Tobago Dive Site Map

While Tobago is not known for its visibility, there is plenty of marine life to see and constant currents to drift in. The island's coasts are divided into five main areas: Columbus Passage, The North Coast, Man O' War, the St. Giles Islands, and Speyside.
1. South St. Guiles - Many boulders and multitudes of coral domes earmark this drift dive. A sloping reef leads to smaller coral formations and patches of boulders. Jack crevalle, snappers, flounder and stingrays are abundant. 2. Black Rock - For advanced divers only. This site located north of Little Tobago Island has an easy slope on one side and a steeper slope on the other. Several different species of blennies populate the rocks and encrusted corals. 3. Bateaux Bay/Japanese Gardens/Flying Manta - These sites are located in the Speyside area on the northeast coast. Bateaux Bay starts at the shoreline and extends to the nearby Weather Rocks. Conflicting currents create a playground for mantas, barracuda, and tarpon as well as advanced divers, which have plenty of sponges to swim over in the nutrient-rich waters. Japanese Gardens is a gentle drift dive along sloping reef covered with hard and soft corals, which cuts through a steep fringing reef populated by small corals and sponges, sea fans and sea plumes, and several species of damselfish. Flying Manta starts at the western shore of Little Tobago Island, and offers one of the best chances to swim with manta rays. Angelfish, butterfly fish, and parrotfish hang out in the shallows. 4. Bookends - This Speyside site consists of two rocks with a cut through the middle that causes them to resemble bookends. A dive for intermediates with a strong current that flows into a reef wall extending to the north side of Little Tobago Island. Schools of creole wrasse and blue chromis draw large tarpon to the area. 5. Flying Reef - Located in the Columbus Passage (one of the top drift-diving locations in the Caribbean), this site has a strong current that flows in a westerly direction. Expect to fly by sea fans and plumes as parrotfish, blue chromis and creole wrasse go with the flow. 6. Mount Irvine Wall - This shallow wall starts at slopes from 25 feet to 60 feet. Clear waters provide great vis for checking out scorpionfish, sea horses and flying gurnards. Remnants of a Dutch East India ship lie to the north on Mount Irvine Reef, and a sunken ferry sits on the bottom to the northeast and is chock full of thriving marine life. 7. Arnos Vale - Large coral and sponge encrusted lie in 40ft water at this easily accessible site. Currents are light and the close proximity to the shore allows for night dives where luminescent colors earmark encrusted corals. Many species breed here; so expect to see barracuda, triggerfish and jacks as well as schools of squid. 8. Sisters - An exceptional dive that consists of a cluster of rock pinnacles which breaks the surface and drops to a depth of 140 feet. This large area is the stomping ground for pelagics and barracuda sharks, but lobsters and moray eels as well as plenty of tropical fish can also be found. 9. Man O' War Bay - This is actually four dive sites that line the bay: Long Rock, Pirate's Reef, Booby Island and Cardinal Rock. Gobies and blennies attract larger predators on the north end, clear vis provides good photography possibilities at Booby Island in the inner section of the bay, and the west shore drives deeper for a chance to see large pelagics such as eagle rays and barracudas. 10. London Bridge - Located west of the St. Giles Islands, this towering volcanic spire consists of a huge natural arch that towers above the water. Black corals and gorgonians cover the walls of the formation. Jacks, barracuda, wahoo and tuna are dominant species, but large sea turtles, sharks and manta rays also make appearance. Bring a dive light for this dive, as the majestic formation creates shadowy underwater passages. For more information about Tobago, click on the home page below.