Scuba diving + wedding in Tobago

[Kristin]

Hi there!

First of all, thanks for a great web site and forum. Extremely helpful in planning our trip!

My partner and I have just booked our first trip to Tobago in the end of April/start of May this year. We are planning one week of scuba diving based in Speyside, followed by a week in Castara where we will get married on the beach

Sooo... a few questions relating to our holiday. First of all, what sort of weather can we expect to have this time of year? Also, what are the diving conditions like (visibility, water temperature, seas in general)? One of the deciding factors on the timing was the chance of seing Mantas and Hammerheads, so crossing every body part we can for that to happen... To the divers on here; what are your favourite dive sites in Tobago? Is the diving very different between the north/south end of the island? We have booked a 10-dive package with an operator in Speyside, but are open to doing some extra dives and possible travelling to the south end to get to them if it's worth it.

As we are already planning quite a lot of diving in the first week, we don't want to pack too many activities into the 2nd as this is meant to be a relaxing holiday. Still, are there any 'must-see's (or do's)' that we should try to fit in?


Thank you!

Kristin

[Paul Makin]

now is probably about the best time of year for diving, vis tending to peak before the wet season in S America and the resulting particulate flow north. april/may a little less sure in respect of conditions as you will get rain days and some cloud cover.

however, the water around speyside tends to be more clear anytime of year and the reefs are in better condition - you have more than enough superb sites to keep you busy for a week without making the trip to the South. the only real reason to head south would be for specific sites but check with operators down there before travelling - itineraries can change. Notable sites worth travelling for would be Divers Dream and Thirst and also Mv Maverick.

IMHO, theres not much else in the south that Speyside doesnt have in abundance.

marine life is a movable feast - i dived speyside once or twice a week for over 3 years and saw few of what you mention. then got the biggest manta i've ever met in the shallows off the end of Mt Irvine Wall - go figure. Never seen hammerheads at speyside but often at Sister's. You can usually rely on Cathedral for some spectactular tarpon though,

water temp is consistently around the 24 degree mark. surface conditions are almost always a little choppy especially with the trades still blowing but your journey from shore to the sites is short.

paul

[Kristin]

I think we'll definitely aim for a trip to Sisters. Are there any dive operators located closer to the sites, or is it going to be a long boat ride from Speyside? Not as convinced by the drift dives down south as I tend to get sea sick under water in strong currents... From what you've said, I don't know if we'll worry about diving the south end at all. Unless my fiance gets rust withdrawels that is.

Thank you!

Kristin

[Paul Makin]

ah, you need to check your sites and conditions carefully in speyside then - there are a number of sites which have good drifts, imho more than in the south. kamikaze cut/african express/the start of bookends spring to mind. be careful at the end of cathedral - you can get surge as you round the walls and you may also find yourself a little deeper than youd want to be at the end of the dive. when youve done the brain coral (and you will!) your guide may head off to the left of the reef and pick up a nice drift crossing the plateau there as well. angel reef can be absolutely stunning but make sure youre up on top of the reef after about 40 mins (its at about 6 metres so you can while away a good 15 mins looking at the little stuff, gorgeous on a sunny day) as going too far can see you heading for the washing machine which isnt too much fun. japanese garden can also pick up a little current, sometimes you can see it on the surface - like a river in the sea, weird!

sisters is a worthwhile trip from either end of the island - im pretty sure you'll be able to drop onto an excursion from one of the speyside operators. theres various ways to organise it and your operator will do all they can to get you on a day excursion over there. there'll be additional price because its a bit of a hike from anywhere really so its going to involve additional fuel etc. again, and specifically thinking of your sea-sickness, be ready for swell at the end of the dive if you surface over your site. head out to the blue for your safety stop, makes it easier for the boat to avoid being pushed onto the rocks as it picks you up and reduces your buffeting

oh - and ive just been told that mantas are reappearing quite regularly so good luck with them.


paul

[Kristin]

Thanks Paul! I'll make sure I bring plenty of sea sickness tablets That's great news on the Mantas, we're keeping fingers crossed!