Diving St. Barts
Relatively few divers visit each year leaving it largely untouched and unknown. The most spectacular dives are around Pain de Sucre, an islet way off Gustavia harbour, or around a small cape, l’Ane Rouge, off Colombier bay, or around Coco islet. Just off Gustavia harbour, a fishing boat that sunk a few years ago, Le Kayali, is a nice dive spot. St. Barts’ dive sites fall into two separate areas, with the majority of dive charters sharing one area and a dive charter on the north east coast having its own area. The main dive area extends from the main town of Gustavia, with several sites no more than five minutes from the entrance to Gustavia. Many sites have structures that you can swim in and through, including some large caves. St. Barts has two wrecks, one of which is rarely dived by the operators but it is an easy dive to do independently. There is an extensive range of invertebrates on the reefs. Anemones, urchins, sea cucumbers, lobsters, and eels are typically present on all sites.
Best time to dive
Year-round the diving is good.
Visibility
Visibility averages up to 100 feet.
Water temperatures
Water temperature averages 80 °F.
Weather and climate
Weather in St. Barts is considered tropical. During the summer, daytime weather averages in the 80s F, dipping only a few degrees in the winter months. Most rain showers fall briefly during the night, with blue skies persisting throughout the day. The weather does tend to get a bit rainier in the summer months and moving into fall. Sunshine persists throughout many of the days.
Language
French is the official language, but most residents speak at least some English. Creole is also used in some places.
Passport/Visa requirements
Citizens of all nations need a valid passport. All travelers should have a round-trip or onward ticket.
Currency
Euro – Get exchange rates at http://www.xe.com/ucc/
Electrical current
220 AC, 60 cycles, as in Europe. Adaptors or transformers are necessary for North American appliances.
Capital
Gustavia
General information
St. Barthelemy (better known as St. Barts) is a small island, just 8 square miles (21 square km), forming part of the Leeward Islands of the northeastern West Indies. Small, pristine, and deliberately uncrowded, St. Barthelemy is as European as it gets in the Caribbean. Known as the “Cannes” of the island for its chic, trendy attitude and deluxe accommodations, St. Barts used to be the choice holiday destination for scores of celebrities. The population of St. Barts, mostly descendent from the original French settlers and numbering in the few thousands, is centered predominantly in and around the capital of Gustavia.
St. Barts restaurants alone draw tourists every year, as they are often called the best in the Caribbean and are comparable to the best in the world. Dining, then, is truly an experience on its own in this culinary paradise.
Map
Get a map of St. Barts from WorldAtlas.com.