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ANTIGUA

Antigua and Barbuda

 

Click for V C Bird, Antigua Forecast



Dive Centers - Accommodations - General Information - Getting There - Entry Requirements - Travel Tips

Dive Centers & Accommodations



Click here for more information about  The Ocean Inn and Antigua scuba diving and Accommodations

The Ocean Inn
English Harbour





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General Information

Antigua Travel Scuba Diving AccommodationsAntigua is located in the middle of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean, roughly 17 degrees north of the equator. To the south are the islands of Montserrat and Guadaloupe, and to the north and west are Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Barts, and St. Martin.

Antigua is the largest of the British Leeward Islands, and is about 14 miles long and 11 miles wide, encompassing 108 square miles. Its highest point is Boggy Peak (1319 ft.), located in the southwestern corner of the island.

Antigua is almost completely surrounded by well-preserved coral reefs, walls, and shipwrecks. The southern and eastern coasts of Antigua is surrounded by shelfs, providing excellent conditions for spectacular shallow diving and snorkeling. There is little or no current in most places, the water is warm and clear, and tropical marine plants and animals are diverse and plentiful.

Snorkeling is possible at some of the islands' most beautiful beaches; one of Antigua's best-known offshore sites, Cades Reef, is now partly contained in a designated underwater park. Another popular destination is the wreck of the Andes, a three-masted merchant ship that sank in 1905 and now rests in less than thirty feet of water in (ironically enough) Deep Bay. Antigua's dive facilities are excellent. The southern and eastern coasts are considered to offer the most consistent diving; for more advanced divers, the ledge of Sunken Rock on the south coast is a popular site. Dive depths generally range from 25 to 80 feet and can reach 130+ feet; distances from shore to site are in some cases no more than five minutes and at most 40 minutes away.


Climate 75 - 85F 24 - 29C
Water Temp Average 80 F (25 C)
U/W Visibility  50 to 140 ft 15 - 42 m

 

 

Getting There

Air Travel

V.C. Bird International Airport, located on the northeast corner of Antigua, is the point of entry for visitors arriving by air to Antigua & Barbuda. There are both direct flights and connections from North America via San Juan and St. Martin and several weekly flights from Europe. Scheduled and charter service is available to many of the neighboring islands. Flying times: New York--4 hrs.; Miami--3 hrs.; Baltimore--4 hrs.; Toronto--4 hrs.; Puerto Rico--1 hr.; London--8 hrs.; Frankfurt--9 1/4 hrs.; Paris--8 hrs.

Airlines Serving North America

Air Canada
(800) 422-6232
(268) 462-1147

American Airlines
(800) 433-7300
(268) 462-0950

Continental Airlines
(800) 231-0856
(268) 462-5355

US Air
(268) 480-5601 Extension 5704

Air Travel


V.C. Bird International Airport, located on the northeast corner of Antigua, is the point of entry for visitors arriving by air to Antigua & Barbuda. There are both direct flights and connections from North America via San Juan and St. Martin and several weekly flights from Europe. Scheduled and charter service is available to many of the neighboring islands. Flying times: New York--4 hrs.; Miami--3 hrs.; Baltimore--4 hrs.; Toronto--4 hrs.; Puerto Rico--1 hr.; London--8 hrs.; Frankfurt--9 1/4 hrs.; Paris--8 hrs.

Airlines Serving North America

Air Canada
(800) 422-6232
(268) 462-1147

American Airlines
(800) 433-7300
(268) 462-0950

Continental Airlines
(800) 231-0856
(268) 462-5355

US Air
(268) 480-5601 Extension 5704


Traveling By Air From The UK

British Airways
(Five times a week)
Reservations: 0845 77 333 77 (24hrs)
www.britishairways.com

Virgin Atlantic
(Twice Weekly)
Reservations: 01293 747 747
www.virgin-atlantic.com


Airlines Serving Europe

British Airways
(800) 247-9297
(268) 462-3219

Virgin Atlantic

Sunsail Airways
An exclusive year round service to The Virgin Islands and Antigua with Air 2000
E-mail: sales@sunsailflights.co.uk
Tel: (800) 6526520, +44 (0) 23 9222 2226
Fax: +44 (0) 23 9221 5125


Inter-Island Airlines

LIAT
Scheduled service from the Caribbean and South America.
(268) 462-0700
http://www.liat.com

Air St. Kitts/Nevis
Charter service to most neighboring islands.
(268) 465-8571 (Call collect)

Carib Aviation
Charter service to most neighboring islands.
V.C. Bird International Airport
(or PO Box 318, St. Johns)
Antigua, West Indies
Tel: (268) 462-3147 or 462-3452
Fax: (268) 462-3125
After-hours calls: (268) 461-1650
http://www.candoo.com/carib/
Email caribav@candoo.com

Caribbean Star Airlines Ltd
Scheduled service to most neighboring islands.
(268) 480 2561~5/67
Web site: www.flycaribbeanstar.com

Departure Tax
Antigua & Barbuda has a US$20.00 airport departure tax

Entry Requirements

All visitors to Antigua and Barbuda must have an onward or return ticket. Citizens of United States, United Kingdom and Canada citizens do not require a visa to enter Antigua and Barbuda and may travel on one of the following:

Valid Passport
Original Naturalization Certificate
Persons visiting are permitted to stay as long as their business takes, provided that:

a) this is no longer than six months
b) they have an onward or return ticket
c) they have confirmation of accommodation
d) they can produce evidence of their ability to maintain themselves in Antigua and Barbuda


Travel Tips

Taxis
Taxis are readily available throughout Antigua. They are also available for island tours. Rates are preset, there are no meters.

Buses
There is some local bus service; schedules and routes can be obtained through the hotels

Rental Cars
Renting a car is an ideal way to discover more of Antigua while on your vacation. There are numerous international and local rental agencies available. Driving is on the left side of the road.The cost is about US$40-50 per day. In addition to a valid driver's license from your country of residence, or an international driver's license, a permit to drive in Antigua is required. The rental agency can assist you in getting this temporary license, which costs approximately US$20 and is valid for three months.

Helpful Tips

Taxes
There is a room tax of 8.5% and service charge of 10% (in lieu of tipping).

Tipping
10-15% depending on the service. Some restaurants & hotels will automatically add a 10% gratuity.

Money Matters
Official currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar which is fixed to the US dollar. U.S. currency, travelers checks and major credit cards are welcome everywhere.

Medical
There are several general practitioners and specialists on the island, a hospital and a private clinic. No vaccinations are required unless the visitor is arriving from an endemic area. Recompression chambers are available by air ambulance at nearby Saba and in St. Thomas. Pharmaceutical services are widely available.

Dress
Informal, but conservative. Beach attire is appropriate for the beach but not town, shops or restaurants. Some hotels and restaurants stipulate jacket and tie for men and dresses for women in the evening.

Electricity
Part of the island is 110 volts, the remainder is 220 volts. Most hotels have both voltages available.

Shopping Hours
Monday thru Saturday 8:00am to noon and 1:00pm-5:00pm.

Personal Safety
Antigua & Barbuda are relatively crime free, but as with any place you may visit, exercise normal precautions; i.e. don't leave valuables unattended in rental cars or on the beach.

Water
All tap water is potable and is safe to drink. The only treatment is sterilization by chlorine.

Time Zone
Atlantic Standard Time ( one hour ahead of EST)

 

 















Rates & Services as well as travel regulations are subject to change without notice.

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