Ryan getting ready to dive
During our stay on Grenada we have made the decision to practice what we learned earlier while in St. Lucia where Randy and I became PADI certified by training at Dive St. Lucia. (See Learning to Scuba Dive in St. Lucia (by Ryan), June 5, 2016.) Randy, our boat neighbors, Capt. John, Mrs. Paulette, M/V Seamantha, Capt. Ed, and Mrs. Cheryl, S/V Slowdown, and I hopped on a bus one morning and went down to the Radisson Hotel on Grand Anse Beach. We used the Eco Dive shop which is conveniently located at the rear of the hotel’s grounds on the beach. We all picked out the appropriate equipment that fit us, and then hopped onto the boat which was waiting moored right off the beach.
Randy and Ryan ready to dive Grenada!
We sped north on the speed boat up to Flamingo Bay. When we got there, we put our gear on, did the final check, and jumped in the water.
We saw many underwater attractions at this amazing dive sit including eels, lobster, coral, and a huge, very intimidating barracuda!
Coral at Flamingo Bay, Grenada
Lion fish, Flamingo Bay, Grenada
On our first dive we also saw a lionfish. Lionfish are not indigenous to the waters of Grenada or the Caribbean. They are an unnatural invasive species that have no natural predators in the Caribbean. Many dive centers encourage divers throughout the Caribbean to go on lionfish hunts to reduce their population and help protect the reefs. If you encounter a lionfish you must be careful though, because the venom in their spines, while not lethal, will cause immense pain!
After 35 minutes we surfaced and rejoined the dive boat. Randy and I got out of the water before everyone else because they were diving deeper than 40 feet which is my limit. After everyone was securely on the boat, we started heading south towards the Underwater Statue Park.
We all switched tanks from our empty tanks to our full tanks. Once we got to the Underwater Statue Park we put our gear on for the second time and then hopped into the water.
We saw all of the statues that we have seen while snorkeling on previous visits and then some. It was very cool to see it from the different perspective of a scuba diver.
(Ryan) Typing at the desk, Underwater Sculpture Park, Molinere Bay, Grenada
Ryan amidst the Underwater Sculpture Park, Molinere Bay, Grenada
Underwater Sculpture Park, Molinere Bay, Grenada
On our second dive at the Underwater Statue Park we also saw very many fish and coral amongst the statues.
School of fish, Underwater Sculpture Park, Grenada
Eco Dive crew taking us back ashore after two great dives, Grenada
We stayed under for 25 minutes and then surfaced again. Like last time, the boat was there in no time. We then proceeded to fly back to the dive shop on the dive boat (the Nutmeg Princess). We turned in all of the equipment and then had lunch next door. It was lots of fun and a wonderful experience for everyone! Becoming a certified open water diver has been a wonderful experience for me and provided me the foundation for a lifetime of learning.
Randy & Ryan, another great dive! (Grenada)
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