GRENADA

Year:2006

Spice Island of the Caribbean

Season: August-December

Visibility: 15-30 metres

Water temperature: 27-30°C

Grenada and its sister islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique lie at the most southerly point of the Windward islands. With over 40 silver-white sandy beaches bathed by warm turquoise waters, a rugged coastline of bays and an island interior of high peaks and rainforests, Grenada makes an ideal holiday destination. This small island is famous for its production of nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and ginger. 'Black Gold' in Grenada refers to nutmeg and Grenada is the second largest producer of nutmeg in the world! The diversity on land is reflected underwater, where the diving ranges from gentle, shallow reefs and lazy drifts in warm water to the distinctly more challenging wreck of the Bianca C. The reefs have not had as much diver pressure as other Caribbean islands and are in good condition. The hurricane of 2004 swept the corals, sponges and rocks clean of algae, clearing habitats for the recently spawned coral polyps to find homes.

The reefs are composed of finger corals and brain corals covered with colourful sponges, hydroids, sea whips and sea fans. There is a good population of black coral at deeper depths, along with deep-water gorgonians. Tube sponges in purple, orange and pink, azure vase sponges and some impressive barrel sponges make excellent subjects for the wide-angle photographer. At Purple Rain a slow current will take you on a gentle ride. At around 15 metres, it is possible to glide over forests of soft corals and sea fans. Turtles feed in this area and Spotted Eagle Rays can sometimes be seen gliding through. Amongst the cracks and crevices of the reef arrow crabs can be seen 'gardening' their patch. Hang around for a manicure from the cleaner shrimps who will wave their fragile 'arms', enticing you to stop for a while. There is a good population of small fish such as damsels and chromis, beautiful Spotted Drums circling in small inlets and angelfish of several varieties, often cruising in pairs around the rocks and sponges.

Sister Rocks , or the Sisters, off Carriacou, provides some of the finest reef diving in the area. There are at least three dives that can be done here. The topography is amazing as you dive around a series of rocks at depths of up to 30 metres. Creating fascinating formations, the rocks are home to huge schools of goatfish, emperors and grunts. Big schools of barracudas, flashing in the sunlight, make excellent subjects for those who have brought their wide-angle lenses with them. Silversides hide and shape-shift in the crevices, moving like curtains parting when the barracudas move in for a snack.

Barren, stark and craggy, Diamond Rock rises above the water to around 250 metres, but below the water you are in for a treat, for at Kick 'em Jenny the slope of the rocks are covered in gently swaying sea fans and some colourful hard coral. The wall can be dived as deep as 40 metres, but the finest part of the dive is around 15-20 metres. The corals, fans and sponges are particularly well preserved as this site is not frequently dived (local operators ask for higher fees for this area as it is further off-shore than most). Nurse Sharks and Southern Stingrays are often found here, but the off-shore location means that it is possible to see larger fish looming in from the blue, so keep your eyes open!

Perhaps the most famous dive around Grenada is the Bianca C , a 200-metre cruise ship which sank in 1961 and now lies in 55 metres of water. Bianca C has a fascinating history, for her present resting place is not the first time she has rested on the ocean floor! Built in the early 1940s, she sank before being put into service! Re-floated, re-fitted and re-launched as La Marseilles , she subsequently worked as a cruise ship. In 1957 she was refitted and re-named Arosa Sky . For her third and final incarnation she was named after her new owner's daughter, Bianca Costa du Genoa. The end came for Bianca C when she was anchored in St George's harbour and her boiler exploded and started a fire, which eventually caused the vessel to sink. Explosives had to be used on the anchor chains to prevent the doomed ship from blocking the harbour. A frigate attempted to tow the injured boat out to deeper water but a squall came through and severed the lines, leaving the boat to sink below the waves. There are many tales of heroism and bravery on the part of the locals as the 400 passengers and 200 crew were rescued. Only two people died that day: both crew members who were burned in the fire.

There are many ways to dive the wreck, but one of the most popular is to start with the swimming pool (imagine those cruise passengers sunbathing and perhaps ordering cocktails by the pool!) and working toward the bow. Stand on top of the bow and gaze down to the anchor chain - open your arms wide (yes, just like in Titanic !) and let yourself go falling over the edge. Looking up, you will be most impressed at the size of the ship, which still lies upright on the seabed. Penetration is discouraged due to safety concerns about the internal structures, but there is so much to do and see outside. Spotted Eagle Rays and barracudas are often seen, but many small creatures, sponges and corals have made their home on this wreck. The ship is now torn into two with the stern section completely separated from the rest of the boat.

Whibble Reef provides a suitable safety stop after diving the wreck or can be dived as a stand alone dive site. This sloping sand wall has corals in good condition as well as a healthy fish population. Rainbow Runners, Creole Wrasse, jacks and groupers can be seen in good numbers. And there is a good chance of lobsters, Spotted Eagle Rays and turtles.

WIND DANCER

For full details of Wind Dancer please see the Tobago entry in this brochure.

Wind Dancer operates out of the dock behind the True Blue Bay Resort on Grenada for 7 nights cruises, departing every Saturday from 5 August to 16 December.

£938 in a Deluxe Stateroom.

£1056 in a Master Stateroom.

Includes :

" Airport transfers if arriving/departing on Saturdays.

" 7 nights cruise on Wind Dancer on a twin/share basis with full board, including soft drinks, wine, beer and spirits.

" 5 full days of diving (up to 4 or 5 dives per day, including night dives) plus one or two dives on the last day, cylinders and weights.

Important: In addition, there is a port tax of £38 and a fuel surcharge of £59 (subject to change) which have to be prepaid.

Divers aged 59 or over (and BSAC members of any age): A 10% discount applies (this discount is also applicable to those actively serving in the military, police or fire service).

Non-divers: A 10% reduction applies.

Additional Week: A 10% discount applies.

Single Occupancy Supplement: If you are travelling alone and are willing to share a twin cabin with a fellow passenger of the same sex you can avoid paying any supplement. If you prefer to have a cabin to yourself a 65% supplement applies and the deposit requirement is doubled.

Deposit: £450

FLIGHTS

The airfares shown here were typical economy fares available at the time of going to press. We will quote you the airfare applicable, based on current fare levels and booking class availability, at the time of booking. Our quote, which will include all taxes and fuel supplements applicable at the time of quotation, as well as our service charge, may be higher or lower than the airfares indicated here. The usual airfare deposit is £100.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC

Daily morning flights (except Sunday from August to November) from London (Gatwick) to Barbados, arriving in the afternoon. Onwards afternoon connection to Grenada with LIAT or Caribbean Star, arriving in the early evening. Return on any morning from Grenada via Barbados (except Sunday from August to November), arriving at London the following morning. (There is a direct flight into and out of Grenada on Thursdays. Taking the direct flight, which does not fit the Wind Dancer schedule, reduces the airfare slightly.)

£665 for departures 1 September-8 December

£734 for departures 20-31 August

£780 for departures 9-15 December, 25-31 December

£987 for departures 1-19 August

£1228 for departures 16 December

Includes:

" Scheduled flights London (Gatwick)/Bridgetown/London (Gatwick) by Virgin Atlantic.

" Scheduled flights Antigua/Granada/Antigua by LIAT or Caribbean Star.

COMBINING WIND DANCER WITH ST LUCIA OR DOMINICA

Why not combine a trip on Wind Dancer with a visit to the beautiful islands of Saint Lucia or Dominica? There are daily flight connections.