Get onboard with the unsurpassable dive sites that the Caribbean holds. Cruise through Turks and Caicos for humpback whale watching. Or, chill out in an onboard hammock after hammerhead sightings in The Bahamas. The Caribbean holds underwater secrets like no other region, with an abundance of pelagic and macro life, paired with numerous liveaboards to cater to any desire. Onboard jacuzzis, wreck diving, and swimming pigs can create memories for a lifetime.
Check out our picks for the top locations, and liveaboards, in the Caribbean.
Turks and Caicos
The alluring turquoise waters of the Turks and Caicos Islands feature a vast, thriving coral reef ecosystem and lots of walls. The main attraction here is diving. With protected reefs dropping well past recreational dive limits just offshore, it’s easy to see why this is a diver’s paradise.
Turks and Caicos Explorer II
Minimum Certification Level: Open Water
The Turks and Caicos, Provenciales itinerary on the Turks and Caicos Explorer II offers stunning visibility and an immense variety of pelagic life in the Caribbean. With both the large mothership and tenders on hand, dive sites are easily reached. Here you might meet humpback whales, eagle rays, turtles, nurse sharks and more. Additionally, a colourful cornucopia of crimson rope sponges, orange elephant ear sponges and gigantic gorgonians are easily spotted for coral lovers. This liveaboard holds 10 cabins, including twin rooms and VIP staterooms, and was renovated in 2005.
Turks and Caicos Aggressor II
Minimum Certification Level: Open Water (20+ dives recommended)
Unlimited breathtaking diving and ultimate relaxation are what the Turks and Caicos Aggressor II is all about. The ship’s West Caicos and French Caye itinerary visits reef walls, ledges and bucketlist-worthy humpback whale watching. Additionally, French Caye is a hotspot for grey reef sharks with sea horses and colorful mollusks making regular appearances, too. Undoubtedly, this is one of the best liveaboards in the Caribbean to bring your camera on! After dives, guests can relax in the jacuzzi and enjoy complimentary local beer and wine.
St Maarten
While not one of the most famous dive destinations in the Caribbean, Sint Maarten offers many colorful coral reefs and encrusted rock formations. There’s a good mix of wrecks and marine life, and this is a great destinations for learning new scuba skills while enjoying varied underwater environments.
Caribbean Explorer II
Minimum Certification Level: Open Water
Dive into St Kitts, Saba and St Maarten with the Southbound Caribbean Explorer II itinerary. With up to five immersions a day, this itinerary will give you the chance to spot reef sharks, turtles, wrecks and nurse sharks. Additionally, the Northeastern Caribbean boasts stable year-round weather with minimal currents and 50 and 150 feet (15 to 45 meter) visibility, creating pristine photo opportunities. As well as diving, this nine-cabin liveaboard also offers land excursions to soak up native cultures. Onboard, you won’t go hungry with varied cuisines served three times a day alongside snacks in between dives and hot cocoa (or stronger alternatives) as you wind down under the stars.
You might also like:
The Bahamas
Famous for its wrecks and shark diving, the Bahamas offers liveaboard travelers some of the best experiences in the Caribbean. Enjoy coral reefs, a variety of marine life and some of the clearest waters in the Caribbean while traversing these islands. Sure, you can dive the Bahamas from land, but if you want to see the best sites around more than one islands, liveaboard diving is definitely the way to go.
Bahamas Aggressor
Minimum Certification Level: Open Water (20+ dives recommended)
From the famed Aggressor fleet, the Bahamas Aggressor takes travelers to the West End of Grand Bahama which is far less busy than other sites. Day diving and night diving includes searches for bull sharks as well as lemon and reef sharks in the summer months. Additionally, this liveaboard visits the SS Sapona steamer wreck on most trips, and your photos of this dive (and all your other dives) can be processed in the onboard photo and video centre. The boat holds six cabins with single cabin options available (supplement fee required).
Aqua Cat
Minimum Certification Level: Beginners and Snorkellers Welcome
This 102-foot (30-meter) boat holds up to 30 guests, with spacious cabins, a BBQ and hammocks on the alfresco deck. The “Best of the Bahamas” itinerary includes hammerhead dives in Exumas, and you might also have the chance to catch the spiny lobster migration in October and November. Above all, many love the “no fixed itinerary” aspect of Aqua Cat, meaning you’ll head to the best spots based on weather, season and preference. Each trip is unique, and guests can enjoy up to five dives a day.
Blackbeard Morning Star
Minimum Certification Level: First-Time Divers
Revel in shark feeding sessions and search for whale sharks in Exumas. The Blackbeard Morning Star is a nine-cabin boat renovated in 2016. It departs from Nassau Harbour Club, and its Central Bahamas itinerary is exceptional for sizeable aquatic life, like groupers, whale sharks and spotted eagle rays. Likely encounters also include sea turtles and sharks. Plus, he yacht will take you to the famous swimming pigs beach, if the weather permits. Beginners are welcome onboard the Blackbeard Morning Star, too.
Belize
With more than 400 islands, white sandy beaches, the longest unbroken barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere and 298 kilometers/185 miles of coastline, Belize is a world-class scuba diving destination.
Belize Aggressor III
Minimum Certification Level: Open Water
Over seven nights/eight days, the Belize Aggressor tours the greatest barrier reef in the Northern and Western Hemispheres. As well as the infamous Belize Blue Hole with depths down to 124 meters (406 feet), the liveaboard’s most popular itinerary is the Belize Lighthouse Reef, Half Moon Cay and Turneffe Reef trip. The boat offers up to five dives a day, including night dives, to explore the immense marine life in Belize. In particular, the region is home to dolphins, sharks and graceful eagle rays. At 110 feet (33.528m) long, the vessel holds nine cabins with ensuites. Lastly, several luxurious touches have been added to the Belize Aggressor III, including a jacuzzi, a spacious salon and chaise lounges.
The Cayman Islands
Devilishly deep drop-offs, wicked wreck dives and some of the coolest coral in the Caribbean have made the Cayman Islands a world-class dive destination.
Cayman Aggressor IV
Minimum Certification Level: Open Water
In visiting Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, the Cayman Aggressor IV allows divers to venture into world-renowned sites in the Caribbean. Bloody Bay Wall, Stingray City, the Russian Destroyer and the SS Kittiwake wrecks are just a few of the sites on the boat’s seven-day/eight-night trips. Dive sites in the Cayman Islands provide an underwater spectacle of reef sharks, eagle rays, groupers, turtles and more. The ship was renovated in 2022, providing nine air-conditioned cabins with ensuites to guests. In addition, the top deck features sun loungers and an outdoor hot tub for a little TLC after your dives on one of the best liveaboards in the Caribbean.
You might also like:
Dive into the Caribbean
The Caribbean’s stunning scenery, diverse dive sites and generous choice of liveaboards certainly make it one of the top diving destinations in the world. PADI Travel is available 24/7 to help you book your next getaway on one of the best liveaboards in the Caribbean.
