Snorkeling Destinations?
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Anessa M
Snorkeling Destinations?
My husband and I will be visiting tobago in July, and although its not our first visit, we've never had a chance to go snorkeling (except for the Bucco Reef) We wanted to explore some other areas; I've heard that Speyside is good. Can anyone give me some advice on this and recommend some other places? Thanks!
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Lisa Keith
- Tobago Business
- Posts: 275
- Joined: Sat Mar 11, 2006 8:41 pm
- Location: Baldock, Herts
- Contact:
Hi Anessa,
Englishmans' Bay, Arnos Vale, and Castara are probably the easiest to reach (ie walk in off the beach!), but as you say, Speyside has a few too. There's a good snorkelling place in front of Goat Island and there's also a patch in front of Little Tobago. The local dive operators would be able to point you in the right direction!
Have fun, and don't forget a tee-shirt to reduce the chance of sun-burn!
Lisa.
Englishmans' Bay, Arnos Vale, and Castara are probably the easiest to reach (ie walk in off the beach!), but as you say, Speyside has a few too. There's a good snorkelling place in front of Goat Island and there's also a patch in front of Little Tobago. The local dive operators would be able to point you in the right direction!
Have fun, and don't forget a tee-shirt to reduce the chance of sun-burn!
Lisa.
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Steve Pitts
- Tobago Anorak
- Posts: 710
- Joined: Mon Apr 28, 2003 11:18 am
- Location: Bristol U.K
Hi Anessa
There is a comprehensive list of snorkel sites on myTobago here -
http://www.mytobago.info/snorkelling03.php
Hope this helps
Steve
There is a comprehensive list of snorkel sites on myTobago here -
http://www.mytobago.info/snorkelling03.php
Hope this helps
Steve
Take only photos - leave only footprints. I like that concept.
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Lina Mallon
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Shelly D
Snorkeling Destinations
Hi Anessa,
My sweetie and I took a tour on Frank’s Glass Bottom Boats that included a nature walk on the island of Little Tobago (terrific) and some snorkeling. Frank’s offers different tour options – some include only snorkeling.
Unfortunately for me, the Atlantic current around Speyside was very strong. I wasn’t prepared for that since the water was very calm to look at. No one mentioned the current and it didn’t occur to me to ask. My only prior experience snorkeling had been on the Big Island in Hawaii and that was completely calm and idyllic, so I jumped in the water and started swimming with the guide. It soon became clear that I wasn’t strong enough to get myself all the way to the reef (and back) and I headed back towards the boat in a panic. I was very grateful that the guide caught up with me and guided me back to the boat! Upon reflection, I realize I should have asked more questions and definitely should have worn a life vest (they stock them on board).
The Carribean side is much calmer. We stayed in Castara, where there is a reef just off the smaller of the two beaches (called “Little Bay” or “Heavenly Bay”, reachable by driving down the steep Depot Road). There is a bit of an undertow to watch out for, but the water is generally much easier to navigate. Next time I will definitely check out the nylon pools and other gentler areas on the Carribean side.
Speyside may work out great for you. I was just caught off guard by the current and thought it was worth mentioning.
My sweetie and I took a tour on Frank’s Glass Bottom Boats that included a nature walk on the island of Little Tobago (terrific) and some snorkeling. Frank’s offers different tour options – some include only snorkeling.
Unfortunately for me, the Atlantic current around Speyside was very strong. I wasn’t prepared for that since the water was very calm to look at. No one mentioned the current and it didn’t occur to me to ask. My only prior experience snorkeling had been on the Big Island in Hawaii and that was completely calm and idyllic, so I jumped in the water and started swimming with the guide. It soon became clear that I wasn’t strong enough to get myself all the way to the reef (and back) and I headed back towards the boat in a panic. I was very grateful that the guide caught up with me and guided me back to the boat! Upon reflection, I realize I should have asked more questions and definitely should have worn a life vest (they stock them on board).
The Carribean side is much calmer. We stayed in Castara, where there is a reef just off the smaller of the two beaches (called “Little Bay” or “Heavenly Bay”, reachable by driving down the steep Depot Road). There is a bit of an undertow to watch out for, but the water is generally much easier to navigate. Next time I will definitely check out the nylon pools and other gentler areas on the Carribean side.
Speyside may work out great for you. I was just caught off guard by the current and thought it was worth mentioning.
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Joanne Green
- Oh, so Sad!
- Posts: 212
- Joined: Fri Jun 18, 2004 4:42 pm
- Location: Ohio, USA
We just returned from Castara & found that the reef at Little Bay (Heavenly Bay) is really one of the best on the island. The bay is fairly protected & the reef is about 100ft. out on the right side of the bay. there's a great variety of coral, sponges, fans & "critters". We saw probably 30+ types of fish & not all of them were juveniles! Every time we thought we had seen all the types of fish, we'd see another new one! the reef is a shallow one, so if the seas are rough, visability may be linited by the churned up sand, but that's the case on all of the caribbean side.
The snorkelling in front of Little Tobago also offers a great variety of fish & lots of sponges. Frank's Glass Bottom Boats will give you a drift snorkle (the boat follows you & you don't have to swim against the current to get back to the boat) instead of the hike on Little Tobago. Frankly, by the time you hike the island, it's so late that the birds are hardly seen, so the snorkle is a great option. Then everyone goes to another reef (the name escapes me) to snorkle. Frankly, that reef is pretty dead!
There's 2 glass bottom boats operating out of the property at the Blue Waters Inn in speyside. The other, Top Ranking, doesn't offer the drift snorkling option. The cost is US$25 per person & lasts 2 hrs. Boat leaves at 10:30 & 2, but be there 1/2hr. before that.
The snorkelling in front of Little Tobago also offers a great variety of fish & lots of sponges. Frank's Glass Bottom Boats will give you a drift snorkle (the boat follows you & you don't have to swim against the current to get back to the boat) instead of the hike on Little Tobago. Frankly, by the time you hike the island, it's so late that the birds are hardly seen, so the snorkle is a great option. Then everyone goes to another reef (the name escapes me) to snorkle. Frankly, that reef is pretty dead!
There's 2 glass bottom boats operating out of the property at the Blue Waters Inn in speyside. The other, Top Ranking, doesn't offer the drift snorkling option. The cost is US$25 per person & lasts 2 hrs. Boat leaves at 10:30 & 2, but be there 1/2hr. before that.
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Marc Jones
Really enjoyed the snorkelling with Frank on Angel Reef - will warn people the Little Tobago walk was hot, hard and hairy! I was a bit concerned on more than one occasion with the sloping terrain!
The snorkelling however - with the very helpful and friendly crew - was great for me and my (at the time) 8 year old son who couldn't swim before getting a start with a rubber ring tied to the boat and some clam and considerate help from scratcher (I think I am remembering his name correctly!).
The snorkelling however - with the very helpful and friendly crew - was great for me and my (at the time) 8 year old son who couldn't swim before getting a start with a rubber ring tied to the boat and some clam and considerate help from scratcher (I think I am remembering his name correctly!).