Grenada’s marine tourism and conservation community is gearing up for the 5th iteration of its landmark Dive and Conservation Festival, scheduled to run from October 26 to November 1, 2026, the Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) has officially announced.
Over its first four editions, the festival has evolved into one of the most anticipated annual events on Grenada’s national tourism calendar, uniting a diverse cross-section of stakeholders including local dive operators, marine science researchers, environmental conservation nonprofits, and tourism partners across the country’s tri-island territory. This year’s milestone 5th festival, anchored by the theme “Sustainable Legacy,” expands on years of cross-sector collaboration while cementing Grenada’s global reputation as a forward-thinking travel destination where adventure tourism, marine recreation, and proactive environmental stewardship go hand in hand.
Kirl Grant-Hoschtialek, GTA’s Chief of Operations and Acting Chief Executive Officer, emphasized that the festival’s steady growth reflects the central role Grenada’s pristine natural ecosystems play in shaping the country’s unique visitor experience. “Our natural environment is one of Grenada’s most defining and valuable assets,” Grant-Hoschtialek noted. “The continued expansion of this festival makes clear how critical these ecosystems are to both our tourism economy and everyday community life. The Dive and Conservation Festival creates intentional, meaningful spaces for dive industry and conservation partners to connect with both visitors and local residents, share evidence-based knowledge about marine protection, and foster deeper collective appreciation for the ocean environments that sustain us all.”
The 2026 festival will roll out a full slate of programming across both Grenada island and Carriacou, with guided diving excursions, conservation-focused public education, and community-led engagement activities taking center stage. Attendees will gain access to guided explorations of Grenada’s world-famous underwater dive sites, hands-on learning opportunities focused on coral propagation and reef rehabilitation, and the chance to directly participate in ongoing initiatives aimed at safeguarding the country’s unique coastal and marine biodiversity.
One of the festival’s flagship components this year will be the “Conservation Conversations” series, an outreach program tailored to connect local students with leading marine and environmental experts from across the Caribbean and beyond. The series is designed to build long-term conservation literacy among young Grenadians and expand understanding of ecosystem protection challenges and solutions across the tri-island state. Beyond diving and educational programming, the 2026 festival will also include guided birdwatching excursions, island-wide community coastal clean-up drives, and other immersive activities designed to encourage deeper, more responsible engagement with both Grenada’s terrestrial and marine natural landscapes.
Shanai St Bernard, GTA’s Nautical Development Manager, called the 5th edition a key milestone for Grenada’s fast-growing dive and marine tourism sector. “This festival has grown into a can’t-miss event for both visitors and locals, giving everyone a chance to connect firsthand with Grenada’s incredible marine life while reinforcing the shared responsibility we all have to protect it,” St Bernard explained. “This intentional balance between exploration, public education, and active conservation is the core of sustainable tourism, and it has remained the central mission of this festival from its launch.”
As Grenada works to build a more resilient, sustainable tourism economy for the long term, the annual Dive and Conservation Festival stands as a model for how intentional event planning can deliver both economic and environmental benefits. By centering collective action and intergenerational stewardship, the festival reinforces a simple but powerful truth: the travel experiences we design and protect today will lay the foundation for a thriving, vibrant destination for future generations to enjoy.