Antigua Travel Blog

Caribbean Leeward Islands -  Part II

Onward in the Leewards.   My previous Blog included 6 Leeward Island-Nations… Packing a lot into one Blog – too much.

Most of those stops were fast moving.  Here in Antigua,  I finally slow down.   Giving myself a week of diving and exploring.  Time to catch my breathe.

Antigua and Barbuda is a British Commonwealth Nation.. another two island nation.  Antigua is larger than the other Leeward islands I’ve been exploring this year.   With 100k people.  A well developed tourist industry.  A massive yachting business.. and tons of potential.

I don’t make the hop over to Barbuda.. It’s totally undeveloped, with just one hotel.. Not sure if diving is available there,, but it looks like an eco wonderland.  Next time !!!

My arrival to Antigua is late in the evening – not cool. Flying in from St. Maarten on Winair ,,,after taking a Ferry from Anguilla earlier that morning.  I arrive tired. Ugg. I have a rental car waiting at the airport.  Immigration was easy, and before I know – I’m on the road again.  Remembering to drive on the Left -  seems to be a theme lately 😊

The Travel Gods have a way of slapping you sometimes… Just when I think I have an adventure figured out – it goes sideways.  My first 2 hours in Antigua are horrible.   My next 7 days – brilliant.   What a wonderful turn of events.

My hotel is located on the opposite side of Antigua – in English Harbor.  Opposite the airport in St. Johns – the capital city.  Unfortunately, on a two lane road.. I am behind 3 huge Disel fuel trucks.  Going 10 mph, laying on their horns… Google maps says 30 minutes to my destination.. Well 1.5 hours later – I arrive in English Harbor.. with a headache!!! Ugg.  Hope this gets better..  And it does 😊

And HOW !!!

Antigua has one of the most beautiful coast lines I’ve ever seen.  And my visit here is outstanding !!!   I definitely recommend Antigua to anyone.  If you can’t find something you love in Antigua … your not trying.

Antigua Yacht Club Hotel, on Falmouth Bay,, at English Harbor.   My hotel choice is always driven by its proximity to a scuba dive shop.  And Wow,,, this hotel works perfect.  A quality accommodation, in the heart of English Harbor.  10 restaurants outside my door… and docks packed with yachts.  Cool vibe.

I dive with DiveCarib several days..  The weather a little rainy ,, with high winds – causing low viz for diving.. and difficult photography.  I do succeed with a dozen or so good shots..best I could do.  Not every dive is perfect.. I’m here to learn the secrets of Antigua.

One of the dives is a reminder of double-checking your gear.  The dive staff put together my kit the second day .. including weight pockets.. I typically dive with 8 lbs when using a full 3m and vest..

Thinking,, and believing the staff properly handled my kit ... I giant stride off the boat - my dive begins. Bad plan.

One of the weight pockets fell out before I hit the water (I didn’t notice)…  then while in the ocean.. waiting on the other divers to enter and join the group …  the second pocket fell-out….sinking to 50ft.  Uggg.   At-first I almost went ahead and dove with just 4lb (one pocket) … I would have managed.  But zero is almost impossible for me…

I make it back to the boat.  Retrieve the weight pocket still on the deck – cool.  Then get handed some loose weights and stuff them in my SMB pocket  - Finally - I’m back on track and ready to dive.

And cool… Another diver notices my weight pocket on the ocean floor – and magic… I get it back.  I thought that pocket was long gone. Good Karma I guess.

The lesson:  never trust anyone when it comes to your dive gear!!

I walk the docks at night ...  50 monster yachts line up.. Each $100-200m dollars  … insane money.  Mind blowing.

Once my diving program is compete here .. I drive around the island for a few days ,,, it is amazing!!  Devils Bridge is one of the most beautiful locations on earth.. Crashing waves, blue sky’s  - it alone is worth a trip to Antigua.

And the beaches on the west-side of the island.. are spectacular.  Fries beach,  Darkwood Beach, Jolly Beach.  Each better and better..  and I’m not even a beach person….  But these beaches are beyond perfect… I need to rent a jet ski here someday.

The yearly rowing race across the Atlantic is finishing up during my visit.  With 2 and 4 person crews.  Starting in the Canary Islands.. finishing in Antigua 40-60 days at sea .... these are hearty strong souls…

The roads are just 2-lanes.. but most of the time.. are easily managed. Stay on the Left,, relax.  Be prepared to stop.. At any time, the car in front will just stop – load/unload.. no other option.. Carefully make your way around them and proceed.  Normal roads..hard top everywhere, but millions of patched pot-holes..

Antigua is flatter than I expected.  Some low-lying ‘mountains’ .. but more valleys and rolling landscape.  Makes for great sugar cane production back 200 years ago.   But I find it strange to see very limited agriculture being done on Antigua.  For me,, it’s a lost opportunity – I wonder why. Pineapple, papaya, banana, corn would thrive here. But I see almost zero farms.

By coincidence.. The 6 Nation Rugby tournament is underway.. I join 300 new friends at a local pub to watch.  Great fun.  I’ve become a Rugby expert..  Hard to top Carib’s and Rugby in Antigua.

One last day of exploring… St. Johns – the capital and largest city in Antigua.  I drive to old Fort James guarding the entrance to the city harbor..  Stange.. the fort is completely unmaintained.. and falling apart.  No visitors, no tourists.. Just me.  There are a few cool cannons.  Hopefully this Fort gets some love soon.. or a piece of history will be lost.

Making it to Antigua’s cruise ship docks for a peek ... yeah.. they get their share.. Luckily for me, most cruise ship tourists never leave St. Johns.

And I track down the Antigua and Barbuda museum – tiny, but a good start.. located in their 1753 court house.

My 8 days here are over.. Time to fly.

I hang at the Antigua lounge (a good one).. catch a late flight out. Ugg, another late night trip.

Onward.