The Association of Tobago Dive Operators (ATDO) is the regulatory body that has laid out specific standards for the comfort and safety of divers on Tobago. Some of the main standards include having a dive instructor on staff full-time; oxygen, first aid kits, and radios on board dive boats; an SMB provided for all divers; and, dive guide escorts with all dives, with a surface marker buoy.
In addition to the full spectrum of PADI courses and programs offered by all members of the ATDO, courses from other certifying agencies - such as BSAC and NAUI - are available. Snorkel/scuba equipment rental and nitrox is readily available. The Roxborough Hyperbaric Facility is housed at the Roxborough Medical Clinic on Tobago.
The 10 registered dive centers on Tobago are located on the north end of the island around Speyside, or in the south at Crown Point. There is just one operator along the west coast at Pigeon Point.
R and Sea Divers are based at Toucan Inn, Crown Point. A PADI Dive Resort and member of ATDO, this friendly dive center offers a high level of service and professionalism. Owner-operators Tracy, John, and Wendy have a lovely team of experienced instructors and divemasters who offer PADI certification courses, as well as a wide range of PADI Specialities such as Drift Diving and Enriched Air Nitrox. Daily guided diving trips or snorkelling is available on their custom dive boat. Night diving and Speyside dive trips can be arranged.
Tobago Dive Experience, at Manta Lodge, is a PADI 5 Star IDC Dive Resort and member of ATDO. Owner-operator Sean Robinson has been diving the waters around Tobago since 1984, and has an incomparable wealth of knowledge about the underwater world in this area. The team offers PADI, NAUI, SSI, and BSAC certification courses. Their daily-guided diving boat trips visit over 40 sites around the north end of the island, although southern dive trips can be arranged.
Tobago is accessible by air or sea. British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Condor, Monarch, and Caribbean Airlines all fly into A.N.R. Robinson International Airport (TAB), located 11km outside of Scarborough. The inter-island ferry departs from Port of Spain, in Trinidad, and berths in Crown Point, on Tobago. The trip takes around 2 1/2 hours and the ferry carries both passengers and vehicles.
Once on the island, visitors can hire a vehicle or use one of the many taxi or tour companies available. The infrastructure and roads are generally in good condition throughout the island, but use caution when driving in the mountainous or rural regions.
Read "Part 1: Overview of Scuba Diving in Tobago, (Trinidad and Tobago)
Read "Part 2: Dive Sites, Marine Life & Environment in Tobago, (Trinidad and Tobago)