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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
Tobago is the destination for
divers. It is a small island and
compared to many other Caribbean
Island destinations, it is visited
by relatively few divers making
it very pristine and untouched.
It is a great destination for the
beginner and very advanced diver
alike. Sites range from gently sloping
coral reefs to stunning vertical
rock faces covered with encrusting
sponges, gorgonians and stony corals.
These sites support a wide range
of life, most notably the stingrays,
eagle rays, hawksbill turtles, and
nurse sharks. On the smaller end
of the scale you will find cherubfish,
flameback angelfish, and sea horses.
The
south end of this tiny island is
the quieter, shallower area while
the north end experiences the Guyana
Current creating intense and exciting
drift dives. These drift dives are
fantastic. Large shoals of grunt
and snapper create a swirl of moving
color. Green morays, nurse sharks,
turtles and the occasional whale
shark complete the dream dive.
Water
Temp Summer Average 80F 26C Winter
70F 21C Visibility Average 80 ft
24 m
Travel
& Tips
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AIR
TRAVEL: TRINIDAD-TOBAGO AIRBRIDGE
There is a regular air service,
or air bridge, between Trinidad
and Tobago, with the first of
roughly 12 daily flights leaving
Piarco International Airport at
6am. This service is run by Caribbean
Airlines, Trinidad and Tobago's
national air service provider.
Flights on the air bridge cost
US$24 one way or US$48 return.
Return tickets for children under
the age of 12 cost US$24.
If you are travelling to Tobago
via the air bridge it is important
to note that during peak periods
(Easter weekend, Plymouth Jazz
Festival in April and Great Race
weekend in August) the service
is often over subscribed and it
is possible to face long delays,
even when holding a confirmed
ticket.
Entry Requirements
Trinidad and Tobago Passport &
Visa Requirements
Entry requirements for Americans:
A visa is not required by US citizens
for a stay of up to three months
for tourist purposes.
Entry requirements for UK nationals:
UK nationals, regardless of their
passport endorsement, do not need
a visa to enter TNT.
Entry requirements for Canadians:
Canadians do not need a visa to
visit TNT.
Entry requirements for Australians:
Australians require a visa for
Trinidad and Tobago, which can
be obtained on arrival for a visa
waiver fee of TT$50.
Entry requirements for South Africans:
South Africans require a visa
for Trinidad and Tobago which
can be obtained on arrival for
a visa waiver fee of TT$50.
Entry requirements for New Zealanders:
New Zealanders require a visa
for Trinidad and Tobago which
can be obtained on arrival for
a visa waiver fee TT$50.
Entry requirements for Irish nationals:
Irish nationals do not require
a visa to visit TNT.
Passport/Visa Note: Passports
must be valid for at least the
period of the proposed visit.
Visitors require documents for
return or onward travel, and a
fixed address for the period of
their stay.
Entry regulations are subject
to change on short notice. You
are advised to contact your embassey
or consulate office for the latest
information.
Contacts
Trinidad and Tobago Tourism: +868
675 7034/5/6/7 or www.visittnt.com
Embassy of the Republic of Trinidad
& Tobago, Washington DC, United
States: +1 202 467 6490
High Commission of the Republic
of Trinidad & Tobago, London,
United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7245
9351
High Commission of the Republic
of Trinidad & Tobago, Ottawa,
Canada: +1 613 232 2418
Consulate-General of Trinidad
& Tobago, Double Bay, New
South Wales, Australia: +61 (0)2
9327 8468
High Commission of the Republic
of Trinidad & Tobago, Pretoria,
South Africa: +27 (0)12 460 9688
Consulate of Trinidad & Tobago,
Auckland, New Zealand: +64 (0)9
302 1860
United States Embassy, Port of
Spain: +868 622 6371
British High Commission, Port
of Spain: +868 628 1234/2748
Canadian High Commission, Port
of Spain: +868 622 6232
Australian High Commission, Port
of Spain: +868 628 4732
South African High Commission,
Kingston, Jamaica (also responsible
for Trinidad and Tobago): + 876
978 3160/4457
Irish Honorary Consul, Port of
Spain: +868 628 2385
New Zealand High Commission, Ottawa,
Canada: +1 613 238 5991 (also
responsible for Trinidad and Tobago)
Emergencies: 999 (Police); 990
(Fire/Ambulance)
Visitor Information and Tips
General Climate
Trinidad & Tobago has two
main seasons - the dry season,
from January to May and the wet
or rainy season, from June to
December. In the rainy season,
mornings are usually sunny, followed
by rainy afternoons and fair nights.
During this time, the general
rainfall pattern is interrupted
by days of brilliant sunshine.
This is similar to what temperate
climes know as Indian Summer and
offers a warm, invigorating change
from dull weather. This mini-break
normally happens between mid September
to mid October.
Hotel Tax
This tax of 10% is standard to
all hotels and guesthouses in
T&T. In addition, hotels may
add on their own service and utility
fees or security deposits - but
this depends on the provider.
The best way to find out about
these fees are from your hotel
or guesthouse directly.
Value Added Tax
Value Added Tax, or VAT, is a
15% tax added to goods and services.
The prices displayed in stores
usually includes this tax, unless
otherwise stated. Companies registered
to charge VAT, must prominently
display their Certificate of Registration.
Information booklets on VAT are
available at the VAT Administration
Centre, 20 St. Vincent Street,
Port of Spain, or any VAT Regional
Office. Call 623-4735 or 4737
for more information.
Postal Service
Trinidad and Tobago's Postal Service
provider, TT Post, offers an array
of services to suit your every
need, from express couriers to
bill payments and greeting cards.
Most TT Post branches also offer
for sale a range of special collector
stamps. Call 800-POSTT to find
out more about TT Post’s services.
Communication
With two very competitive cellular
phone service providers in Trinidad
and Tobago - Digicel and the Telecommunications
Services of Trinidad and Tobago
(TSTT) – it’s easy to remain connected
to the loved ones you left at
home. TSTT also provides telecommunications
infrastructure that features state-of-the-art
digital technology and fibre optic
systems capable of supporting
a wide range of services, including
wireless, so bring along your
Blackberry. Both companies also
provide roaming facilities.
Pre-paid calling cards
If you prefer to control your
telephone costs, prepaid phone
cards for landline (Companion
Cards) and mobile phones (Bmobile
and DIGICEL Cards) are available
for sale at Customer Service Centres
and other vendors throughout the
islands.
Internet
Even if you decide to leave your
laptop at home, sending and receiving
e-mail, chatting online or surfing
the World Wide Web is simple and
cheap.
Internet cafes are very popular
in T&T and some of the more
sophisticated cafes offer the
option of Web-Cams. Internet access
is also free at all public libraries.
Language
The official language of Trinidad
and Tobago is English, although
we do have segments of the population,
which, mostly through culture
and heritage, speak other languages,
including "patois",
a slang version of French that
provides a window to our island's
former French colonial days.
Electricity
You’ll need an adaptorfor your
appliances. Electricity: 110/220
volts AC, 60Hz. Plugs are the
2 flat pin type, as in the USA.
Most accommodation has air conditioning
- if not, there are usually fans.
Driving
Visitors in possession of valid
licenses issued in U.S., Canada,
France, U.K., Germany and the
Bahamas may drive for up to three
months. International licenses
are also accepted. Driving is
on the left side of the road.
Car rental agencies are located
in Port of Spain, San Fernando
and at Piarco International Airport.
International rental agency presence
at airport. All major credit cards
are accepted.
Crime
Tourists to Trinidad & Tobago
find it a relatively safe destination.
Authorities deal with crime against
tourists very seriously - thefts
from tourists are deterred by
heavy jail sentences. Islanders
are a warm and respectful people
- but whatever country you visit,
there’s always an element of crime.
Exercise the same caution you
would in your own hometown. Keep
your money and valuables safe.
Don’t leave your bag and camera
on an empty beach while you go
for a swim. Be sensible. Generally,
you can walk around, day or night,
and not be looking over you shoulder. |
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