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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) Visibility 50 to 140 ft 15 - 42 m
Dive
Services
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Sea Wolf Diving School
The Compton Building
Dockyard Drive
English Harbour, Antigua West Indies
Tel: + 268 561 5258 or +268 783 3466
info@seawolfdivingschool.com
http://www.seawolfdivingschool.com
A full service PADI dive center catering to small
groups with a suberb safety record, best equipment
and thorough dive training. We offer Antigua and
Montserrat diving. |
Accommodations
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Travel By Air
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 |
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Departure Tax
Antigua & Barbuda has a US$20.00 airport departure tax |
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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
New Travel Requirements
The Department of State and Homeland Security have announced a "Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative"
in which they are proposing to require all U.S. Citizens, Canadians, citizens of Bermuda and citizens of Mexico
to have a passport or other accepted secure document to enter or re-enter the U.S. by January 1, 2008.
Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and
Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport,
Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document.
As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico,
Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present
a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative
changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements
as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport
cards for land/sea entries.
Getting Around
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).
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. |
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