Dive Montserrat with Extreme Marine Scuba!  We can collect guests from Antigua and take you over for a day trip or longer. So don't let a closed airport affect you in any way.

Diving and Snorkeling

Montserrat's beauty extends below the surface as well and there are a number of dives sites around the island both for novice as well as for experienced divers. For snorkelers and divers, the coral reefs on Montserrat's coast offer a variety of tropical fish and other exotic undersea life, such as spotted rays, sea turtles and sponges.

Dive-able Areas
The dive-able area reaches from Old Road Bluff in the west to the North West Bluff, around the northern shore line towards Hell's Gate in the northeast corner of the island, and then along the eastern shore towards the border of the Volcanic Maritime Exclusion Zone, more than 20 km (13 miles) of coastline. Montserrat's volcano had an unexpected effect on our coral reefs and the underwater world is healthier than ever. The pyroplastic flows, which flowed into the sea in the south have brought huge rocky boulders into the sea, new substrates for reefs while the ash was quickly removed by tidal currents. Coral, fish, sponges, and all the other creatures had time to recover from the stresses of human activities. Their larvae drifted with the currents and settled in the reefs of the north. As a result, we see our dive spots teeming with more life than ever before.

Dive Sites
Lime Kiln Bay is the southernmost dive site. Shallow ledges stretch from the shore to about 45 feet deep. Adjacent to the sand flat in 45 feet, there are some huge boulders densely covered with sea life and inhabited by a myriad of invertebrates and fish.

The reefs from Runaway Ghaut to Woodlands Bay are particularly rewarding for divers. The shallow coastal reef can be reached from the shore of Woodlands Bay. It has some exciting underwater vistas, including a small cave close to the beach. Here you can stick your head into the cave and admire the colorful walls, the banded coral shrimp, and thousands of copper sweepers.

Off Bunkum Bay is an interesting reef on the shelf slope the depth of which is between 90 to 140 feet. Bunkum Bay proper consists of mostly sandy bottom with some scattered boulders - a good place for snorkelers. North of Bunkum Bay, under the cliffs of Virgin Island is a large reef region consisting of huge boulders and rocky ledges, and extends into the bay adjacent to Soldiers Ghaut. The boulder field under the cliff can be reached from Soldier Ghaut by snorkelers. It is one of the most rewarding snorkeling sites on Montserrat

Carr's Bay in the north of the island, offers several shore dives. Towards the south of the beach one can get into the reef system. There are several huge boulders rising from the sea floor. Colorful sponges and corals cover these boulders. Thousands of reef fish dart around, truly an El dorado for underwater photographers.

The next dive site to the North is the Potato Hill reef. This reef can be reached from the south end of Little Bay. It displays the most stunning array of colors. Before Hurricane Luis struck, wire corals and a deep sea fan grew in the Potato Hill reef in only 20 feet of water. These coral species are found normally in deep water. The wire corals disappeared after the hurricane, the deep sea fan is growing back. A stand of bushy black coral can still be seen in only ten feet of water. A large pillar coral has survived all storms.

The Rendezvous Bay area is one of the best for snorkeling and diving. One highlight of diving at Rendezvous Bluff is the bat cave dive where you are greeted by the chirps of thousands of fruit bats hanging from the ceiling. The northernmost dive region on Montserrat's West coast is the reef system between Rendezvous Beach and the Northwest Bluff. Mostly boulders and ledges between the shore and about 60 feet of water support a rich reef community. At the Northwest Bluff submerged cliffs form a wild background for schools of reef fish . The cliffs drop steeply from the surface to about 60 feet into a sandy bottom. On this dive site you might encounter strong surges, as the growth on the cliffs reflects the harsher conditions.

On the northern and eastern shores of Montserrat are exciting dives too. However, the waves are usually high and dive trips to these sites are rarely possible. A few of these dive sites should be mentioned: Little Redonda is a rock that reaches the surface from a depth of 80 feet. It is a spectacular dive. The Pinnacles on the northeast corner of Montserrat offer fantastic submerged rock formations. In Yellow Hole, south of the Pinnacles, is the wreck of a 19th century steel schooner, which sank in 1886. Hundred of years of battering waves have completely destroyed the ship. Her remnants are scattered over a wide area in 25 feet of water

If your not sure what Montserrat has to offer just look here, or on the Montserrat tourist board page on the "meet the neighbour" tab