Scuba diving Barbados is a different Caribbean experience from Cozumel. Barbados, the most easterly island in the Caribbean, is known above all for its wrecks, including several shallow wrecks in Carlisle Bay and the large Stavronikita freighter off the west coast, and for its sea turtles. The reefs on the sheltered south and west coasts are calm and easy to dive, which makes Barbados a relaxed place for divers of all levels. This guide covers what Barbados offers and how it compares with diving in Cozumel.
Where Barbados is
Barbados sits on its own in the Atlantic, east of the main chain of the Caribbean islands. Its west and south coasts face the calm Caribbean Sea, while the east coast faces the open Atlantic and its big waves. Almost all diving happens on the sheltered west and south coasts, close to the capital, Bridgetown, and the beach resorts. The island has direct flights from North America and Europe.
Barbados vs Cozumel for divers
- Wrecks: wrecks are the highlight in Barbados, from shallow wrecks for beginners to a deep freighter. Cozumel is mainly about coral reefs, walls and drift dives.
- Current: Barbados' west-coast sites usually have little current, while Cozumel is famous for drift diving.
- Reefs: Cozumel's reefs are part of the vast Mesoamerican Reef, with towering coral formations. Barbados has fringing and offshore reefs around a smaller island.
- Turtles: both are great for turtles. In Barbados, swimming with green and hawksbill turtles on the west coast is a favorite activity for divers and snorkelers alike.
- Getting there: Cozumel is quick to reach from much of North America; Barbados is closer for European visitors.
Carlisle Bay Marine Park
Carlisle Bay, beside Bridgetown, is the best-known dive area in Barbados. The bay is a marine park with several shipwrecks lying close together in shallow water, so you can see more than one on a single dive. The depths are moderate and the water is usually calm, making it a favorite for training dives, beginners, photographers and night dives. The wrecks are covered in coral and sponges and attract plenty of fish, along with turtles, rays and seahorses.
The Stavronikita
The Stavronikita is the most famous dive in Barbados. This large Greek cargo ship was damaged by fire and was sunk deliberately off the west coast in 1978 to create an artificial reef. It sits upright in deep water, with its masts rising toward the surface, and its hull and decks are now covered in coral. The deeper parts of the wreck are for experienced and advanced divers, while the upper structure can be seen at shallower depths. Dive it with a guide who knows the wreck.
Reefs and other sites
Beyond the wrecks, Barbados has fringing reefs close to shore and deeper barrier reefs further out, with sponges, sea fans and hard coral. The Folkestone Marine Reserve on the west coast protects an area of reef and is popular with snorkelers and divers. Offshore reefs offer deeper dives with more chance of larger fish and turtles.
Marine life in Barbados
Turtles are the stars, with green and hawksbill turtles often seen on the reefs and wrecks. Expect reef fish such as angelfish, parrotfish and trumpetfish, schools of grunts and snapper, and moray eels, frogfish and seahorses for those who look closely. Barracuda often hang around the wrecks.
When to dive Barbados
Barbados can be dived all year, with warm water similar to Cozumel's. The drier season usually runs from winter into spring, and the wetter season from summer into autumn, which is also the hurricane season in the Atlantic and Caribbean. Barbados lies a little outside the most common hurricane tracks, but storms do happen, so check the forecast and consider travel insurance.
Skill level
Barbados is excellent for beginners and new divers: Carlisle Bay's shallow wrecks and calm water are ideal for learning and building confidence. Experienced divers will enjoy the Stavronikita and the deeper offshore reefs. If you're used to Cozumel's drifts, you'll find the diving in Barbados slower, with time to explore each wreck in detail.
Snorkeling and turtles
Barbados is also one of the best Caribbean islands for snorkelers, which makes it a good choice when divers travel with non-diving friends or family. Many boat trips from the west coast combine a stop with sea turtles and a snorkel over the shallow wrecks in Carlisle Bay, where the ships lie close enough to the surface to see from above. As everywhere, give the turtles space: don't chase, touch or feed them, and let them come to you.
Gear and preparation
The gear you use in Cozumel works in Barbados: a light wetsuit, a dive computer, a surface marker buoy, and a light for looking into the wrecks. See scuba diving gear for Cozumel for the essentials. Never enter the inside of a wreck without the proper training and a guide.
Planning your next Caribbean dive trip
Barbados and Cozumel offer very different diving, and both are worth a trip. If you're after drift diving, coral walls and easy access from North America, Cozumel is hard to beat; see Cozumel coral reefs and our Cozumel dive operators directory. For another Caribbean destination on the Mesoamerican Reef, see scuba diving Roatan.