Sunken Wrecks, A Long Barrier Reef And Exceptionally Clear Water Provide First-Rate Scuba Diving And Snorkeling Off Anguilla

The island of Anguilla offers a wide assortment of outdoor activities both on and off its 33 magnificent white powdery beaches. With coral reefs outlining its beautiful coastline -- rich marine life, sunken coral gardens and bright colored fish are in overabundance making Anguilla an ideal destination for snorkeling and scuba diving. Visitors will be enchanted by Anguilla's diverse scenic underwater adventures which range from wall dives to wrecks and caves, to snorkeling trails just off shore.

Anguilla offers an array of unspoiled sites that both beginner and experienced divers will enjoy. Some very popular dives are Sandy Deep, a mini-wall that offers divers the chance to spot hard corals and abundant fish life and Frenchmans Reef, a very popular site among underwater photographers because of its large and vibrant colored schools of reef fish. The Grouper Bowl and The Coliseum are both perfect for spotting hard coral formations and Prickly Pear, an underwater canyon that includes ledges and caverns, is often a quiet hideaway for nurse sharks that rest on sandy bottom.

Numerous wrecks lie in the waters off Anguilla giving it the nickname "Wreck Diving Capital of the Caribbean." Each wreck is accessible to divers of all ability levels. With four of the wrecks deliberately sunk in 1990 as part of an ecological program, these popular dive sites sit inside the island's reef system and offer a home to the abundant fish swimming in Anguilla's waters. The Stoney Bay Marine Park, off the southeast coast, is also a great place to explore the aquatic life of the island. With the remains of a Spanish ship that sank in 1772, this historical site is perfect for the adventurous explorer.

Snorkeling is another very popular water activity on Anguilla. The Snorkel Trail, found off of Shoal Bay East offers an assortment of sites that show the marine life and underwater formations found in Anguilla's waters. Explorers can either buy or rent snorkeling and beach equipment at Sandy Deep and Anguilla Watersports before going off to discover the island. Other places, such as Shoal Bay Scuba and Water Sports (A Padi Dive Centre) and Anguillian Divers and can also provide water rental gear on a daily basis at affordable prices.

Several Anguilla hotels and resorts offer special dive packages, enticing visitors to suit-up for an unforgettable underwater adventure. The Shoal Bay Villa is offering a dive package beginning May 1 through November 15, 2002, which includes accommodations for six nights with five two-tank dives for each person. With taxes and service charges included, this package is priced at $775 per person.

Carimar Beach Club, from April 1 through December 14, 2002, is offering a package that includes accommodations for seven nights, a starter breakfast basket, complimentary use of five two-tank dives for each person and a full body massage. All taxes and service charges are included in the $880 per person package.

The Anguilla Great House is offering accommodations for six nights, daily American breakfast, five two-tank dives for each person - all for $830 per person including taxes and service charges. This package is available April 1 through December 14, 2002. Also, at a package rate of $656 per person, the Ocean Breeze is offering a six-night stay with five 2-tank dives.

La Sirena, built in 1989 on 3 acres of sandy soil on Meads Bay, offers a wide variety of dive packages and certification courses to choose from which can be booked in conjunction with guests' hotel accommodations. A package of six-dives and one night dive is offered at $230; ten-dives and one night dive is priced at $315. Unlimited shore diving is included. Dive equipment is available for an additional $10 per day. La Sirena also offers an Open Water Certification course, which allows certified individuals to dive all over the world without any supervision. The course fee includes manual and equipment and is priced at $375.