Montpelier Plantation and Beach, St Kitts and Nevis, Saba and St Eustatius

Each surrounded by protected waters and a scattering of wrecks, the neighbouring islands of Saba, St Eustatius, St Kitts and Nevis, are home to some of the best scuba diving in the Leeward Islands. Their volcanic topography is covered in hard and soft coral, sponges, and sea fans, and divers can expect iconic reef dwellers such as chromis, blue tangs, and parrotfish. Jacks, barracuda, wahoo, mahi-mahi, and tarpon are also on the cards, as are nurse sharks and reef sharks. 

St Kitts and Nevis

Encircled by a marine reserve that extends several kilometres out to sea, the islands of St Kitts and Nevis are surrounded by healthy fringing reefs on all sides. But, with the wild Atlantic Ocean to the west, most of the diving is done on the leeward side of the islands, in the relative calm of the Caribbean Sea. In the north of St Kitts, the small Sandy Point Reef marine park is considered to be one of the best reef dives around, with two popular sites known as Paradise Reef and Anchors Away – sometimes spelt Anchors Aweigh.  

By far the highest concentration of dive sites can be found off the southwest side of St Kitts, nestled within the shelter of Basseterre Bay and South Friar’s Bay. Here, divers will find well-known wrecks such as MV Talata, River Taw, and the Corinthian, as well as reef dives including Coconut Tree Rocks, Friar’s Bay Reef, and Brimstone Shallows. 

Nag’s Head is located off the southwest tip of St Kitts, where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean. This is one of the few drift dives around these islands, offering exciting rides and outstanding marine life. A little further south, lying an equal distance between these two islands at the entrance to The Narrows, Monkey Shoals is a large reef within an atoll, boasting several additional dive sites that can be explored when conditions allow. The distance from shore promises great visibility and various species that are rarely seen at other sites. 

As the smaller of the two islands, Nevis has far fewer named sites than St Kitts, but those it has are often empty of other divers. The Vents is probably the most popular dive site here, where hot volcanic activity supports some interesting marine life, including black corals, spotted drums, and arrow crabs.

Saba

Saba’s extensive marine park protects the island’s craggy shoreline as well as the vast Saba Banks located a few kilometres southwest. There are around 30 dive sites here, all of which lie scattered around the island's coast within the boundaries of the park. Again, most of the diving takes place on Saba’s leeward side, with a few noteworthy sites such as Core Gut and Greer Gut benefitting from the turbulent waters of the windward side. 

In the northwest, off the coast of Torrens Point, divers will find some of Saba’s iconic pinnacles, including Man O’War Shoal and Diamond Rock. A little further out to sea, Shark Shoals promises mahi-mahi, trevally, and – as the name suggests – a chance of spotting Caribbean reef sharks, nurse sharks, and whitetips.

Further south, Ladder Bay features several diverse sites consisting of seagrass, spur and groove formations, and warm volcanic vents. Due west from Ladder Bay, divers can find a collection of reasonably deep offshore pinnacles including Mt Michel, Third Encounter, Twilight Zone, and Outer Limits. The Needle – or Eye of the Needle – is one of Saba’s most renowned dive sites and is also located here, offering reliable encounters with Caribbean reef sharks, blacktips, and nurse sharks, and chance sightings of some larger shark species. 

While interesting miniature marine life can be found hiding amongst the coral on most of Saba’s sites, the imaginatively named Muck Dive near the Fort Bay Harbour is a must for keen macro enthusiasts. Here, divers can spot queen conches, pike blennies, razorfish, shortnose batfish, and more.

St Eustatius

Like its neighbours, St Eustatius – often known simply as Statia – is surrounded by a successful marine park that is home to a variety of distinct ecosystems. Though the marine park boasts over 50 sites, only around 35 of these are currently open to exploration, many of which provide interesting insights into this island’s fascinating past. More than a dozen 18th century wrecks lie scattered around the island, and while the vessels themselves have largely disappeared, these sites still harbour an array of interesting artefacts.

Local government also recognised the benefit of shipwrecks as artificial reefs and attractions, with several scuttled vessels now open to divers. The most famous of these is the Charles L. Brown – an ex-cable-laying vessel now covered in colourful sea fans and sponges. At around 100-metres long, it is one of the largest wrecks in the Caribbean, requiring at least two dives to see it all and offering opportunities for penetration. The Chien Tong is another scuttled ship surrounded by snapper, jacks, and stingrays, with sea turtles gathering here at night to sleep among the wreckage.

Blue Bead Hole is another interesting site with artefacts of a different nature. As the name implies, this site is a hotspot for discovering the glassy cobalt-coloured tokens that were once used as currency on the island. But, whether you spot a bead or not, this site also hosts a variety of macro species, including seahorses, sailfin blennies, flying gurnards, and peacock flounders