myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

We are a party of six - 4 from Phoenix Arizona and 2 from the UK. Three very experienced divers, one novice diver and two who don't dive but who want to be able to snorkel off the beach of the hotel they stay in - i.e. don't want to have to take a boat or truck to go snorkelling. The question is : Do we stay in Speyside, if so, where? or do we stay around Crown Point and if so where? The Americans like a swimming pool + all inclusive (but not top top dollar) and the Brits just want to get out of the rain!! Also, any suggestions as to dive operation?? This knotty problem has been bugging us for some time - so all views/suggestions will be most welcome!

Hi Liz,
Welcome to My Tobago.

That's a tall order. For the diving, go to Speyside. Most the diving is within a 15 minute boat ride and there are sites that are suitable for both experienced and novice divers. The beach snorkelling is OK and given the short boat rides getting out on the shallower offshore reefs for really good snorkelling should not cause too much of a problem.

Hotels cause a bit of an issue all of the larger AI hotels with pools are down the other end of the island and while is only about 30 miles long the roads are poor and the drive takes about 1 1/2 hours, while they do go up to Speyside to dive, spending 3 hours in a mini bus every day is not my idea of holiday.

The hotels are a bit more rustic at Speyside, I'd suggest the Bluewaters Inn is worth a look at they do full board, but eating out in Speyside in not a problem as its only a 10 minute walk away, it’s set in is own bay and having a jetty is a real bonus, only down side I can see is no pool. As a bit of a plus BWI has a couple bungalows in the grounds and for a group the size of yours they would be perfect.

Aquamarine Diving at the BWI is about as good as you will get in Tobago reasonable dive shop, good rental kit, and 2 nice size dive boats. When I was there last November they really did try hard to get us some good dives, small groups, good guides and matched to the experience of the divers.

One of the groups of divers when we were there were very experienced Americans too, they had dived all over the world and they seemed very happy with both the hotel and the diving.


I know Steve who runs this site is setting up a diving section so it’s a case of watch this space for more info.

If you need any more info just ask.

Regards
Kevin

Hi Liz

Welcome aboard!

You've got an interesting problem there and I regret to tell you that there's no ideal solution. Sadly, somebody is going to have to make sacrifices.

Kevin has largely answered the question, of course. Speyside offers the best medium/advanced diving. However, your choice of accommodation is limited.

The Blue Waters Inn is great. See the 'Reviews' menu for more information. You've got a decent dive shop on the premises and you can snorkel right from the beach. However, there is NO swimming pool - but why would anybody want one when you're on such a lovely little beach? Neither does the Blue Waters do an Inclusive package.

The BWI is undoubtedly the nearest thing to a hotel anywhere north of Scarborough, so if this isn't up to spec for your Americans, then I'm afraid you have little choice.

If you're looking for All Inclusive with swimming pools, then you need to look at the major hotels. If you don't want 'top dollar', then consider the Grafton or Rex Turtle Beach. The only smaller place that I can think of that I think offers AI and certainly has a pool, is the Inn On The Bay. All of these are within easy reach of some of the best dive operators on the island.

Please don't hesitate to come back if you need any further information. As Kevin says, we shall be introducing a full dive section in due course. We've got 22,000 words of information down so far, but now have the long process of validation and proof-reading by our diving experts. It will probably be at least a couple of months before it's published but in the meantime, we can obviously answer any specific questions.

Many thanks for your replies Kevin and Steve. I hope the Americans can overcome the lack of pool at Blue Waters because the place sounds great and, although it's obviously better to go to good snorkelling by boat, presumably you can see something from the shore! As you've probably guessed I'm an intermittent lazy snorkeller!!

Manta Lodge appears to have a pool, but the beach is "over the road" - any comments on Manta Lodge v. Blue Waters???

Looking forward to the dive "site" being up and running - no doubt the three experienced divers will have comments after our visit . . . . .

Incidentally, Steve, the My Tobago site is absolutely great! Many thanks for your efforts.

Liz W

Hi Liz

Yes, the beach (although a rather scrappy section with no facilities) is literally "across the road" from the Manta Lodge. However, I have to tell you that I've never heard a positive report about this establishment. You may also care to search this forum for comments on their associated dive operator, Tobago Dive Experience.