Best Caribbean island for abundant marine life

[lehele]

Planning my next dive trip. Looking for a new Caribbean location with schools of fish. Off the beaten path sounds good. Want to go somewhere new so not : Bonaire, Cozumel, Saba or Turks and Caicos. Ty.

 

[ReadyTo Dive]

I found Dominica (pre-hurricane) to be amazing.

 

[AdivingBel]

Don't know about fish count...but IMHO, for pretty reefs, big topography, scenic vistas, plenty of "usual suspect" reef fishies, and just plain gorgeous Caribbean diving...Little Cayman

 

[KathyV]

South Florida and the Keys are great for abundant marine life. The boat trips to the reef may be a bit longer and the corals might not be quite as colorful as the Caribbean - but if you want to see a lot of fish and diverse marine life, including sharks, then you should check out Florida. The Bahamas are also very good for seeing sharks and sometimes dolphins.

You should also add the Caymans, St. Croix, Dominica, and Curacao to your list.

 

[drrich2]

Key Largo rocked back in 2013; figure it still would. You've got shallow reef diving, plus the offer of deep wrecks where you may see a Goliath grouper. I love Bonaire, but I saw more 'big stuff' at Key Largo. K.L.'s viz. wasn't as good as Bonaire's, and it's not a shore diving destination. Pro.s & con.s wherever you go.

If you really want new & different, and you're not averse to the 'challenges' of colder water diving, the Channel Islands of California with kelp diving & sea lions could be a new experience. I know it's not Caribbean...in fact, it's another ocean, which may also appeal...

Richard.

 

[KeithG]

Do you want some where different OR some where with lots of life?

Is lots of life: big (huge) stuff or macro tiny stuff?

Our most different in the Caribbean was Bequia.

Most life was the sites we had already dived many times. We did them slower and saw much more stuff...

 

[agilis]

St. Vincent

 

[Trailboss123]

Do you want some where different OR some where with lots of life?

Is lots of life: big (huge) stuff or macro tiny stuff?

Our most different in the Caribbean was Bequia.

Most life was the sites we had already dived many times. We did them slower and saw much more stuff...

@giffenk - I just noticed or probably better to say, I paid attention for the first time to your avatar photo. I was in Cozumel last month and snapped this photo-- Thought you might like it-- I am monitoring this thread, as I find it interesting and looking forward to other responses:

 

[KathyV]

...I know it's not Caribbean...in fact, it's another ocean, which may also appeal...Richard.

There's abundant sea life and lots of different things to see around Hawaii.

 

[KathyV]

@giffenk - I just noticed or probably better to say, I paid attention for the first time to your avatar photo. I was in Cozumel last month and snapped this photo-- Thought you might like it-- I am monitoring this thread, as I find it interesting and looking forward to other responses:
View attachment 444065

That's really a great picture of a bristle worm!