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Dive Review of Bill Tewes' Dive St. Vincent/Young Island Resort in
St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Bill Tewes' Dive St. Vincent/Young Island Resort: "Ready for unusual critters on unspoiled dives?", Nov, 2019,

by Amy Thorkilsen, NJ, US (Reviewer Reviewer 5 reports with 7 Helpful votes). Report 11354 has 1 Helpful vote.

Photos Submitted with this Report


Click on an image to see an enlarged version and captions

From Sunset Point - Young Island Dwarf Frogfish Bluebar Jawfish Honeycomb Cowfish Dwarf Frogfish
Balloonfish Reef Octopus Feather Dusters Lettuce Slug Slender Filefish
Rough File Clam Highhat

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 5 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments This was our 10th visit in 12 years so that should tell you we love diving in St. Vincent! The dive sites run up the leeward coast so they are always protected on the windier days and each site really has multiple options to offer: if you like looking around in reef structures you can choose to do that, if you like muck style diving in shallow turtle grass or watching jawfish or squid in sandy shallowish areas you can choose to do that...Conditions are generally great - occasionally there might be some current but depends on moon phase/tides. Visibility is also usually great but can be a bit murky if there has been a lot of rain overnight. Still, there is so much to see up close, you won't be disappointed. The Dive St. Vincent team will set up your gear as you wish for every dive - making for relaxing days on the boat. Fruit, fresh ice water, cookies, or candy are offered on intervals. This year's absolute highlight was a Dwarf Frogfish that Don found in the turtle grass on a second dive at @ 30 feet. It is only about an inch in length (see pics) and he has only seen one once before with Les Wilk and Don's been diving over 25 years in St. Vincent. It was really amazing! There are all kinds of eels in addition to the usual spotted morays - chain, golden, purple mouth, viper, stippled spoon nose, gold spotted, sharp tail and more. Decorator crabs for the trained eye and nimble spray crabs peeking out in the sponges...Bullseye Reef Lobsters still hanging out where we saw them last year. Octopus, Queen Angels and Queen Triggers among the usual wonderful subjects. Saw a very large Atlantic Spadefish on one dive which is somewhat unusual for this area. Email the dive op and Jackie Samuels will be happy to help you plan your stay and coordinate your dives and anything you need.

We always stay at the Young Island Resort which is actually a separate small island off the coast of St. Vincent. It is easily reached by a small boat which ferries passengers back and forth and it is also right across the channel from Dive St. Vincent. Divers are picked up at the dock each day at 9am and depending on where you go to dive and how long the dives last, you'll be returned each day between @ 12:45-1:15pm - plenty of time to rinse gear and then enjoy lunch. The resort has individual cottages, some deluxe ones with small plunge pools and a central area overlooking the beach and gardens where meals are served. A very nice pool area, separate beach area with lounge chairs, hammocks and a swim up bar, and even a friendly resident parrot named Misty. FYI, Misty would like you to bring pistachios in the shell...Plantings are lush and meticulously cared for. We can't say enough about the staff at Young Island, many have been there for over 10 or even 25+ years. The manager, Bianca Porter, has also been there for many many years and is a most gracious host. They all welcome us like family, even ask to see our dive pics now, so welcoming and polite and truly make your stay memorable. When is the last time you were hugged goodbye by the waitstaff at your resort? The meals are consistently excellent; always a variety of choices on the menu. After the first day at breakfast, they'll remember how you like to start the day and bring your coffee/tea/juice right out! WiFi is great if you need to stay in touch but no TVs in your room which is the best way to truly unplug. You can stroll down to the tip of the island to Sunset Point which is an excellent way to end the day before cocktails and dinner and the evening tree frog chorus. One tip - choose a cottage with an outdoor shower if you bring your own gear and like to rinse after diving daily - makes it so easy! Forgot to mention there is also a spa for massages, etc.

One other note: we always spend our days diving as much as possible, but St. Vincent is a beautiful island with botanical gardens to visit and hiking trails and waterfalls and other attractions. So far, one cruise ship arrives each week on Fridays, but otherwise you'll have the island to yourself to explore. If you also sail, you can arrange that too.
Websites Bill Tewes' Dive St. Vincent   Young Island Resort

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Great Barrier Reef, Bonaire, Turks and Caicos, Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman, Cozumel, Saba, Curacao, St. Vincent
Closest Airport St. Vincent (Argyle SVD) Getting There We used Air Canada Rouge direct from Toronto to St. Vincent - only on Thursdays. Have to fly Newark to Toronto first. Return we flew St. Vincent to Barbados for JetBlue direct back to Newark. American also offers direct flights from Miami to St. Vincent on Saturdays and I believe they are adding another day during high season so check their site.

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm
Water Temp 82-84°F / 28-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 35-70 Ft/ 11-21 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Once divemasters know your skill level you are on your own to return to the boat with appropriate levels.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? no

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles None Whales None
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 5 stars
Small Critters 5 stars Large Fish N/A
Large Pelagics N/A

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments As I have said previously in my reviews, if you are a photographer, particularly macro but not limited to that, you will love Dive St. Vincent. Dive groups are very small - maybe 4 people plus DM. Dives are generally long and unhurried so plenty of time to shoot. Most importantly, Cally and Don have amazing eyes from years of experience sharing the wonders of St. Vincent. They have lots of patience and understand the interests and needs of photographers. Need I say more?
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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