Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria Update: How Dive Shops Are Recovering in the Caribbean and Florida
The islands, dive shops and resorts will need help — and tourists — to help in their recovery
Hurricanes Irma and Maria barreled through the Caribbean and Atlantic, just days apart in September, causing major damage to many Caribbean Islands, the state of Florida and beyond. The images shown on the news are harrowing. And we even felt Irma's effects here, in Central Florida, with members of our staff having to evacuate and experiencing property damage. But now, it's up to us to come together, rebuild and move forward.
Some places — including Bonaire, the Cayman Islands, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, Sint Eustatius and Martinique — were either not impacted at all or were mostly undamaged.
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has let us know which Caribbean islands and hotels are open for business. If you're planning a Caribbean cruise, please check directly with the cruise line for updated itineraries.
Want to help? Donate to CTO’s GoFundMe Campaign. Any contribution, large or small, will go towards relief efforts in the region. We will post more ways to donate to the islands that need it the most as soon as we have more information.
GoFundMe has set up a centralized hub for hurricane donations. You can choose to donate to the Direct Impact fund, which will be used to support individuals and verified GoFundMe campaigns or you can choose to donate to a specific charity.
We are reaching out to dive shops and resorts throughout the Caribbean and Florida in the areas impacted by Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria for updates. Our hope is to spread the word to let you know who is back up and running and who needs help, so the dive community can come together and either support active businesses by visiting or rebuilding businesses in any way possible. Status updates are changing daily, and we will try to keep up with those. If you have a personal update, we can include it in this running list. Please email editor@sportdiver.com.
A look at Irma as it barreled through the Caribbean Sea
Courtesy NOAA
THE BAHAMAS
The Bahamas was getting back to business after Irma when Maria swiped the islands.
"We ask you to stand with us and support the Caribbean," says Bahamas Tourism.
Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas | New Providence Island
Bimini Big Game Club | Bahamas
The Big Game Club re-opened on Friday, September 29th, and is in full operation.
Grand Bahama Scuba | Bahamas
Stella Maris Resort | Long Island, Bahamas
Thank you, everybody, for your concern and well wishes. We will re-open on Oct. 16th.
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
The destruction caused by Hurricane Irma in the British Virgin Islands has been devastating, according to a statement from Sharon Flax-Brutus, the director of tourism.
The British Virgin Islands governor gave the "all clear" for the territory after the destination avoided a direct hit from Hurricane Maria, although it did experience high wind and rain. A full assessment is still ongoing.
Dive BVI | Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
Please help us support relief efforts in the British Virgin Islands. This is a legitimate hurricane relief fund for the island of Virgin Gorda that we are sponsoring.
Amidst all the devastation, we are happy to see that dive sites are mostly untouched, including the wreck of the Rhone!
Blue Water Divers | Tortola, BVI
Thank you for all comments and concerns! Our dive boats Tang and Ocean are now out of the water and in the yard, with repairs having started on Ocean. We have power to the shop and reg room, so have started the long cleanup in the shop. Slow progress, but it's progress — the best way to support us is when we are back up and running, come to the island and go diving with us!
Cuan Law | British Virgin Islands
Thank you so much for all your kind thoughts. After Irma, the effects of Maria were not very severe, for which we are eternally grateful! We are all safe and well. The plans to get Cuan Law back in the water are well underway.
Jost Van Dyke Scuba | Jost Van Dyke, BVI
Jost was decimated by Hurricane Irma. Please consider making a contribution to help Colin Aldridge, his family, and business (Jost Van Dyke Scuba) rebuild.
DOMINICA
Unscathed by Hurricane Irma, Dominica was decimated by Hurricane Maria.
Buddy Dive | Dominica
While Hurricane Irma did not hit us directly, sadly, Maria did. Our staff and guests that were on island when the Category 5 storm hit are all safe. The Buddy Dive Bonaire team is continuing to communicate with the team on Dominica and to post updates on Facebook. The Fort Young Hotel suffered damage and is only housing relief workers. If you have a reservation, the booking department will contact you.
FLORIDA AND FLORIDA KEYS
The Keys suffered devastating damage from Irma, but residents who evacuated are now permitted to return and begin the process of rebuilding homes and businesses that were destroyed. Some dive shops are ready to resume diving as soon as the all-clear is given for divers to visit the island chain. Lower Keys dive shops are open to tourists.
All of the Florida Keys — including Key West — will be reopened to tourists on October 1. Cruise ships have already begun stopping in Key West.
Local dive operators are beginning to survey the reefs, and they are reporting damage to shallow-water reefs. Many local divers are participating in debris cleanups during these dives. Wrecks that are in deeper water were less impacted, but even those suffered some damage. The radar dishes on the Vandenberg were ripped off, for example, and a top section of the Duane is gone.
Coral Restoration Foundation | Florida Keys
The team is assessing its nurseries, which fared pretty well, all things considered. Patti Kirk Gross reports that CRF team is helping to rebuild the Keys community above and under water.
Rainbow Reef Dive Center | Key Largo, Florida
We have resumed diving. The shipwrecks all look great — Duane, Bibb, Benwood and Spiegel Grove all fared very well with a couple of minor changes [Duane lost a part of its top section]. As objectively as possible, we wanted to comment on the state of our shallow-water reefs after Hurricane Irma. On the one hand, we have limited information, as we are not scientific divers, but on the other hand, we are in fact divers who know these reefs like the back of our hands. What we observed on our dives to Molasses and French Reef were definitely reefs that were hit by a hurricane, but not nearly as damaged as they could have been by a storm of Irma’s size, and for that we are lucky. Our team cleaned up about 150 pounds of trap debris, concrete ballast, polypropylene line and a swim ladder on Horseshoe Reef and Minnow Cave. Dive Against Debris on every dive! Other reefs like Key Largo Dry Rocks look like they had hardly been touched. Call us to make a reservation to dive!
Ocean Divers | Key Largo, Florida
The boats are prepped, the shop is clean, and the compressors are running. We are ready to take you diving!
Sun Sports Charter & Scuba | Islamorada, Florida Keys
We were blessed to have made it through with minimal damage and are ready to service the diving community — call us to make a reservation!
Sea Dwellers | Key Largo, Florida
Sea Dwellers is taking reservations — go online to book or call us toll-free! We'd love to see you down here soon!
Hall's Diving Center | Marathon, Florida
Hall's Diving Center is dealing with some damage to their shop, but no major repairs. As of Sept. 22, their boat is operational and they have power and water, but no internet. Hall's Diving Center does not have a definitive timeline for re-opening, but we will update when that becomes more clear.
Dive Key West | Florida Keys
Thank you for your well wishes and prayers. We will resume diving once the Keys is open to visitors.
Sea-Clusive Charters | Key West, Florida
Raising emergency funds to help our community during the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. Funds are dedicated to the Key West and Lower Keys residents. Many will be without homes, jobs, provisions for the weeks to come; your help will be much appreciated!
Lost Reef Adventures | Key West, Florida Keys
The Vandenberg has shifted a bit. As always we appreciate your support and we look forward to enjoying diving and snorkeling with you soon!
Southpoint Divers | Key West, Florida
Amoray Dive Resort | Key Largo, Florida
Thanks to everyone for your well wishes! Amoray Dive Resort weathered through Irma with no damage. Our boats and resort sustained no damages and all the tree branches have been cleaned up. So, things are back to normal. We are open for those in the area seeking shelter and those who came to help with the cleanup. To all of our guests who have reached out to us, thank you again. Many of you are like family and it means so much to our staff to hear from you. For anyone who wants to help our community, we have the solution — come diving! As the Florida Keys rebuilds, we want you to come and enjoy it with us. Explore the reefs and wrecks as they are now (yes, they survived!) and support our islands with your business.
Jupiter Dive Center | Florida
We are open and ready to take you diving.
Sea Experience | Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Sea Experience is open for business and fully functional. Our charter boats are running trips and classes are back on track. Let's go diving!
Scuba Works | Jupiter, Florida
We are running our regularly scheduled trips out of Jupiter, Florida. Please support Hurricane Irma relief efforts for our friends in the Florida Keys — check our Facebook page for what's needed.
Gulfport Dive Center | Gulfport, Florida
We are fully operational as of Sept. 15.
Aquatic Adventures of Florida | Zephyrhills | Florida
We were fortunate only losing electrical power for a few days and some minor damage. However we were able to open the following day and had electrical power restored within three days. We are now fully operational ready to serve local scuba diving community.
SABA
The government and community of Saba in the Dutch Caribbean wishes to extend its sincere gratitude to the many people and organizations who have sent their well-wishes, Commissioner of Tourism Bruce Zagers stated in a press release.
Sea Saba | Saba
Sea Saba, located on a satellite island of St. Maarten, has power and its staff members are safe after Irma. It’s using its ferry to take people and supplies to St. Maarten.
Saba Divers | Saba
We are fully operational. Our shop and boat Big Blue had no damage. And we've been out to inspect the reefs, which weathered the storm very well!
ST. LUCIA
The hurricanes did not hit St. Lucia directly.
Anse Chastanet | St. Lucia
TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
The Turks and Caicos Islands were severely impacted by the hurricanes.
Dive Provo | Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
We will continue to post updates about our progress on our website and Facebook page.
Provo Turtle Divers | Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands
On Sept. 8, Provo Turtle Divers announced they'd resume diving on Oct 16th, but no further updates have been received.
Grand Turk Diving Co. | Turks and Caicos Islands
We are a NAUI and PADI dive shop. Please check our Facebook page for updates.
Bohio Dive Resort | Grand Turk
Thank you for your emails and concern over the last few weeks. We're happy to share that all of us are safe and sound! Bohio is currently closed for its annual maintenance period, but due to Hurricane Irma, this period will likely be extended.
The Shore Club | Turks and Caicos
We are reopening Sept. 30.
Blue Water Divers | Grand Turk
We'd like to thank everyone for your kind thoughts and many messages of support. The Blue Water Divers crew is all safe on Grand Turk following Hurricane Irma! However, internet and power are down on the island, so communications are severely limited. As soon as we are able, we will respond to messages and let you know when we are up and running again.
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
St. Thomas and St. John suffered major damage from the hurricane, but St. Croix escaped the worst of Hurricane Irma. Unfortunately, St. Croix was pummeled by Maria. The eye of Hurricane Maria passed south of St. Croix, bringing with it hurricane-force winds, heavy rainfall and flooding. Flights to St. Croix airport are canceled, with the reopening pending an assessment. Airport operations in St. Thomas are planned to resume September 23.
"We are thankful for life today — let's continue to support each other as we recover from these weather events," said Beverly Nicholson-Doty, Commissioner of Tourism, in a written statement.
Cane Bay Dive Shop | St. Croix, USVI
Check our Facebook page for updates.
N2theBlue | St. Croix, USVI
Please do not forget the U.S. Virgin Islands is part of the U.S. Check our Facebook page for relief efforts and for updates.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!
Red Hook Dive Center | St. Thomas, USVI
The dive shop sustained minimal damage, but St. Thomas was devastated by the impact of Irma.
Aggressor Liveaboards
The Bahamas Aggressor was not affected by Hurricane Irma.
The Turks & Caicos Aggressor II was not affected by Hurricane Irma as she was in drydock having a facelift. She goes back on charter Sept. 27, 2017.
The Jardines Aggressor I & II Cuba Travel Programs were not affected by Hurricane Irma.