We are often asked, “What is the best Sandals Resort?“. And if you are interested in Scuba diving, our response changes quite a bit. While scuba diving is included at each of the 17 Sandals resorts in the Caribbean, some of the resorts are located in well-known destinations for Scuba diving. Another factor we think about is how easy it is to get scuba diving from the resort. Some resorts require a drive to get to the harbor to go diving. Its a minor inconvenience, but it makes a difference.
Here is our ranking for the best Sandals Resorts for Scuba Diving
- Sandals Granada
- Sandals Curacao
- Sandals Grande St Lucian
- Sandals Royal Bahamian
- Sandals Regency La Toc
- Sandals Halcyon
- Sandals Royal Barbados
- Sandals Barbados
Scuba Diving in Grenada
Known for its shipwreck diving, Grenada has been called the “wreck diving capital of the Caribbean.” This gorgeous island also features an amazing underwater sculpture park and vibrant, colorful coral reefs like “Purple Rain.” Sandals Grenada is set on pristine Pink Gin Beach, just 5 minutes from the airport. This means you can start your Sandals scuba vacation quickly!
Not only is Sandals Grenada great for Scuba Diving, it is also is one of the best Sandals Resorts overall with amazing service, restaurants and other facilities.
The aqua center is located right on the beach so going scuba diving is very convenient and they have a very friendly scuba team. This will always be a favorite of mine because it is the first place I went scuba diving and saw a shark. In the dive I went on we saw turtles, reef fish, moray eels, lionfish, and a reef shark.
Scuba Diving at Sandals Royal Curacao
Curaçao has long been a favorite among divers for its crystal-clear waters, vibrant coral reefs, and abundant marine life. This makes Sandals Royal Curacao one of our top picks for Scuba Diving, especially because you are picked up directly on site at the dock to go on your scuba diving trips.
Sandals Royal Curacao is one of the newest Sandals resort and the only one to lie outside the hurricane belt. The island has more than 85 scuba diving sites, including diving right off the shore, shipwrecks, coral reefs, and walls. One of the most popular is the Blue Room, an underwater cave that glows with a blue light.
You can see marine life here like banded corals, red night shrimp, red-banded lobster, lettuce sea slugs, flame back angels, gobies and blennies, frogfish, and pygmy angelfish.
Scuba Diving in Saint Lucia
St. Lucia is another top Caribbean dive spot and home to 3 Sandals resorts. When you stay at one, you can play at all three.
With clear water and thriving marine life, you can see more than 150 different types of fish at spots like reefs, protected marine parks, and shipwrecks. A unique option is diving around the base of the Piton mountains, while Anse Chastenet Marine National Park offers a colorful coral reef and lobsters, barracudas, and parrotfish.
Sandals Grande St Lucian is our top pick in Saint Lucia because you can leave directly from the resort to go scuba diving without needing to get in a shuttle. It is also an ideal resort with clear, calm waters, so when you aren’t scuba diving, you can enjoy the amazing resort.
Sandals Regency La Toc is our 2nd pick within Saint Lucia. It is actually closer to most dive sites so your dive trips will require less time on a scuba boat, but it does require a 15 minute drive into town to get on the scuba boat.
Sandals Halcyon is our third pick within Saint Lucia for scuba diving. While it is still a great option, it requires a shuttle to get to the scuba boat, and it is a smaller Sandals Resort. It is perfect for guests looking for a quiet getaway, and it is in between the two other resorts, making it a great option if you are looking to visit the other resorts during your stay.
Scuba Diving in the Bahamas
Located in Nassau, just a quick 30-minute flight from Miami, Sandals Royal Bahamian is one of the most accessible Sandals resorts for U.S. travelers. The resort has a fun, energetic vibe with two large pools, a variety of restaurants and bars, and an exclusive private offshore island, complete with its own beach, pool, restaurant, and bar just a short boat ride away. A lot of our guests love Sandals Royal Bahamian because it has less of the romantic couples vibe that Sandals is known for, but may not be what you are looking for when looking to Scuba dive everyday.
For scuba divers, The Bahamas delivers some of the clearest water in the Caribbean, often with visibility exceeding 100 feet. The diving here is incredibly diverse, with everything from vibrant coral reefs and wall dives to historic wrecks and shark encounters.
Adventurous divers can also experience shark diving, where Caribbean reef sharks and nurse sharks glide past in a calm, natural setting—a thrilling yet safe experience managed by professional dive operators.
Scuba Diving in Barbados
Set right next to each other on the island’s best beach, Sandals Barbados and Royal Barbados give you a two-in-one vacation.
Located side by side on the stunning Dover Beach in the lively St. Lawrence Gap area, Sandals Barbados and Sandals Royal Barbados offer a seamless two-in-one all-inclusive experience. The vibe is upbeat and modern, with rooftop bars, a bowling alley, swim-up suites, and gourmet dining options all just steps from the sand.
The island’s calm, crystal-clear waters and healthy coral reefs make it ideal for both beginners and experienced divers. One of the most famous and accessible sites is Carlisle Bay, located just a short boat ride from the resort. This bay is a marine park and wreck graveyard, home to at least six sunken ships, including:
- The Barge – A shallow wreck that’s perfect for beginners and snorkelers, surrounded by schooling fish and colorful coral
- SS Cornwallis – A Canadian freighter sunk by a German U-boat during WWII, now home to a variety of marine life
- Berwyn, Eillon, and Ce-Trek – Other small wrecks scattered across the sandy bottom, each with unique stories and resident marine creatures
These wrecks are closely grouped and lie in shallow, calm waters (20–55 feet), making Carlisle Bay an ideal spot for multi-wreck dives and underwater photography. You’ll encounter sea turtles, moray eels, trumpetfish, angelfish, and even seahorses, making every dive exciting and full of life.
