Discover St. Kitts Special

Available exclusively through Caradonna Adventures and booked with additional airfare on United Airlines through Newark, New Jersey.

The island of St. Kitts has all the ingredients of a prime dive destination, including calm, clear water; colorful reefs; shipwrecks and unique marine life. The only thing missing are the crowds. In years past, relatively few travelers knew about this quiet Caribbean island. That's changing, thanks to lower-cost direct flights from North America. To take advantage of these fares, Caradonna has created an attractive one-week promotional package with Dive St. Kitts and the Bird Rock Beach Hotel to introduce divers to the natural attractions of the island, both above and below the surface.

St. Kitts is a volcanic island, with an underwater landscape of coral-encrusted slopes, walls, ledges, caverns and pinnacles. Close to shore, bays lined with volcanic sands hold a collection of shallow shipwrecks and unique marine life. Most diving takes place along the island's western shore, which is sheltered from prevailing wind and waves. More than two dozen of the most popular sites are located within a few miles of the town of Basseterre and the island's premier dive centers. Underwater clarity is typically in the 80-foot range, and water temperatures range from the high 70s in winter to the lower 80s in summer.

St. Kitts' favorite wreck dive is the MV River Taw, a 144-foot freighter that sank at a depth of 50 feet less than a mile from shore. This coral-encrusted hulk is a favorite with fish watchers and photographers. Sea turtles, angelfish and queen triggerfish patrol the upper decks, while the surrounding sands hide squirrelfish, purple mouth morays, flying gurnards and—for the keen-eyed observer—a population of seahorses. Not far away, the Talata is another island freighter that sank while at anchor. Its battered profile rises from 65 feet to 35 feet, attracting schools of glass-eyed snappers and black bar soldier fish. Near the vessel's keel, divers can find thermal vents that radiate heated water from deep underground. Several smaller wrecks in the area include a tugboat at a depth of 20 feet that both divers and snorkelers can enjoy.

Reef dives are typically conducted at depths from 35 feet to beyond 100, and the mid-level to deeper reefs typically hold the most coral cover and fish life. Sites such as Ponds Bar and Coconut Tree offer both shallow reefs and walls that attract hawksbill turtles and large barracuda. The Green Point area is often washed by mild currents that allow for easy drift dives. One dive that's not to be missed is the Brimstone Shallows, where a cleft in the reef wall leads down through a narrow canyon to a natural amphitheater at a depth of 110 feet. Another area visited when seas are calm is the broad seamount known as Monkey Shoals, which sits several miles offshore. This structure rises to within 45 feet of the surface and supports dense growths of both hard and soft corals and crevices that hold rarities such as flying gurnards and large scorpion fish.

The island's favorite shore dive is Bird Rock Reef, which lies less than 100 yards from shore. Here, a maze of crevices and crannies create hiding places for octopus, spotted moray eels and lobster. Eagle rays and turtles are often seen passing by, and a closer look may also reveal a population of seahorses.

The Bird Rock Beach Hotel perches on a low oceanfront bluff a short distance south of the town of Basseterre. Guest rooms offer ocean views and are adjacent to a waterfront pool deck. Just steps away are a small beach and a swimming lagoon that opens to the resort's house reef. On-site amenities include two water-view restaurants and a beach bar and grill. What makes this property especially attractive to divers and snorkelers is the presence of Dive St. Kitts, which maintains a full-service dive center on site, and a 32-foot custom dive boat at the dock. This fast launch can accommodate 18 divers under a covered awning and is equipped with a full complement of safety equipment, including emergency oxygen. The dive center offers daily two-tank dives, dedicated snorkel excursions and night dives.

St. Kitts and the sister island of Nevis lie in the northeastern corner of the Caribbean. Unlike nearby islands like St. Martin, and Anguilla, where dozens of high-end resorts line the beaches, St. Kitts long remained an island of fishermen and farmers. A handful of new developments have sprung up in recent years, but most of the island is cloaked in green, and all of the central forests and mountains lie within a protected forest reserve.

With forests and green spaces covering much of the island, St. Kitts is an ideal island for outdoor activities. The Central Forest reserve offers miles of hiking trails, including a climb to the top of Mt Liamuiga, a 3800-foot volcanic peak that hides a jungle-clad crater within. Other prime outdoor activities include offroad tours by jeep or ATV and one of the Caribbean's premier zip line courses. History buffs will want to save time for the sprawling ruins of the fortress at Brimstone Hill, which has been called the Gibraltar of the Caribbean.

Caradonna has negotiated special rates with the Bird Rock Beach Hotel and Dive St. Kitts and paired them with direct flights aboard United Airlines from Newark International Airport. Travel must take place between February 20, 2017, and June 3, 2017, and be booked by May 20, 2017 to be eligible for a $300 per person resort airfare credit, bringing  the price of a seven-night stay down to  $429 per person, including ten boat dives and all hotel taxes and transfers. Airfare from departure gateway is additional.

Call 1.866.794.1774 to save $300 on your next stay at Bird Rock Beach Hotel!

Package price includes $300 per person airfare credit and is based on double occupancy. Price does not include airfare, but the purchase of airfare on United Airlines from or via Newark is required to qualify for the credit. Package includes hotel tax and service charges unless otherwise noted. Package is subject to availability, standard terms and conditions. Blackout dates holiday surcharges and other restrictions may apply. Contact your local dive shop or call Caradonna Dive Adventures at 1.866.794.1774to book your dive vacation. CSOT #2111993-40 • WSOT #603254369 • FSOT #38781

While reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this email, Caradonna Dive Adventures does not assume responsibility for any errors or omissions.