Scuba diving holidays in Basseterre, St Kitts

Most people visit the picturesque town of Basseterre to discover more of St Kitts natural beauty and rich colonial heritage. Being the first French capital in the Western Hemisphere and one of the oldest towns in the Eastern Caribbean, it has much to offer holiday makers. It is less well known, however, for its diving opportunities. Unbeknown to most, there are some great diving spots close to the southern shores, so anyone booking a scuba diving holiday in Basseterre, and St Kitts and Nevis in general, will stumble across some unique and relatively untouched sites.

Virgin reefs and un-crowded dive sites have fortunately helped preserve this stunning North Caribbean diving destination, which lies between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea in the Leeward Islands. St Kitts may not be as famous for diving as other Caribbean islands, mainly because it isn't as well publicised as more commercialised dive destinations, but there is still a good range of world-class dive sites here and around its twin Nevis. Deep waters and wild reefs can be found on the Atlantic side whilst shallow, calm, turquoise waters filled with pristine corals lie on the Caribbean side, so scuba operators are in the enviable position of being able to offer a wide variety of trips close to the shore, many of which are easily accessible.

Some of the most popular sites include ship wrecks such as the River Taw Wreck, a 144-foot freighter which was sunk in1985 as a wreck site, and now lies on a flat, sandy bottom close to Basseterre harbour. A huge variety of interesting marine life reside here amongst the many passages and holes, including octopus, lobsters, stingrays and a diverse array of fish. The occasional sea turtle can also be spotted here during the day, but you almost certain to see greenback, hawksbill or leatherback turtles during night dives. This is a good wreck for all diving abilities.

Two of the top dive sites around St. Kitts, which are easily accessible from Basseterre, are Nag's Head and Booby High Shoal. Nag's Head is located just off the southern tip of St Kitts, and features a battered volcanic rock formation, which over time has formed a mini wall that plummets to 75 feet and is adorned with vibrant fire corals and sponges. Schools of parrot fish can be seen here, as well as eagle rays, black sea urchins and other marine life, making it a memorable dive either night or day. Booby High Shoal lies close to Booby Island, hence the name, between St Kitts and Nevis in the ‘Narrows' channel. This almost circular shaped reef is inhabited by a myriad of marine life. French grunts, lobsters, horse-eyed jacks, stingrays, hawksbill turtles and nursing sharks are just some of the sea creatures you are likely to spot here.

Whatever your diving requirements, dive centres in Basseterre can provide professional instructors to accommodate you and introduce you to the best sites in the area, making your trip a safe and memorable one.