Vacations are about getting away from the everyday, and that's exactly what you'll get at True Blue Bay. What makes this place different? For starters, it's set on the island of Grenada, which is a destination that's free of high-rise mega resorts and big on old-school Caribbean charm. To quote from our own website:
Grenada is how you imagine the Caribbean should be. Cannons line the ramparts of a Colonia-era fortress, island trading sloops tie to stone wharfs in a colorful harbor, waterfalls drop from green-clad volcanic heights, palm-fringed beaches overlook colorful reefs, and vendors hawk spices and fresh fruits at a colorful market square in a town of red-roofed colonial homes.
And this family-owned and operated boutique resort is right in the middle of it all, perched on the shores of its namesake bay and convenient to everything. True Blue Bay is close to the airport, close to the island's favorite beaches, an easy jaunt into the historic downtown and — most important for divers — home to the island's premier dive operator.
The Resort
True Blue Bay is made up of 70 colorful rooms, suites and villas set along the waterfront and up a hillside garden. The vibe is “Caribbean-cheerful,” with a color scheme that includes vivid oranges, neon green, and, and deep blues. Every category of accommodation includes kitchenette or kitchen facilities, and all feature rich teak furniture and private balconies, along with the expected modern conveniences. Upper-end options include split-level Waterfront Suites and the extra-large Tower Suites, which have their own lookout tower. Families and groups have more options in two-bedroom villas with large living rooms and private plunge pools.
And speaking of pools, the resort has four, including a large infinity-edge waterfront pool, a dedicated lap pool and a family-friendly pool. Younger guests will enjoy the waterslide and floating trampoline, while adults have complimentary use of kayaks, paddle boards and sailing catamarans. The on-site Blue Haven Spa offers treatments based on local, organic herbs. Wellness seekers will also appreciate the Sankalpa Studio, which is an open-air yoga space designed to embrace the island's natural breezes.
True Blue Bay's Dodgy Dock Restaurant & Bar serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Nightly themed menus feature local Grenadian favorites, street food samplings. Rum tastings, Mexican nights, chocolate tastings and Caribbean-style BBQ. Guests can also nosh and relax at the poolside Rum Shop and enjoy treats at the House of Chocolate Bakery with items made from Grenada's artisanal chocolate, local fruits and spices.
True Blue Bay is committed to sustainable practices such as recycling, solar energy, bio-gas generation and organic gardening and composting. The resort's electric shuttle buses are recharged by photovoltaics, and accommodations are designed and operated with climate-smart solutions in mind. These and other initiatives have earned the resort recognition as a Green Globe Gold Member.
The Diving
True Blue Bay Resort is one of the best places in Grenada to relax or use as a starting point for land activities. But the real attraction for divers is the on-site presence of Aquanauts Grenada. Named as Grenada's #1 dive operator, Aquanauts is a full-service facility with PADI, SSI and SDI/TDI accreditation, and a staff with more than 100 years of combined experience.
The Aquanauts crew provides concierge-style gear handling, taking care of all details of setup, transfers, post-dive cleaning and storage. Dive trips are organized with a 4:1 ratio of guests to dive masters to ensure personal service and create smaller groups of like-minded divers. The staff works with divers of all interests and abilities. This includes instruction and support for technical diving practices such as extend range decompression diving, side mount configurations, DPV use and CCR diving.
Aquanauts operates a fleet of four flybridge dive boats ranging from 32 to 36 feet in length. All boats have freshwater showers, toilets, onboard oxygen, a camera table, a camera rinse tank, and a wide dive platform. A range of ScubaPro rental gear is available, and the shop can also provide technical diving and CCR equipment. Private charters can be arranged for technical and CCR dive groups.
Boats make daily trips to a variety of reef and wall sites, as well as more than 20 wrecks, including the island's signature wreck, the Bianca C. Known as “The Titanic of the Caribbean,” this 600-foot luxury cruise ship is the region's largest wreck. Daily dive schedules are made based on guest preferences, and crews can make also do multiple drops in an area to ensure all divers have their preferred underwater experience.
Aquanauts is actively involved in marine conservation. The shop promotes regular reef cleanups and offers a unique lionfish hunting and handling course. This program teaches you the fundamentals of safely harvesting and dressing your catch to create a tasty meal of lionfish tacos or fish and chips.