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Ocean Calling

Ocean Atlas · Caribbean

Caribbean

Antigua and Barbuda

Reefs off Antigua's calm south and west coasts, and on Barbuda one of the largest frigatebird colonies in the Caribbean.

Turquoise sea and rocky coast near Devil's Bridge on Antigua
Coast near Devil's Bridge, Antigua · Photo: TJ OHare on Unsplash
Exploring

Ethics pass, with care. We found a way to visit this country that meets our animal-welfare standard, as long as we work with the right local operator. Checked by Ocean Calling on 26 Sep 2026. Sources: Stingray City Antigua, operator site ('pet and feed friendly stingrays'); Blue Halo Barbuda, Waitt Institute; Fisheries Regulations 2013, Antigua and Barbuda, FAOLEX.

🧭 Travel advice, checked 30 Sep 2026. The UK FCDO travel advice for Antigua and Barbuda was updated on 13 March 2026 and is shown as current. It covers safety, insurance and entry requirements. Sources: UK FCDO travel advice, Antigua and Barbuda Advice differs by passport: check your own government before you plan.

ScubaSnorkellingWhalesTurtlesCoral reefs

Why Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua has sheltered reefs on its south and west coasts, like Cades Reef inside a marine reserve where fishing is not allowed, and Nelson's Dockyard, a World Heritage site inside a national park. Barbuda, a small flat island to the north, has Codrington Lagoon, a Ramsar wetland with one of the largest magnificent frigatebird colonies in the Caribbean, and since 2014 its local council protects about one third of its coastal waters as sanctuaries. Off Antigua's north coast, a hawksbill turtle nesting study has run every year since 1987, one of the longest in the world. Humpback whales pass from about January to April, and we only watch them from the boat. There is a stingray attraction where rays are fed and held, so Ocean Calling does not go there. Barbuda was almost destroyed by Hurricane Irma in 2017 and there are still open questions about land and new resorts, so we want to visit in a way that helps local people. There is no working recompression chamber on the islands that we could confirm, so dive plans stay conservative. Hurricane season is June to November, so late winter and spring look best.

Conservation-led. Ocean Calling guests never chase, touch or bait animals.

United States of AmericaHaitiDominican Rep.BahamasMexicoBrazilColombiaPanamaCosta RicaNicaraguaHondurasEl SalvadorGuatemalaBelizeVenezuelaGuyanaSurinameFranceEcuadorPuerto RicoJamaicaCubaTrinidad and TobagoCades Reef and the southwest coast, Antigua and BarbudaEnglish Harbour and Nelson's Dockyard, Antigua and BarbudaBarbuda and Codrington Lagoon, Antigua and Barbuda

When to go

Feb-May. Timing changes by place and by animal, so check each place below.

We have researched this place and keep learning about it. There is no trip here yet.

Our ethics check

Can we travel here ethically?

Ethics pass, with care

Good with the right operator. Here is how we choose.

Antigua and Barbuda protects its turtles by law, and on Barbuda the local council keeps about one third of the coastal waters as marine sanctuaries. There is also a popular attraction where stingrays are fed and held by visitors, so Ocean Calling does not go there. We choose quiet reef snorkelling and diving, and we watch passing humpback whales only from the boat.

Checked 26 Sep 2026. Places change, so we look again every year.

Sources for this check
Places we are exploring

Where in Antigua and Barbuda

Short notes from our research. Wildlife is never guaranteed.

Cades Reef and the southwest coast

Exploring

A long reef off Antigua's southwest coast inside a marine reserve, with calm water for snorkelling and easy diving.

🤿 In the water: Reef fish and corals, Turtles (possible), Southern stingrays and eagle rays in the wild (possible)

When: Feb-May. The reserve protects the reef, seagrass and mangroves, and all fishing is banned inside it. Calmer water on the leeward side in most winds.

English Harbour and Nelson's Dockyard

Exploring

A historic sailing harbour in a national park and World Heritage site, a base for dives and snorkels on the south coast.

🤿 In the water: Reef fish and corals on south coast reefs, Turtles (possible), Nurse sharks (possible)

⛵ From the boat or shore, never in the water: Humpback whales from the boat, about January to April

When: Feb-May. In late April and early May there is a big sailing regatta, with crowds, noise and high prices, so we plan around it. The national park has rules on anchoring and fishing in sensitive areas.

Barbuda and Codrington Lagoon

Exploring

A quiet flat island with long beaches, marine sanctuaries and a large lagoon where frigatebirds nest.

🤿 In the water: Shallow reef fish and corals, Turtles (possible)

⛵ From the boat or shore, never in the water: Magnificent frigatebirds at the nesting colony, from a local boat, Humpback whales offshore, about January to April

When: Feb-May. The frigatebird colony is only reached by boat with a local guide, and the lagoon is a protected Ramsar wetland. Barbuda is still rebuilding after 2017 and has only basic health care, so we keep visits simple and use local guides.

Animals

Animals recorded in Antigua and Barbuda

Tap an animal to learn how it lives, where it travels and how to meet it respectfully.

Humpback whale swimming close with long pectoral finHumpback whaleMegaptera novaeangliaeSeen in 87 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernGreen turtle resting on the reef, shell and head pattern in sharp detailGreen turtleChelonia mydasSeen in 103 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernHawksbill turtle swimming, pointed beak in profileHawksbill turtleEretmochelys imbricataSeen in 88 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredLeatherback hatchling crossing the sand toward the seaLeatherback turtleDermochelys coriaceaSeen in 76 countries in the AtlasVulnerableNurse shark swimming over a reef at Fernando de Noronha, BrazilAtlantic nurse sharkGinglymostoma cirratumSeen in 38 countries in the AtlasVulnerableSouthern stingray resting on white sand, St John, US Virgin IslandsSouthern stingrayHypanus americanusSeen in 33 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedWhitespotted eagle ray gliding over reef and sand in BelizeWhitespotted eagle rayAetobatus narinariSeen in 58 countries in the AtlasEndangeredGreat barracuda cruising in open blue water, showing jagged teethGreat barracudaSphyraena barracudaSeen in 84 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernRed lionfish with spread fins over sand in Dauin, PhilippinesLionfish (red and common lionfish)Pterois volitans and Pterois milesSeen in 80 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernMale magnificent frigatebird perched on a mangrove branchMagnificent frigatebirdFregata magnificensSeen in 52 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernCaribbean reef shark swimming close over a reef in the BahamasCaribbean reef sharkCarcharhinus pereziSeen in 19 countries in the AtlasEndangeredNassau grouper with its mouth open, photographed at Los Indios in Jardines de la Reina, CubaNassau grouperEpinephelus striatusSeen in 20 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredMasked booby on Ascension IslandMasked boobySula dactylatraSeen in 80 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernQueen conch with a reddish spiny shell resting on seagrass over sandy seabedQueen conchAliger gigasSeen in 32 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedAdult brown booby standing on a rock with its bill open against blue sky, PrincipeBrown boobySula leucogasterSeen in 104 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernClose view of a red-footed booby head with blue, pink and red bill and throat skin among green leavesRed-footed boobySula sulaSeen in 91 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernCrowd of brown pelicans packed together on a coastal roost, one adult with a pale head and coloured bill facing the cameraBrown pelicanPelecanus occidentalisSeen in 48 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernCaribbean spiny lobster at the edge of a reef overhang with long antennae trailing across sandCaribbean spiny lobsterPanulirus argusSeen in 30 countries in the AtlasData Deficient
Dreaming of Antigua and Barbuda?

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There is no trip here yet. If enough people ask, it helps us decide where to go next.

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Also in Caribbean
AnguillaArubaThe BahamasBarbadosBelizeBritish Virgin IslandsCaribbean NetherlandsCayman IslandsCubaCuraçaoDominicaDominican RepublicGrenadaGuadeloupeHaitiHondurasJamaicaMartiniqueMontserratPuerto RicoSaint BarthélemySaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint MartinSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSint MaartenTrinidad and TobagoTurks and Caicos IslandsUS Virgin IslandsVenezuela

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