Scuba diving holiday in St Vincent and the Grenadines

We have a policy of employing local staff and funding their training up to PADI Instructor level. Our instructors, dive masters and boat drivers are all Vincentian nationals. We also provide an intern programme to local youths to encourage awareness of the marine environment. Diving with us helps us to maintain this on going project.

In many countries there is usually some level of conflict between the dive industry and the fishing community as both industries compete for use of the same resources - divers want to see fish / fishers want to catch them. In St. Vincent we have tried to assist in working with the fishing community to build understanding of each others requirements to preserve the environment as much as possible whilst maintaining the ability to support wealth generation from limited resources. We actively support St. Vincent fisheries policies, and helps to survey marine resources. We have actively supported surveys of fish and marine environments, environmental impact studies for developments etc.

We operate a No Gloves policy. As divers who wear gloves are more likely to touch and place their hands on the reef - my policy is NO GLOVES when reef diving. (When diving wrecks, caves or drift diving then gloves are permitted for the protection of diver safety).

Rosewood apartment accommodation: Our establishment focuses on environmentally friendly practices and exhibits involvement in community activities. We see tourism as a vehicle not only for economic development but also as a means of bringing people of different cultures together thereby breaking down barriers created by ignorance and intolerance. As a small hotel we tend to appeal to the discerning traveller who is interested in learning of the culture and way of life of the people of the destination. We interact personally with each guest and develop friendships which create a bond that is a guarantee for promoting repeat business and “word of mouth” publicity.

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Hotel Association weekly “What’s On” newsletter is placed in each room, along with our directory, “Ins and Out” magazine and other relevant literature which provide valuable information. We have a local staff of nine individuals who are trained locally. Most of our supplies are purchased locally and are organic.

Being aware of actions which impact negatively on the environment, we try to observe environmentally friendly practices. Our guests and staff are encouraged to do the same. We use energy saving light bulbs. There are notices in each room requesting guests to turn off electrical gadgets when not in use and to reuse towels where possible. In the office, the reuse of paper for printing and for notepads is encouraged. Also, envelopes are reused for storing documents, paperclips, and other types of office stationery. We further minimise paper wastage by printing only when absolutely necessary. The use of clothes dryers is reserved mainly for rainy days and for buffing towels on a daily basis.

Cognisant of the need to assist the less fortunate in our community we focus on charities mainly involving children, young people, and seniors. Charities assisted by us are St. Benedict Nursery Georgetown, Calliaqua Anglican Church charities, Soroptimist International charities (Children, Women, and Seniors), Calliaqua Coast Guard charities, and Roman Catholic Hostel for children orphaned by AIDS.