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Tobago News & Events
Diving Update:
Robinson Crusoe, Daniel Defoe's fictional autobiography of the title character, spent 28 years as a castaway on "a remote tropical island near Trinidad" where he encountered cannibals, captives, and mutineers before being rescued. The details of Crusoe's island in the book are generally believed to be based on Tobago, since that island lies a short distance north of the Venezuelan coast near the mouth of the Orinoco river, in sight of Trinidad. Fictional though the story may be, divers taking a private tour to Dead Man's Point with Tobago Dive Experience may have second thoughts after seeing this heavily encrusted human skull and nearby antique anchor. Read the whole story here! Tobago Dive Experience also reports that two new dive sites have been opened - both geared toward the more "adventurous" divers. One is called
Marble Wall. Located on the north side of St. Giles, this dive
bottoms off at 110 feet, and is a great area for pelagics. The wall
face, which lies between 40' – 80' offers a myriad of macro
opportunities. Divers can spot Batwing Crabs, Spotted Drums,
Nudibranchs and Octopus to mention just a few. Seahorses
have recently taken up residence on the end of popular dive site
Japanese Gardens. Hiding under a Brain Coral Don't miss Manta Madness this year! Manta season has started and we are hoping for a repeat of last years events, when one of the first manta's of the season made quite a scene upon arrival. In the midst of a PADI Instructor Development Course, the Course Director, Roy, was setting a surface marker off the beach at Manta Lodge, when one of our "Devil Rays" materialized and scared the living daylights out of him! Much to the instructor candidates enjoyment, it then proceeded to “run” into the PADI examiner as he entered the water!
Polly wants a quacker?? Well we can't comment on Polly, but we can tell you that all our dive guides have now switched over from tank bangers to - you guessed it - underwater quackers!! So if your buddy surfaces and starts asking if you heard the ducks underwater, you do not (necessarily) need to think he or she has gone off the deep end! We may have many species of birds on Tobago - but so far no SALTWATER DIVING DUCKS!!
Non-Stop Flights from JFK to Tobago! Other options for travel to Tobago include flying into sister island Trinidad, which is served by American Airlines from Miami, Continental Airlines from Houston and Newark and Caribbean Airlines from JFK, Miami, Ft Lauderdale and Toronto - there is a short 20-minute shuttle between the islands (also operated by Caribbean Airlines). Manta Lodge News: We regret to report that our dear Chef Eddie Baynes passed away in early June. Our condolences to his friends and family and all who mourn his passing. Birding Update:
Birding enthusiasts will be happy to hear that both the
White-necked Jacobin (shown) and White Tailed Sabrewing
Hummingbirds are now feeding regularly at the Lodge.
The White-necked
Jacobin is a widespread inhabitant of forest, usually being seen at
a high perch or just above the canopy. It is less common at lower
levels, except near hummingbird feeders. The male White-necked
Jacobin is unmistakable with its white belly and tail, a white band
on the nape and a dark blue hood. Females are highly variable, and
may resemble adult or immature males. The White-tailed Sabrewing is a "large species" as hummingbirds go, that breeds in northeastern Venezuela and Tobago. It was thought to have become extinct in Tobago after hurricane Flora in 1963, but the population has now largely recovered. This bird inhabits mountain forests and is often spotted by Manta guests during guided hikes into the Rain Forest. The male and female Sabrewing look fairly similar, but the female is duller, and the male shines bright green with a shiny blue throat and a white moustachial stripe. The three outer pairs of feathers of the tail are white and the shafts of the outer flight feathers are thickened and flattened which gives the distinctive feature of the Sabrewings.
Rain Forest Night Safari
Tobago Attractions
Tobago Events:
For a complete calendar of Tobago Events please visit
www.gotrinidadandtobago.com |
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Was
Robinson
Crusoe REALLY on Tobago? 
in a range of
35'-50', red, yellow and brown seahorses have been seen with the
regularly. Harlequin Pipefish also have been found in this area. At
the pier at Speyside, Orange Frog Fish have been seen in as little
as 8' of water.
The Mantas are
being seen currently on Black Jack Hole, Coral Gardens, Cathedral
and Spiny Colony as well as all along the beachfront of the
Speyside Bay.
Located
in Scarborough, the island's capital, the fort commands the hilltop
over the town and a huge stretch of coast and ocean approaches. It
was built by the British in the 1700s when it was also captured and
occupied by the French and renamed Fort Castries. The old officers
quarters currently houses a craft shop and the former military
hospital is now home to the National Fine Arts Centre, which
displays Tobago art and sculpture. 
Arnos
Vale Hotel Afternoon Tea: Every afternoon at 4pm the al fresco
restaurant at Arnos Vale Hotel comes alive with birdsong as they
begin tea service with patrons simultaneous to fruit and seed
service to the birds! This special bird watching ceremony is
well-known by birdwatchers throughout the world who consider it to
be a "must do" activity. Photographers will have ample opportunity
to shoot a wide variety of hummingbirds, woodpeckers, Mot Mots and
more at very close range. (Note to non-birders: watching the birders
watch the birds may prove to be equally amusing!)