Tobago diving holidays, with the Trinidad and Tobago experts.

Tobago Diving is found on both the Caribbean and Atlantic coasts. Diving on the Caribbean coast tends to be the easiest diving Tobago has to offer, though sites like Sisters Reef offer many attractions, including a chance to view the elusive hammerhead sharks. On the Atlantic coast, Speyside draws divers for the chance of pelagic species such as Tarpon and Mantas and strong drift dives, which add to the excitement of diving here.

The thrill and excitement of diving in Tobago is that diving on many Tobago dive sites is drift diving. Listen to your dive briefing and go with the flow. In the south, there are sites for drift diving but easier-going diving as well. It's here that those wishing to Learn to Dive will stay, as well as those newly qualified divers wishing to progress their dive training.

The wreck of the M/V Maverick is a little farther north on the Caribbean side, while up on the northwestern end of the island, there are fewer dived sites. Around the top of Tobago, on the Atlantic coast, is Speyside. Speyside diving is largely drift diving, best suited to divers with some dive experience. Drifts run along the sloping reefs around the two offshore islands, Little Tobago (aka Bird of Paradise Island) and Goat Island.

During the rainy season, July to December, nutrient-rich outflow from the Orinoco River in South America enters the Guyana Current. This reduces visibility but generally feeds the reefs and marine life. During the dry season, from January to June, visibility can increase to 36 metres with an average of 12-21 metres. Water temperature ranges between 26 and 28 C, while currents can be mild to strong, particularly on sites around Speyside.

There is such a diverse range of dive spots that are easily accessible from the island. A pick of our favourites are...

Kariwak Reef, Store Bay (Beginner Level) - a great site for beginners or for refresher sessions due to the abundance of marine life in manageable conditions. Here there is no current and has a shallow deepest point of only 55 feet. These conditions make this spot a favourite for night dives as it is easy to navigate and also for budding photographers who want to photograph a reef that has not been spoilt by strong tides. The reef is located just 120 feet off Store Bay which means that a breath­taking dive with regular sightings of parrotfish, trumpet fish and banded coral shrimp is only a short swim from the shore.

Flying Reef, Columbus Passage (Beginner Level) - located in the Atlantic side of the island in an area where the current can vary from between 1 and 3 knots. Although Flying Reef is rated as a beginner's level dive, the site can be enjoyable for divers at all levels as it is a long reef with an abundance of marine life. The length of this reef means that it must be done as two separate dives. The Planet Dive team were impressed with what we found here as we spotted two nurse sharks and a huge green moray eel as we past over the colourful reef.

Coral Gardens, Speyside (Intermediate Level) - On the southwestern tip of Little Tobago, a small island located a short boat ride from Speyside ­ just past Goat Island where it is reported that Ian Fleming wrote some of the Bond novels ­ lies the Coral Garden dive site. This dive's highlight is that it is home to one of the largest, if not the largest, brain corals in the Caribbean. Expect to find an array of marine life such as beautiful parrotfish and queen angelfish as well as elegant hawksbill turtles, large green morays and even large nurse sharks in the shadows of the overhangs.

Cove, Columbus Passage (Intermediate Level) - found just South of Columbus Point and is actually an extension of the Flying Reef site. The Planet Dive team found this to be one of our favourite dives as we were lucky enough to spot six nurse sharks, a hawksbill turtle and an octopus. Here you can expect to find a variety of different types of coral such as venus sea fans, gorgonians and star corals with stunning stoplight parrotfish and queen angelfish weaving their way in and out.

Maverick, Mount Irvine Bay (Advanced Level) - a purpose­sunk wreck that sits upright on the sandy seabed in the Caribbean Sea outside Mt. Irvine Bay. In 1997, the Association of Tobago Dive Operators scuttled the former passenger ferry Scarlet Ibis at this site for more advanced divers to enjoy. Since then, the marine life has flourished as encrusting sponges, white telesto and an abundance of oysters have found a home on the ship's surface. Many types of fish have also been attracted to the site. Schools of mackerel, snappers and grunts are just some of the varieties you will almost certainly see as you explore the ship's cargo deck, cabins and pilothouse. There are many other popular dive sites off the shores of Tobago, including The Sisters, Diver's Dream, Japanese Gardens and more.