Snorkeling In Antigua And Barbuda: A Comparison

Antigua and Barbuda are two islands in the Caribbean that offer some of the best snorkelling spots in the region. The islands are surrounded by coral reefs, shipwrecks, mangroves, and sandbanks, making them a popular destination for snorkelers of all skill levels. While both islands offer unique snorkelling experiences, this paragraph will focus on the differences between the two to determine which is better for off-beach snorkelling.

Antigua, the larger and more populous island, is a favourite stopover for Caribbean cruises and has many tourist attractions. It offers dozens of good snorkelling spots, including the renowned Cades Reef, which is part of the Cades Bay Marine Park. Other notable spots include Galley Bay, Deep Bay, and Stingray City, where snorkelers can interact with stingrays. Antigua also has calm waters, making it suitable for beginners.

On the other hand, Barbuda, located just north of Antigua, has retained its unspoiled nature and is one of the last preserved islands in the Lesser Antilles. It offers a more secluded and untouched experience, with fewer tourists. While there is limited information specifically about off-beach snorkelling in Barbuda, the island's pristine condition and rich marine ecosystem make it an appealing option for those seeking a more remote and natural snorkelling adventure.

In conclusion, both Antigua and Barbuda offer excellent snorkelling opportunities. Antigua may be more suitable for those who want a wider range of options and a more developed tourist infrastructure, while Barbuda is ideal for those seeking a more secluded and natural experience.

Antigua's top snorkelling spots

Antigua is a snorkelling paradise, with its warm Caribbean waters, clear turquoise waters, excellent visibility, and calm seas. The island is surrounded by a coral reef and has 366 beaches—one for every day of the year and then some!

Cades Reef

Cades Reef is a coral reef off Antigua's southwest coast that offers some of the best snorkelling in the Caribbean. With excellent visibility—up to 100 feet on a good day—it's a favourite for both divers and snorkellers. The reef is about two miles long and a mile offshore, taking around 20 minutes to reach by boat. It's one of the healthiest reefs in Antigua, with abundant shoals of fish, including nurse sharks, moray eels, rays, and barracudas. Cades Reef is protected within the Cades Bay Marine Park, which has 20 dive sites, some of which are suitable for snorkelling.

Dickenson Bay

Dickenson Bay is one of Antigua's most popular beaches, located just a 10-minute drive from St. John's. While the beach itself is a hub of resorts, restaurants, and watersports centres, the real snorkelling treat lies a little further out at Paradise Reef. Here, you'll find elkhorn coral, anemones, and interesting fish species like schools of wrasse, needlefish, and yellowtail snapper.

Half Moon Bay

Half Moon Bay is a quiet, crescent-shaped beach on the windward southeast coast. You can spot pufferfish, barracuda, and tang just 20 feet from the shore. Keep in mind that this beach is exposed to the prevailing winds, so it's best to check the conditions before you go as it can get choppy. After your snorkelling adventure, refuel at the Beach Bum Bar and Cafe, where you can enjoy fresh mahi-mahi and ice-cold beers.

Long Bay

Long Bay is a popular and often crowded beach on the north-facing bay on the east of Antigua. It's perfect for beginners and families, as the waters are shallow and calm, allowing you to wade out to the plentiful reefs easily. Keep an eye out for parrotfish and moray eels, especially if you swim close to the rocks on the right side of the beach.

Stingray City

Stingray City, located at Seaton's Village on the island's northeast coast, is about a 30-minute drive from St. John's. Here, you can snorkel in clear, shallow waters with southern stingrays, which are accustomed to human presence. You even have the option to join the guides in feeding squid to these fascinating creatures.

The Pillars of Hercules

The Pillars of Hercules, located at the mouth of English Harbour, are natural columns in a cliff inside Nelson's Dockyard National Park. While you can hike there at low tide, it's safer to join a boat tour, which offers a better view of the "pillars" and the opportunity to snorkel around their base. The sea here is home to species like green turtles, octopus, and parrotfish, and you might even spot an 18th-century anchor.

Other notable mentions include Green Island, Ffryes Beach, Deep Bay, and Carlisle Bay.

Barbuda's best snorkelling beaches

Barbudas Best Snorkelling Beaches

Barbuda, just north of Antigua, is one of the last preserved islands in the Lesser Antilles, untouched by mass tourism. It is famous for its pink and white sand beaches and gin-clear, aquamarine sea. The island is home to a thriving reef system, providing excellent snorkelling opportunities.

Barbuda's most accessible beaches are located on its southern shore. Here are some of the best spots for snorkelling:

• Coral Group Bay and Access Beach — Located about half a mile north of Coco Point, this area offers excellent offshore DIY snorkelling amid untouched coral reefs.
• Gravenors Bay — Found at the southern tip of the island, this bay is protected from strong currents, making it a great spot for snorkelling. It is also home to one of the island's three resorts, the Coco Point Lodge.
• Uncle Roddy's — This solar-powered beach bar and restaurant is located on the southwest coast around Coral Group. The water in front of Uncle Roddy's is calm and safe for swimming and offers rock pools to explore.
• Coco Point — This is where Barbuda's leeward and windward sides meet. It is also believed to be the site of a former Arawak settlement, with tours offered to nearby caves containing ancient drawings.
• Indian Cave — In Two Foot Bay National Park, on Barbuda's northeastern coast, this three-chambered cave features Arawak petroglyphs and a bat chamber, as well as stunning ocean views from the top of the small bluff where its entrance is located.

The best time to visit Barbuda for snorkelling is during the dry season, from December to April, when the weather is sunny and rain is rare. However, this is also the busiest time for tourism, so expect more crowds during this period.

Best snorkelling resorts in Antigua

Antigua is a prime snorkelling destination in the Caribbean, with its surrounding coral reefs, shipwrecks, mangroves, and sandbanks. The island offers some of the best snorkelling spots, accessible directly from the coast or by taking a short boat ride. Here are some of the best resorts for snorkelling in Antigua:

Royalton Resort

The resort provides excellent access to Deep Bay, where you can explore the Andes Wreck, a three-masted sailing boat that sunk in 1905. The wreck isn't deep, and you can find a variety of reef fishes, turtles, lobsters, arrow crabs, and parrot fish.

Pineapple Beach Club

Located on Long Bay Beach, this adult-only resort offers good snorkelling opportunities just a short swim from the shoreline. You can find a variety of marine life, including coral fish, sponge species, and turtle grass. Long Bay Beach also boasts calm waters and decent amenities, making it a popular choice for snorkelers.

Galleon Beach

Galleon Beach, nestled within English Harbour, is a secluded spot with tranquil shores. It offers good snorkelling around a petite shipwreck, where you can find tangs, yellowtail snapper, angelfish, and barracuda. Additionally, a trail from the beach leads to Fort Charlotte, offering panoramic views of the area.

Curtain Bluff All-inclusive Resort

Located across from Cades Bay Marine Park, this resort provides access to Cades Reef, a two-mile-long barrier reef. Cades Reef is home to a diverse range of marine life, including moray eels, nurse sharks, lobsters, barracudas, and eagle rays. It is a popular destination for snorkelers and scuba divers alike.

Hodges Bay Resort

Hodges Bay guests can take a water taxi to the tiny Bird Island, offering good snorkelling conditions and clear waters. The island is a quiet and relaxing spot, ideal for those seeking a more secluded snorkelling experience.

Snorkelling tours in Antigua

Antigua is surrounded by coral reefs and is one of the best places in the Caribbean for snorkelling. The island has one of the richest marine ecosystems in the Lesser Antilles, with coral reefs, shipwrecks, mangroves and sandbanks. The warm Caribbean sea is ideal for snorkelling, with a temperature of around 28°C all year round.

There are many snorkelling tour operators in Antigua, offering a range of experiences. Here are some of the most popular options:

Turtle Beach Power Snorkelling Adventure

This tour involves snorkelling with the help of a sea scooter, a vehicle that propels you through the water. You'll get to see lots of marine life, including sea turtles, and you'll also get to see the Pillars of Hercules rock formation.

Snorkel and Lobster Lunch Cruise to Bird and Maiden Island

This small-group boat tour takes you to secluded islands near Jolly Harbour. You'll get to snorkel on a coral reef and enjoy a freshly prepared lobster lunch on the beach.

Antigua Reef Riders Self-Drive Boat and Snorkelling Tour

On this tour, you'll captain your own two-seater motorized boat and follow a guide to various locations along the coastline of Antigua. You'll get to see Darkwood Beach and go snorkelling at the Antigua National Marine Park.

Private Snorkelling and Sightseeing Tour of Antigua

This tour takes in the sights of Antigua by land and sea, led by a local spearfisherman. You'll get the chance to snorkel with sea turtles and explore shipwrecks at Galleon Beach.

Antigua Kayak, Snorkel and Beach Tour

This combination tour takes you through the lush tropical rainforest and fishing villages of Antigua. You'll kayak in Cades Bay and snorkel at the beautiful Cades Reef.

Under the Sea – Reef Exploration (Snorkel Tour)

On this tour, you'll get to snorkel at Cades Bay, Long Bay, Great Bird Island or Green Island, or the English Harbour area.

Cades Reef Snorkel Cruise from St John's Antigua

This cruise takes you to explore the Cades Reef, considered one of the top snorkelling sites in Antigua. You'll get to see a variety of marine life, including barracudas and moray eels, and enjoy a beach visit and lunch.

Antigua vs Barbuda for snorkelling

Antigua and Barbuda are both surrounded by coral reefs and white and pink sand beaches, making them great spots for snorkelling. The coral reefs, shipwrecks, and mangroves are all popular with snorkelers. The islands offer one of the richest marine ecosystems in the Lesser Antilles, with dozens of good snorkelling spots. The warm crystal clear waters, vibrant reefs, and underwater shipwrecks provide a unique experience.

Antigua is the largest island in the archipelago, with the highest population. It is a favourite stopover for Caribbean cruises. There are plenty of snorkelling sites in Antigua, including some that can be accessed directly from the coast, such as Dickenson Bay, Halfmoon Bay, Galley Bay, Long Bay, the Hawksbill Beaches, or Pigeon Point. However, to discover the best spots, you will need to take a boat to one of the many reefs emerging from the coastal waters. The Cades Bay Marine Park is one of the best spots, with a barrier reef that is over 2 miles long. Other popular sites include the Pillars of Hercules, accessible from Galleon Beach, and Paradise Reef, which can be reached from Dickenson Bay.

Barbuda, just north of Antigua, is one of the last preserved islands in the Lesser Antilles, untouched by mass tourism. Gravenors Bay, located at the southern tip of the island, is a great spot for snorkelling as it is protected from strong currents.

While both islands offer great snorkelling opportunities, Antigua has more options, especially for beginners who want to stay close to the shore. Barbuda is better suited for those looking for unspoiled nature and a more remote experience.

Frequently asked questions