Antigua and Barbuda has cemented its status as a world-class Caribbean scuba diving hub, claiming 12 distinct honors in the 2027 Readers’ Choice Awards hosted by leading industry publication Scuba Diving magazine. The twin-island nation earned top-tier recognition across a sweeping range of specialized diving categories, spanning beginner-friendly underwater excursions, advanced technical dive routes, dramatic wall diving, historic wreck exploration, underwater photography hotspots, big marine animal encounter sites, and unique cavern, grotto and cave diving experiences. Launched 34 years ago, the annual Readers’ Choice Awards is one of the most trusted peer-voted honors in the global diving community, with the 2027 edition drawing nearly 11,000 verified votes from active recreational and professional divers across North America, Europe and the broader global diving network. The latest wave of accolades highlights Antigua’s unmatched geographic diversity of dive sites: the island’s west coast, nestled in the calm waters of the Caribbean Sea, boasts sprawling, vibrantly healthy coral formations accessible via a wide fleet of local daily boat dive trips, while the southern coastal zone, where the Caribbean Sea merges with the dynamic Atlantic Ocean, features towering underwater rock overhangs and a curated collection of well-preserved historic wreck sites. Industry leaders note that the widespread reader recognition offers a high-impact platform to showcase the full breadth of Antigua and Barbuda’s underwater offerings to global adventure travelers, while also shining a well-deserved spotlight on the island’s network of highly trained, locally based dive operators who curate safe, educational and unforgettable underwater experiences for every skill level. For novice divers building their underwater confidence, Cades Reef on the island’s sheltered west coast serves as an ideal entry point: its shallow, sun-dappled sections are teeming with intricate coral colonies and bustling schools of colorful tropical reef fish, creating a low-pressure environment for new divers to practice core skills, while also giving underwater photography enthusiasts ample time to frame detailed, vivid shots of the reef’s tiny, unique marine inhabitants. Local dive teams based out of Jolly Harbour run regular half-day and full-day boat excursions to the protected Cades Reef marine park. For more seasoned divers, the dramatic cliffs beneath the iconic Shirley Heights lookout, located just off the south coast near historic English Harbour, give way to some of the Caribbean’s most dramatic underwater geological formations. The famous Sunken Rock site, situated just outside Indian Creek, features a fully submerged rocky peninsula that plunges to roughly 130 feet below the surface, where certified advanced divers can spot majestic eagle rays, gentle sea turtles, large pelagic fish and even occasional reef sharks in their natural habitat. A curated trail of well-documented wreck dive sites along the southern seaboard adds another layer of exploration for divers seeking to connect with the region’s maritime history. Fully certified PADI dive centers operating out of both Jolly Harbour and English Harbour offer personalized consultation services for all visitors, customizing boat dive itineraries to match each guest’s certification level, past diving experience and specific interests, from macro photography to big marine life encounters. Travelers seeking full details on planning a diving-focused trip to Antigua and Barbuda can access official guidance and booking resources through the island’s national tourism authority website.
Antigua and Barbuda earns 12 honours in Scuba Diving Magazine’s 2027 Readers’ Choice Awards
