Nicknamed the ‘Titanic of the Caribbean’, the Bianca C was an elegant 600ft Italian cruise liner which now lies peacefully on the sea bed just off the south-west coast of Grenada. This year we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of her descent onto the ocean floor.

After an engine room explosion before the anchor was raised to leave Grenada’s harbour, a fire soon engulfed the ship. The passengers and crew were brought to safety by the local yachtsmen who heard the distress calls and leapt into action. For a week the refugees of the Bianca C were guests of the people of Grenada having been offered beds in hotels, guest houses and even private homes until two ships arrived to take them home – a testament to Grenadian hospitality.

In appreciation, the Bianca C’s operators gave the people of Grenada a bronze replica of the ‘Christ of the Deep’ which stands proudly on the waterfront of the Carenage .  The original statue was said to have been sunk in the Bay of Naples as a symbol of God’s care for all who sail the high seas. A pretty big honour huh?

The Bianca C is a legend in her own right. The largest wreck in the Caribbean has divers flocking to the island to visit her. Once down to the eerie depth of 50 metres  and confronted with the huge frame of the ‘Titanic of the Caribbean’, you immediately are eased by the sight of the coral garden which has bloomed all around the wreck. Thousands of species of creatures weave in and out of the wreck like a giant underwater playground.

Join our friendly onsite dive specialists ScubaTech, who are the best in the business (if we do say so ourselves!). They’ll whisk you down to the wonderful underwater world, showing you why Grenada is the ‘Wreck Diving Capital of the Caribbean’.

We you’re on a dive with ScubaTech you feel very cared for and looked after, which allows you to relax and enjoy your surroundings. ScubaTech’s good will has been extended by teaming up with us to offer you a special deal to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Bianca C – email them to find out more on info@scubatech-grenada.com or visit www.scubatech-grenada.com

Variety is key when it comes to diving and Grenada has plenty of it!  With reef walls, coral gardens, wreck dives and a unique underwater sculpture park - there is something to suit all levels. We are also very lucky to have the largest wreck in the Caribbean – The Bianca C which attracts divers from all over the world to our little island.  

At The Calabash we don’t want any of our guests to miss out on the fantastic marine life that our island has to offer and so our dive center ScubaTech are on hand help you discover the exciting and spectacular underwater world. ScubaTech is run by Carsten, Sabine and Jochen who have been in the diving business for over 15 years are well known on the island for running the dive center providing the most individual service and the widest range of water sport activities.

ScubaTech is not only a dive shop but an entire water sports center. This has proved to be a truly fantastic asset to The Calabash as we can cater for those of you who don’t necessarily just want to lie on the beach but prefer to get up and do something…and with ScubaTech’s wide array of water sports, it really is hard to get bored! They offer wake boarding, water skiing, daily diving excursions, PADI scuba diving courses, kayaking, snorkeling and hobie cat sailing for the more adventurous, but if you are looking for something at a slower pace then the beautiful sunset cruises and sight-seeing tours are not to be missed.

Have a look at ScubaTech’s website (http://www.scubatech-grenada.com/) for more detailed information on the services they offer and we hope to see you here soon!

Fort George

In light of the recent release of the seven Grenadian prisoners of the 1983 revolution – click here for full story – it seemed apt to write a little piece about one of the centre pieces of the revolution, Fort George. This place has much to do with the reason that the men were put behind bars, being the place where Maurice Bishop and some of his cabinet were executed on their orders.

Of course the old fort has much more history than that and is a popular tourist stop, albeit for somewhat macabre reasons much of the time. The building was erected between 1706-1710 on a mount made originally by the French and named Fort Royal. When the island was claimed by the British (with the cunning use of a flag) in 1763 it was re-named Fort George in honour of King George III.

Royal Grenadian Policemen

The fort was once the heart of the town but has now found its way to the periphery. The building has been in constant use in one form or another since its inception, currently it is the HQ of the Royal Grenada Police Force – is there a better police uniform anywhere in the world?

The building oozes history with its old cannons poking out from the abutments and the ancient, weathered masonry. Many of the major political and historical stories of Grenad have centred around the fort and it has commanding views over the town, out to sea and across to Grand Anse. In short it should be on every visitors itinerary. It is living, breathing, working Grenadian heritage.

Sail Away

The festival started in 1965 as a mere boat racing event in Hillsborough Bay, Carriacou. Carriacou Regatta has now grown to become the biggest summer festival in the region. It is held over the Emancipation weekend each year and features keen competition among sailors from many of the neighbouring islands – Grenada, Tobago, Martinique, Antigua, Bequia, Union Island, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and of course Carriacou.

The Regatta Race events focus mainly on the locally built ‘Workboats’ with some twelve different classes of boats ranging from 14 to 35 feet in length.

It’s not all about the art, “Hurricanes have wiped out a lot of the coral in Grenada, and the places that weren’t damaged got all of the tourism, causing further degradation. The sculpture park eases the strain a bit,” says the 33-year-old Taylor.

Vicissitudes

The largest work, ‘Vicissitudes’ comprises a concrete ring of children from varying ethnic backgrounds holding hands “It’s a comment on how children are affected by their surroundings and absorb everything around them,” says Taylor. “As the coral grows, they change in complexity.”

Calabash guests can view these sculptures at first hand with our dive partners, Scubatech, who operate from the hotel beach.