It’s one of if not the most popular activity for Caribbean travelers: snorkeling. Aside from lounging on the beach and drinking rum, grabbing a mask and fins and heading into the sea is one of the main draws for travelers — and thankfully the Caribbean is full of great places to snorkel. Indeed, it’s not a stretch to say that the Caribbean is the world’s best snorkeling destination. These are our favorite places for snorkeling, looking at everything from ease of access to the number of great snorkeling sites to the number of high-quality snorkeling excursions.

Bonaire

There’s nowhere with more easy to access shore snorkeling in the Caribbean, thanks to the spectacular marine park that runs the perimeter of the island. That’s in large part due to the forward-thinking marine conservation practices that have put Bonaire at the forefront of the Caribbean.

The post The Best Islands for Snorkeling in the Caribbean appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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If you’re heading underwater, there’s no reason you can do so in style. And finding the right wristwatch is a big part of that. But if you’re heading to the Caribbean Sea, you’re looking for a watch that’s sporty, lightweight and, most importantly, seriously water resistant. That’s where the best Dive Watches come in — whether you’re a professional or amateur diver, or just looking for a watch that’s as elegant as it is practical, these are the ones for you. We’ve listed our five favorite dive watches, long on luxury and on performance. While we tend to prefer the sportier rubber band, many of these come in both metal and rubber straps. We’ve ranked these watches for their mix of underwater performance, design and overall style. Here are the best dive watches.

Breitling Superocean II

Breitling’s flagship dive watch, the Superocean, continues to set the standard for luxury dive watches. The newest self-winding Superocean is thinner, slightly larger and comes with redesigned dial and bezel with the heritage that comes from a nearly 60-year-old marque. The Superocean II is terrific for professionals, with large markers and, most crucially, a countdown of the last 15 dive-time minutes. The clear leader in this portfolio, the rubber-strapped Superocean II is water resistant to 1000m.

Bell & Ross Marine

While it remains a bit under the radar, Bell & Ross is one of our favorite watch brands, dive or otherwise. The brand’s watches are intended to replicate the design of an airplane cockpit instrument, but the style is backed up by serious substance. These are ultra-high-performance wristwatches, aimed at professionals. Indeed, the company’s latest edition, the BR 02-94 Steel Chronograph, is water resistant up to 500 meters and includes a chronograph to measure multiple diving or decompression times simultaneously.

Rolex Submariner

It calls itself the “archetype of the diver’s watch,” and that’s because it is. This is world’s most famous dive watch and the one that turned the dive watch into a style statement. It’s like having a Ferrari on your wrist. While the marque first launched in 1953, the most recent edition has it all: luminescent hour markers, a solid link Oyster bracelet and guaranteed waterproof down to 300m.

Calibre de Cartier Dive Watch 

For sheer luxury, it’s hard to top Cartier’s Calibre de Cartier dive range. Also water resistant to 300M, the self-winding wristwatch is all about the small details, from sword-shaped hands to Super-LumiNova illuminated markers. This watch comes with a rubber strap and a steel ardillon buckle. It’s a stunner.

OMEGA Seamaster 

OMEGA is famous as the watch worn by James Band, and the company’s newest dive release is a signature 007 model. The newest self-winding Seamaster, the Seamaster 300 OMEGA Master Co-Axial 41 MM, water resistant to 300M, has a 60-hour power reserve and is even resistant to magnetic fields than 15,000 gauss. The “Spectre” limited edition has got a chronometer, special “lollipop” hands, a transparent case back and 007 on the strap. Its fit for the world’s most famous secret agent — and you.

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Canadian carrier WestJet has begun its new nonstop flights to Belize.

The carrier began operating its flights from Toronto Pearson International Airport to Belize City on Saturday.

“Leaving Canada and hitting the beaches in Belize by mid-day is something that Canadian travellers are not used to and we have absolutely changed the game with our twice-weekly service from Toronto,” said Bob Cummings, WestJet Executive Vice-President, Commercial. “I extend a big thanks to our WestJet team, the Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation as well as the Belize Tourism Board for their support in the creation of this significant route.  To our guests this morning, we say, “Gud maanin,” and welcome aboard. We look forward to offering both Canadians and Belizeans the chance to experience WestJet’s low fare, high care service over the winter months.”

Belize becomes WestJet’s 21st destination in the Caribbean and third in Central America.

The flights will be a boon for the destinations hotels, like Cayo Espano, pictured above.

WestJet is operating the flights on Boeing 737 aircraft that includes the carrier’s WestJet Connect inflight entertainment system that connects directly to smartphones, tablets and computers.

“This is truly a historic milestone for our nation,” said Belize Tourism Minister Manuel Heredia. “Today’s inaugural flight holds a very significant and unparalleled opportunity for Belize, as it is the first to directly connect Canada and Belize. We certainly foresee an increase in travel to Belize from thousands of Canadians who have been deterred in the past due to inconvenient layovers and connections in the United States. After today, this is no longer the case. Our sincerest gratitude goes out to WestJet for their partnership and belief in a future with Belize.”

The flights are operating twice weekly.

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The U.S. Virgin Islands could soon be home to a pair of world-class horse racetracks, thanks to a major bet by private company VIGL.

The company plans to invest more than $30 million in the expansion and modernization of local horse racing facilities.

The agreement calls for VIGL to take over management of both the Clinton E. Phipps racetrack on St Thomas and the Randall “Doc” James racetrack on St. Croix.

The plan is for VIGL to partner with the government to transform the local horse racing industry and potentially bring in new revenue streams and jobs.

VIGL currently operates the recently-renovated Caravelle Hotel and Casino in Christiansted.

US Virgin Islands Governor Kenneth Mapp is calling the territory’s legislature into a special session Nov. 28 to ratify the franchise agreement and update the laws that govern local horseracing.

Terms of the deal included the refurbishment and expansion of the two tracks; construction of bars, restaurants, lounges, restrooms, viewing stands, jockey locker rooms and vendor kiosks; new barns, quarantine areas and veterinary care facilities for horses; a minimum of 18 live race days annually on both islands in the first three years and minimum purse sizes of $100,000 per race day, among other tenets.

“The end result will be two new racetracks,” Mapp said.  “Numerous new jobs will be created in both the construction and operations phase and we anticipate substantial new revenue streams.”

VIGL will not be eligible for tax benefits under the deal; Mapp said the company would be paying higher taxes on its gaming revenues than standard taxes paid by casino operators.

“Horseracing has a long history in the territory, but has fallen on hard times here and elsewhere,” Mapp said. “The Agreement we have reached with VIGL, and the legislation that will accompany it, will bring a substantial infusion of investment into the Territory, a fresh source of Government revenues, and the rebirth of the Virgin Islands’ storied horse racing industry.”

The post Investors Making $30 Million Bet on U.S. Virgin Islands Horse Racing appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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It’s not quite clear why there are just so many lobsters in the waters of Anegada in the British Virgin Islands, waters teeming with large, juicy Caribbean spiny lobsters.

Maybe it’s the warmth. Maybe it’s the reefs. Or maybe the lobsters come here to vacation. If it’s the latter, they need a better travel agent — because for them, this is a decidedly one-way trip.

Anegada, you see, is the Caribbean capital of lobster, with more than you heart’s desire, freshly caught and always perfectly prepared.

And Anegada is filled with terrific lobster restaurants, from Potters By the Sea (above), the beach restaurant you see the minute you arrive at the islands main dock (that’s also home to a mean rum punch), to Big Bamboo on the ultra-white sands of Loblolly Bay to the wild Wonky Dog bar and restaurant.

Cow Wreck is perhaps the island’s most famous beach bar.

Perhaps most special is Neptune’s Treasure hotel and restaurant, where the lobster preparation is as much of an event as the meal itself.

Neptunes’ Treasure is one of a number of charming small cottage-hotels in Anegada.

And while the lobster on Anegada is a major draw, this island itself a Caribbean gem, with small hotels and villas and a number of perfect untouched beaches.

But it’s the lobster that will ultimately bring you here. And now there’s a reason to go even sooner than you think: The Anegada Lobster Festival, the annual rite that’s part of the BVI Food Fete culinary extravaganza.

It lasts from Nov. 26-27, with top local chefs on hand to serve lobster dishes at restaurants across the island.

For those attending the festival, it means a lobster safari of sorts, with the option to try three different lobster samplers at three restaurants at just $12 per plate.

So what are you waiting for?

For more information, check out the BVI Food Fete.

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