Diving in St. Kitts
Drop into the water at most any point along the coasts of St. Kitts or Nevis and you will likely find coral growing on volcanic slopes that range from gentle slopes to steep drops. There are more than 60 square miles of fringing and deep reefs surrounding the islands, and thanks to historically light diver traffic, there are many areas that are rarely visited or even unexplored. That said most diving activity remains focused along their west coasts, and especially the area to the southwest, near St. Kitts' capital of Basseterre. Here, more than two-dozen sites within an easy boat ride of dive shops provide a diverse range of underwater topographies, along with a number of modern shipwrecks. A favorite wreck is the MV River Taw, a 144-foot freighter that sank in a depth of 50 feet less than a mile from shore. Now broken open, the superstructure is heavily encrusted in coral, and the wreck is a favorite with fish watchers and photographers. Sea turtles, angelfish and queen triggerfish make lazy passes around the upper decks, while the sands near the keep hide squirelfish, purplemouth morays, flying gurnards and—for the keen-eyed observer, a population of seahorses. The shadowed recesses of the bow hold three species of black corals usually seen only in deeper water. Both of these ships are considered excellent night dives. Not far away, the Talata is another island freighter that sank in 1985 while at anchor. Its battered profile rises from 65 feet to 35 feet, attracting schools of glass-eyed snappers and blackbar soldierfish. Near the vessel's keel, divers can find thermal vents that radiate heated water from deep underground. A third wreck in this area, the Corinthian, is fully intact 60-foot tugboat resting at a depth of 65 feet on a sandy bottom. After exploring the wreck, and taking in the colonies of garden eels in the surrounding sands, divers can extend their bottom time by moving to an adjacent reef that rises to 35 feet. Several smaller wrecks sit in even shallower water, including a tugboat at a depth of 20 feet that both divers and snorkelers can enjoy. Reef dives are 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. In addition to the southern sites, dive operators will sometimes visit reef systems on the island's westernmost coast, which is known for having excellent water clarity. Two favorite areas are Paradise Reef and Sandy Point. Both offer dense growths of brain and star coral, with slopes and walls that drop well past 100 feet, and include volcanic formations such as clefts and ridges that add interest to the terrain. Another area often visited is the broad seamount known as Monkey Shoals, which sits several miles west of the island. This structure rises to within 45 feet of the surface, and supports dense growths of both hard and soft corals. More challenging dive sites are located along the channel that separates St. Kitts and Nevis. At Nags Head and Booby High Shoals, currents bring larger fish and the best chance of seeing sharks. The island of Nevis offers a number of reefs that are similar in nature to those of St. Kitts, along with two unique sites: the Devil's Cave and the historic remains of the HMS Solebay, a 28-gun frigate that sank during battle in 1782.