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GRENADA
Dive the Great Wrecks

At just 12º north of the Equator, Grenada is barely on the edge of the hurricane belt. Nonetheless, it got nailed by Hurricane Ivan in September 2004, decimating many Grand Anse Bay beachfront resorts. Though the island's lucrative nutmeg crop and many of its hotels were destroyed (they've since been rebuilt), its pristine offshore reefs emerged with nary a scratch.

Grenada has 20-plus great dive sites on its southwest coast. And just off the island of Carriacou, which along with Petit Martinique is part of Grenada, are about 24 more, including a few five-star wrecks.

Phil Saye, who runs scuba diving outfitter Dive Grenada, says the area has the "wow" factor. "The coral cover per square meter is substantially greater than in many of the more popular spots in the southern Caribbean," he says. On his one- or two-tank day and night dives, you'll likely encounter sea horses, sea fans, barracudas, countless varieties of reef fish, and 40 species of soft and hard coral.

Begin just north of St. George's at Flamingo Bay, within the Grenada marine park system, where depths vary from 20 to 120 feet (6 to 37 meters) and visibility ranges from 30 to 100 feet (9 to 30 meters). Be sure your itinerary includes the Bianca C wreck, where you'll float in and out of a 600-foot (183-meter) Italian cruise ship that burned and sank a mile off St. George's in 1961.

Sleep 30 feet (9 meters) from the beach at secluded La Sagesse Nature Centre. The lodge is also a good jumping-off point for side hikes in Grand Étang National Park. Hint: Pack an overnight bag. Grenada, with more than 300 campsites available, is one of the few sanctioned places in the Caribbean where you can sleep under the stars. 
 
WHAT TO DO
Scuba Diving
Dive Grenada, on Grand Anse Beach, is the island's longest-established diving center ($45 for a one-tank dive; $80 for a two-tank dive; www.divegrenada.com).
 
WHERE TO STAY
La Sagesse Nature Centre ($100; www.lasagesse.com) is a converted manor house with nine beachfront guest rooms and on-site hiking and snorkeling.
 
GETTING AROUND
Osprey Express, a high-speed ferry operating out of St. George's, has daily service between Carriacou and Petit Martinique ($35 round-trip; www.ospreylines.com).

THE BAHAMAS  | PANAMA  |  DOMINICA   |  HONDURAS  |  ST. LUCIA  
ST. VINCENT  |  SABA  |  DOMINICAN REPUBLIC  |  GRENADA