The largest islands of the West Indies stretch across the center of our “Caribbean” for about 1,300 miles. Including Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola and Puerto Rico, they comprise what is known as the Greater Antilles. However, our discussion of central Caribbean diving would not be complete unless we also included the small but famous Cayman Islands.

CUBA
While political concerns still cloud the present and future of diving off Cuba, the excellent underwater offerings continue to attract divers. There are many good dive sites near shore in shallower water, but the drop-offs along the continental shelf are the most dramatic. This is especially true off the smaller islands and islets that line Cuba’s southern coastline. Here you will find walls and caves, magnificent growths of sponges and gorgonians, groupers, Eagle Rays, schooling tropicals, and encounters with pelagics.

JAMAICA
Though sometimes overlooked by divers, Jamaica has a lot to offer underwater as well as topside. Montego Bay is a feast for the eyes. Colorful tropicals, seafans and sponges dominate the scene. A few minutes by boat off Negril Beach and divers will find mini walls packed with invertebrates, and even a huge cavern.

HISPANIOLA
The large island of Hispaniola is another area often overlooked by divers. At the western end, the country of Haiti has several underwater options, including many historical shipwrecks. At the eastern end of the island, the Dominican Republic has a wealth of diving opportunities. The southern coast offers excellent wreck diving and even some inland freshwater cave systems. The eastern coast has an 80 mile reef system featuring spur and groove formations and a host of marine life. Diving off the Samana peninsula ranges from breathtaking drop-offs and towers to lush reefs covered with Elkhorn and black coral.

PUERTO RICO
Most of the best of Puerto Rico diving is found a few miles offshore. The eastern end of the island is home to excellent reefs, particularly off the small islands of Vieques and Culebra. The southern coast has lush walls and heavy concentrations of fish life. Off the western end of Puerto Rico, Desecheo Island is an oasis of marine adventure rising from the deep, crystal clear water.

CAYMAN ISLANDS
The small Cayman Islands probably offer more fantastic diving per square mile than anywhere else in the Caribbean. With dedicated live-aboard dive boats, comprehensive marine parks, hundreds of moored sites, premiere dive operations and topside facilities of all varieties, these islands are a diver’s mecca. While there are terrific dive sites off the East End of Grand Cayman and in the Northern Sound, the greatest concentrations of dive sites are focused on the western end. Here there are vibrant shallow reefs and walls, canyons, tunnels and caves, wrecks and so much marine life your eyes will pop. Cayman Brac offers consistently great underwater visibility and fantastic shallow reef and wall diving. A huge Russian frigate waits in only 60 feet of water. Legendary walls are the highlight of Little Cayman diving. And these walls are often accented by canyons and swim-throughs and chimneys. There are great shallow reefs available as well.