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Electricity is 220/240 volt, 50 cycle. Most hotels, including the Mariners, have 110 volt shaver outlets and/or voltage converters for guests, but it's best to call ahead and confirm. The Diving St. Vincent
bills itself as the “muck” diving capitol of the Caribbean. Don’t let the
term fool you… muck diving means carefully and closely inspecting the sand
and reef structures for small critters. It has no bearing on the actual
water clarity, which routinely runs 50-70 feet and sometimes more. It also
does not imply there is only shallow water diving. The island’s topside
terrain is steeply sloping volcanic mountains and this terrain continues
below the water, as well. Reefs start in as little as 10 feet (3 meters)
and often continue well past recreational limits. Lots of long spine sea
urchins keep the reefs clean and pillar coral and huge gorgonians are evidence
of a very healthy marine eco system.
Dive St. Vincent (www.divestvincent.com) is one of only two larger dive operations on the island and has been around for more than twenty years. The owner, Bill Tewes, and his staff know these reefs backward and forward and no one in the world may be better at finding unusual and seldom seen critters than Bill. There is no one favorite dive site in St. Vincent. Whether crawling around in the sand at 20 feet or hovering next to the wall at 136 feet, every dive holds the opportunity to see marine creatures you’ve only read about or things that have not yet even been published. Other than a solitary Almaco Jack that cruised our group during a deep excursion along a wall, about the largest predator we saw were healthy-sized Trumpetfish or Spotted Moray Eels, both of which were abundant. Sharks, turtles, rays, and green morays are so rare they are considered non-existent and there is no wreck diving in St. Vincent. Most dives are in the 20-45 foot range and include a thorough site briefing as well as a guide. The guide will make liberal use of three important tools: Some sort of pointing device, a powerful magnifying glass, and an erasable slate upon which he will write the name of the critter you are looking at. If you are a photographer, you might want to take a photo of the slate before or after you take a photo of the animal; the guides are so good at finding them all of the species names will blend together after a while. Unless you’re a serious air hog, the majority of dives will comfortably last more than 60 minutes. Dives that exceed 90 minutes are not unheard of, though that is pushing it just a bit. Top notch service continues after returning to the dock: Whatever you leave on the boat after diving will be rinsed and stored for you that evening, returned to the boat the next morning, and set up for you. Island Lifestyle St. Vincent people, or Vincies, as they are known, are genuinely friendly people who all speak English. No, really… it is English. Vincies just speak very quickly. If you have any doubt about what was said, just ask the person to say it again but more slowly. Should you decide to rent a car, be aware driving is on the left hand side of the road and it’s common practice to beep your horn before hills or sharp curves. The economy is based on the Eastern Caribbean dollar, which has an exchange rate of approximately 3:1. US dollars are accepted everywhere but change will most likely be made in EC dollars. Major credit cards are accepted many places but it is always best to ask first. Bottled water is available but plenty of annual rainfall means there is no shortage of potable water. You can feel safe to drink it straight from the tap, if you wish. For a couple
of years, a cruise ship stopped here, but Kingstown has very few of the
services most cruise ship passengers seek so they no longer visit. Someone
tried to operate a gambling casino for a while but that didn’t go over
very well, either, and is now closed. There are clubs both in town and
near the bigger hotels. Travelers are welcome but this is definitely not
the same atmosphere as Cozumel’s Carlos and Charlie’s environment. The
crime rate is said to be fairly low, compared to some Caribbean destinations,
largely due to the fact that everyone essentially knows everyone else so
it’s hard to get away with something. Most local police don’t even carry
weapons and there is no standing military.
There are lots of things to do if you decide to take a day off from diving or if you’re traveling with a non-diver. Tours can be arranged to the volcano (listed as “active” but has not had an eruption since 1972), Trinity or Baleine Falls, historic Fort Charlotte, or the oldest Botanical Gardens in the Western Hemisphere. There are also seasonal events such as their own version of Carnivale. Whale watching and dolphins watching tours to a nearby island can also be arranged. St. Vincent has a distinct lack of large animals, surly attitudes, gambling, and cruise ships. If you’re searching for a relaxing destination with good water clarity, interesting marine creatures, terrific food, and a welcoming atmosphere, this just might be the place for you. I came here in search of answers and found them. As Bill Tewes put it, “St. Vincent is like everyplace you’ve never been before.” Yeah… I’ll second that. To contact
John
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Punk Blenny With Mouth Open
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