If you are looking for a holiday spot where you can enjoy sunny warm beaches with scuba diving facilities, you need to look no further, because the place you're looking for is definitely Antigua. Located in the middle of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean, Antigua is just adjacent to the north of equator, and provides warm waters and beautiful dive locations. The surrounding islands of Antigua include St. Bart's, St. Martin, and Montserrat. Antigua is the largest of the British Leeward Islands, and is 14 miles long and 11 miles wide.

Except for the hurricane season, Antigua has blissfully warm waters all year round. The place offers clear dive locations, great scuba diving tour operators and services, and is overwhelmed with physical and natural beauty. There are a great number of hotels and resorts that provide luxurious accommodation, even in the low budget arena. The place also offers a large number of scuba diving schools and tours, depending on your skill level.

The water around Antigua is unmatchable. As it is surrounded by very well preserved coral reefs, walls, and shipwrecks, the water is very clear and the underwater visibility ranges from 40 to 150 feet. The southern and eastern coasts of the island are surrounded by shelves, which make it a great spot for diving or snorkelling, especially for less experienced divers.

Advanced divers can go to many other diving spots, with the most popular being the ledge at Sunken Rock, located on the southern coast of the island. The dive depths may range from 25 to 80 feet. Most of the diving spots are located near Antigua, and can be reached in just five minutes. However, there are some diving spots that could take up to 40 minutes to reach. The wreck of Andes is a popular spot in Antigua, where a merchant ship sank. With plenty of tropical marine plants and underwater life, you can enjoy a lot while underwater.

It is possible to sign up for various scuba diving courses or tours while on the island. If you are a beginner and have not yet learnt anything before arriving on the islands, it is a good idea to enrol in a one day course which is short, yet intensive enough to teach you all you need to know for basic dives. The instructors are highly professional and will teach you all the proper techniques and theory, along with the important safety tips before they let you go under water. Furthermore, they also make sure that you are well prepared to go under water before they issue you any equipment.

If you are a certified diver, you can sign up for either daily dives, or three or five day packages, with or without equipment rental charges. For entry on the island, you need to have a return ticket, but if you are from the Unites States or Canada, or possess a British passport, you do not need a visa to set foot on the island. In any case, you just need to prove that you have the finances to cover your stay and accommodation charges. Furthermore, you also need to assure them that you will leave before your six months are up, as that is the maximum stay allowed on a visit visa.

So, if you're looking to spend your vacations scuba diving and spending time relaxing on the beautiful beaches, then Antigua is the right place for you.

For Luxury Holidays in Antigua try the Carlisle Bay Hotel