Carcharhinus perezii), ocean triggerfish (Canthidermis sufflamen)

Sunken Rock is a breathtaking dive, the only known wall dive in Antigua, with a vertical drop off on the outside of the rock from 6ft to 80ft.

Sunken Rock is currently our furthest afield dive site from base towards the windward side of the Island, situated close to Indian Creek and Mamora Bay; it takes 30 minutes to arrive at the site. Although there is a mooring here, due to it’s exposed nature, we often plan a drift dive.

The seascape at Sunken Rock is impressive, and the dive experience is often enhanced by the presence of Caribbean reef sharks. Here we sometimes see ocean triggerfish, and we have seen dolphins!
Depth: 40-100ft (12m-30m)

Suitability: Certified divers that are accustom to boat diving, and confident to drift dive.

Frequently sighted: Caribbean reef sharks (Carcharhinus perezii), Atlantic spadefish (Chaetodipterus faber), nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum), green moray eels (Gymnothorax funebris),

Rob’s Reef is an outer fringing bank, about a twenty-minute boat ride, Leeward from Falmouth Harbour. Due to it’s exposed nature, we plan a drift dive at this site.

On the top of this reef is a narrow (~40ft wide) shallow area with a depth of 40-60ft, sloping down to 80ft on the shore side, and dropping down to 100ft+ on the off shore side. The site regularly has 100ft visibility.

At least 3 Caribbean reef sharks frequent this reef, and they often come and check us out, occasionally following us throughout the whole dive. A school of Atlantic spadefish can normally be found, as well as a greater diversity of butterfly fish, compared to other sites.

We often utilize this site for advanced diver training due to its accessibility in almost all weather conditions, and ease to attain depths beyond 60ft.
Depth: 20-60ft (6m-18m)

Suitability: Certified divers that are accustom to boat diving.

Frequently sighted: Caribbean reef sharks (Carcharhinus perezii)

Stoney Cove is the last dive site before crossing through to Sunken Rock. The site is similar in respects of depth and exposure to Carpenters Rock. This dive site is sometimes moored, but we more often than not plan a drift dive here.

Aside from regular Caribbean reef shark sightings, the dramatic cliffs and house-size boulders are magnificent.
Depth: 110ft-130ft (34 -40m)

Suitability: Advanced Open Water Divers, with Deep Diver specialty (certified to dive to 130ft/40m) and Enriched Air Nitrox certifications.

We ask that you complete at least 1 dive trip with DiveCarib on a previous day, prior to making this dive.

Frequently sighted: Spiny spider crabs (Mithrax spinosissimus), Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus), Caribbean reef sharks (Carcharhinus perezii).

The wreck of the Montserrat is a modern day wreck. It was originally designed as a freighter, and operated in Antigua as a tugboat, before being scuttled to encourage an artificial reef.

The wreck sits upright in 130ft towards the Leeward side of the Island from Falmouth Harbour; about half a mile offshore, and a fifteen minute boat ride from our base. We normally plan a drift dive, and begin the dive with a descent on to Rob’s Reef; it takes five minutes to reach the wreck upon reaching the reef.

Seeing the bow of the Montserrat appear from depth is unforgettable, and once you arrive, there is often an opportunity to peer into the galley, bridge, and aft hold.

Water clarity is usually 100ft+. We frequently see large spiny spider crabs and Caribbean spiny lobster in the aft bilge area, as well as Caribbean reef sharks circling the outside of the wreck, making the wreck of the Montserrat an epic dive.
Depth: 40 – 80+ft (12 – 25m+)

Suitability: Advanced Open Water Divers (certified to dive to 100ft/30m)

Frequently sighted: Nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum), green turtles (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), Caribbean spiny lobsters (Panulirus argus), staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis).

Barracuda Reef is located in-between Falmouth and English Harbour, about half a mile off shore. The dive site is not permanently moored; this is a drift dive site, and due to its exposed position, it is rarely dived by us.

Divers are met with a coral garden at the bottom of the mooring line, home to critically endangered staghorn coral. Heading south from this plateau you reach a series of step down ledges. Along this series between 55ft and 80ft are overhangs where it is possible to spot giant spiny lobster, turtles, and nurse sharks.