Montserrat

Scuba and tour boats run from the pier at Little Bay, Montserrat's only seaport, in the north of the island outside the Hazard Level System. Some sites are easy walk-ins from the beach, Woodlands and Lime Kiln among them; others are quick boat rides to calm reef ridges beneath towering cliffs, with longer trips to the wilder northern and southern reefs. The pier has no breakwater, so a strong southerly wind with big swells can keep the boats in for a day or two. Redonda, a steep uninhabited islet, lies about 24 km (15 mi) to the north-west, and the Bat Cave can only be dived with a permit.

Reefs surround Montserrat on a shelf of volcanic sand and rock that slopes away from the coast. Colourful hard coral clings to the volcanic substrate, and soft corals and sea fans wave in a gentle current. At Woodlands and Carrs Bay the reef breaks into arches and overhangs over a sandy floor, with plenty of hiding places for fish. The eruption meant 20 years of minimal human interference underwater, which left the reefs unspoiled and full of tropical fish, corals, sponges and critters. Visibility often exceeds 24 m (80 ft).

Most sites suit novice divers, and both centres teach PADI courses: one has taught everyone from 8-year-old Bubble Makers to adventurers over 80, and the other runs courses through to Divemaster, with internships. Little Redonda and a few other sites offer a bit of a challenge for more experienced divers. With only two dive shops on the island, boats are usually uncrowded and dive plans can be shaped around each group. The water averages 28 °C (82 °F), so diving needs only minimal equipment.