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Specialties: Big Animals, Drift Dives, Reefs and Walls,
Snorkeling, Ecotourism.
The sister
islands of Trinidad and Tobago are located about seven miles off
the Venezuela coast. Trinidad is the birthplace of calypso
music and the steel band, the home of the limbo dance, and a
place where “carnival” is almost a way of life. The scenery is
diverse with jungles, mountains, and beautiful beaches. The
islands are separated by 22 miles of sea and Tobago sits on the
South American continental shelf at the southernmost tip of the
Lesser Antilles arc.
Tobago has
been a popular destination for Europeans but more American’s are
visiting Tobago since the tourism infrastructure has grown and
adapted to North American standards and tastes. Overdevelopment
has been restrained which is good news for an island where
ecotourism comes naturally and for divers seeking an island with
true escape potential. Topside activities include hiking
through the dense rain forest of the Tobago Forest Reserve or
through the cascading Argyle waterfalls, bird-watching in the
jungle or the bird sanctuary on Speyside, play golf at the Mt.
Irvine golf course overlooking the bay, enjoy the beach, or take
a helicopter tour. For snorkelers, the big underwater
attraction is the waist-deep, four-acre Buccoo Reef National
Park.
With the
Caribbean Sea on its north shore and the Atlantic Ocean on its
south, Tobago offers a variety of diving options from shallow
reef diving to deep pinnacles, drift dives and big animal
encounters. The shallow reef sites range from coral gardens in
sheltered coves to mini-walls just off shore. All are
beginner-friendly and all feature healthy sponge and coral
formations, an abundance of reef fish and calm water. Manta
rays are common and although they were once dubbed “Tobago
Taxis” it is now forbidden to ride them. They can be found
performing an acrobatic feeding ballet during night dives in
Bloody Bay on the island's Caribbean shore. Shark encounters
are becoming more common on Tobago. A territorial school of
hammerheads is reliably found swimming lazy figure-eights
through the canyons of The Sisters on the Caribbean side. Reefs
sharks are also commonly sighted at Flying Reef, a fast,
current-swept dive on the southern Atlantic tip of Tobago.
Whale shark encounters are also becoming more common. From early
spring to early fall, the gentle giants migrate through the pass
between Tobago and the larger island of Trinidad.
Best
Diving Months: January through May in the cool dry season.
Water
Temperature: Average year-round water temperature is 78°F. A
3mm-5mm. wetsuit is recommended.
Underwater
Visibility: Average visibility is 60 to 80 feet. The
abundance of plankton keeps the reefs healthy which attracts
manta rays.
Airport
Info: Most travelers fly into Piarco Airport, Trinidad and
then fly Tobago Express to Tobago. Depending on your flight
schedule, you may have to overnight in Trinidad.
Documents
and Customs Regulations: A passport is required. All
travelers should have a round-trip or onward ticket.
Language:
English, but with peculiar Tobagonian phrases. Some French,
Spanish, Hindi, and Chinese are also spoken.
Health:
Food and treated tap water are generally safe to drink, but
travelers with sensitive stomachs should stick to bottled water.
Climate:
Temperature range from 68°F to 89°F.
Government:
An independent republic.
Electrical
Current: 110 volts, 60 cycles AC and compatible with
American appliances.
Current Weather:
Get current weather from Weather.com
Currency:
The Trinidad and Tobago Dollar (TTD).
Get
current exchange rate from XE.com
Current Time: Trinidad
and Tobago are one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time (GMT -4).
Get current time from WorldTimeServer.com
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