Barabados:Chapbook 99

Barbados is busy and crowded, with lots of fast traffic, big splashy resorts, and restaurants galore.... There's ordinary Caribbean diving with tropical fish, although big ones are rare, but it's fine for beginners or for a dive or two on a golf holiday.... You still can find century-old bottles in the harbor with the Dive Shop.... The wreck of the Stavronikita is interesting, but jammed with tourist divers.... The average daily temperature is in the mid-80s year round; there's considerable rain from June to January, and it's important to watch for hurricanes....

ExplorSub/Divi Southwinds, July 1998, John P. Kelly, Fort Lauderdale, FL. Excellent coral, particularly soft corals. Good photo opportunities for frogfish and sea horses. Stevronikita outstanding wreck dive in 140 ft. Carlisle Bay features beginner dive of 4 wrecks on one tank. Vis: 50-70 ft, water: 78-80 degrees. Mike Seale of Explore Sub runs topnotch operation and let's advanced divers run computer profiles. Absence of bigger than aquarium-size tropicals, nonetheless, saw frequent eagle reys, turtles. Could become first-class destination if government promotes protection of waters and restricts netting. Island generally laid-back and friendly. Beautiful beaches and cliffs. (Ph: 809-435-6542)

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