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