The most important thing for every tourist to remember is that there are certain areas of Montserrat that are completely out of bounds. This area is called the Exclusion Zone and covers the southern half of the island including two kilometres off shore. It is dangerous and illegal to enter the Exclusion Zone because of its proximity to the volcano on Soufrière Hills.

The Exclusion Zone extends from Plymouth, the erstwhile capital of Montserrat, to St. Patrick's in the South. It covers the areas of Centre Hills, Windy Hill, Harris Street, George Hills and Belham valley and terminates in the east coast at the site of W. H. Bramble Airport.

The island's only hospital has recently been totally refurbished. It now has facilities to handle general medical and surgical needs, including X-rays. The hospital is fully staffed and has 30 beds comprising medical/surgical and obstetric wards. The Casualty Department is open 24 hours a day for urgent cases with a nurse on-duty and a doctor on-call.

There is a network of four district clinics providing primary health care. For certain specialties, patients may be referred to a neighbouring island. Visitors can also access the network of private doctors, who are highly qualified to treat and refer.

Office: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Casualty Department: 24 hrs

How often do you see volcanoes in action? The Montserratians have seen a live one and lived with it since 1995. If you have the nerve, you can see it too! Montserrat is the volcanologist's delight.

Comprising almost entirely of volcanic rocks and with three volcanic centres on its small area of 16 kilometre length and 10 kilometre width are the Silver Hills in the North, the Centre Hills in the central region and the Soufrière Hills, in the Southern part of the island.

In 1997, the volcano on Soufrière Hills erupted after three years of significant seismic activity. While Montserratians have been used to dramatic twists and turns of nature, with earthquakes and hurricanes, the eruption of the Soufrière Hills is undoubtedly a watershed event that has altered the course of Montserrat irrevocably.

Going beyond mere sight and sound shows, the Soufrière volcano is nature at her theatrical best. Watch the volcano spewing out steam and gas, the spirals rising majestically into the skies. And hold your breath at the awesome sight of a glowing mountain with lines of fire streaking its slopes at night. Then shudder at the damage that the fury of nature can unleash.

There are certain points from which you get an almost ringside view of the volcano.

The Daytime Entry Zone is the safest area to start the exciting journey into the world of volcanoes. You can get to the Daytime Entry Zone by crossing the Belham valley, which was, before the eruption, a fine golf course. The roads leading to the Daytime Entry Zone are challenging - uneven and with no sign posts to guide you. It is most prudent to have an experienced local driver accompany you to locations most advantageous for volcano viewing. 

The Daytime Entry Zone is located on St. George's Hill. Garibaldi Hill and Richmond Hill are two other areas in this zone from where you can get a ringside view of the volcano and of Plymouth now inundated under volcanic mudflows. In fact you can actually walk into a hotel on Richmond Hill with its front office left just as it was, books, pens, papers and all, when the volcano erupted causing the people to run for their lives.

If you want a more leisurely and closer look at the volcano, and what it has done to the towns in its vicinity, jump into one of the privately owned boats and go around the Southern part of the island. It is possible to see a lot more of the volcano on the boat trip, as this part of the island falls under the Exclusion Zone and is inaccessible by road or on foot.

When the Soufrière Hills volcano erupted, the people and the government were caught completely off guard as this was the first eruption on this island. It was then that the Montserrat Volcanic Observatory was set up with scientists from the British Geological Society and other universities. The MVO is the key to the safety of the island and its people. It monitors the volcano constantly and releases information to the people about the current state of volcanic activity and other updates and alerts.

The Montserrat Volcanic Observatory is based in Flemmings and conducts tours twice a week. You can sit safely inside a room and watch the volcano erupting just a few feet away from you - on the thrilling video show, of course! You can also learn about seismology, gas emissions, ground deformations and the various methods of monitoring volcanoes.

For more information on the Montserrat Volcano Observatory and the current status of the Soufrière Hills volcano, you can log on to www.mvo.ms/.

Just as Mount Vesuvius destroyed Pompeii, history repeated itself when the volcano of Soufrière Hills destroyed Plymouth.

Plymouth was the capital of Montserrat before the volcano on the Soufrière Hill erupted. The city was the only entry point to Montserrat. All commercial, business and government activity was centred in Plymouth. Unfortunately, as it lay closer to the Soufrière Hills, Plymouth bore the major brunt of damage when the volcano erupted.

After the first volcanic activity in1995, its inhabitants were evacuated. However, they were allowed to return a few months later. But in 1997, a series of eruptions more violent than the earlier ones destroyed a major portion of Plymouth and the city was submerged in ash and mud flows. The inhabitants were permanently evacuated and the city had to be abandoned.

A visit to Plymouth will leave you awed at the fury that nature is capable of unleashing. When the volcanic activity is within permissible limits, you can visit Plymouth with special permission from the Police Headquarters in Brades (the de jure capital), or from the Montserrat Tourism Board, with a police escort. The Government charges a hazard allowance of EC$150 (about £32 or US$55) per tourist, should they so desire to enter Plymouth.

Jack Boy Hill, located in the northeast of Montserrat, is one place from which you can get an excellent view of the volcano. The hill overlooks the WH Bramble airport. You can get a detailed view of the abandoned airport and of the other villages destroyed by volcanic activity. Jack Boy Hill has been equipped with a viewing platform and a viewing telescope which can zoom in to the volcano. This is of immense help to the tourist seriously tracking the volcano. Additionally, this area has also been developed as a picnic spot, with landscaped gardens and a small trail to explore. With adequate washroom facilities, Jack Boy Hill is an ideal family spot.

A number of tour operators based in Antigua operate day trips to Montserrat that include volcano viewing, a tour of the island, lunch and transportation. To book one of these tours contact:

Carib World Travel
Woods Centre, St John's
Antigua
Phone: (268) 480 2999
Email: info@carib-world.com 

Davis International Trading & Tours
Long Street, St John's
Antigua
Phone: (268) 770 5687 or (268) 562 5818
Email: davistrs@hotmail.com

Jenny's Tours
Woods Centre, St. Johns
Antigua
Phone: (268) 461 9361 or (268) 464 4188
Email: burkeb@candw.ag

Woodlands, Olveston and Old Towne are three prominent residential localities of Montserrat. It is in these areas that you will find enchanting villas and holiday homes. Woodlands lies Southwards to St. Peter's and offers one of Montserrat's finest beaches.

The Governor's residence is located further down in Olveston. You will also find the Montserrat Tourist Board as well as the Montserrat National Trust in Olveston.

Old Towne, which had to be evacuated not so long back, is fully inhabited and operational. It is a showcase of the old world charm and history of Montserrat. If you are lucky to be in Old Towne on a clear cloudless day you can see an awesome view of the dome of the volcano at a distance.

After Woodlands, Olveston and Old Towne, you can saunter into Salem. Salem and its adjoining areas like Friths, Flemmings and Happy Hill villages were evacuated in 1997. But when the danger ebbed, the inhabitants were allowed to return and Salem became fully operational by 1998. Salem is home to several Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Pentecostal and Seventh Day Adventist churches, all of which were most useful as temporary shelters when the volcano erupted.

Salem is well stocked in terms of tourist infrastructure. You can stroll through shops and pick up knick knacks and souvenirs.

To the south of Salem and Old Towne is the Belham River. It is the line of demarcation between the safe part of Montserrat and the Exclusion Zone where entry is completely barred. Once upon a time, the area around Belham was a beautiful golf course. This was until it was completely covered by mud flows from the volcano, following heavy rains. Also submerged under the mud flows is the Belham River Bridge. It would be best to visit Belham in dry weather, as rain could set off mudflows once again.

Isle Bay houses the Garibaldi Hill from where you get a stunning view of Plymouth and the extent of its devastation. The rich and famous resided in Isle Bay before the volcanic eruption. Today however, it is only partially restored and there are only a handful of expatriates living there. Isle Bay is the last safe inhabitable area before the Exclusion Zone. There is however a wide area between the safe and unsafe areas.

Daytime Entry Zones are those areas where entry is permitted by the authorities on some days, during certain time periods, depending on the level of volcanic activity. These zones are usually out of bounds but if you are lucky, then you might find yourself there on a day when the Observatory authorities have allowed entry. 

It is essential that you confirm this with the police and ask for special instructions before entering a Daytime Entry Zone and be sure to go with an escort guide or driver. It would be a good idea to carry an ash mask with you as there is a lot of loose ash that rises into the air at frequent intervals. Some of the Daytime Entry Zones that provide vantage viewing of the volcano are areas on Richmond Hill, Cork Hill, Weekes and Foxes Bay. Incidentally these were flourishing residential areas, once upon a time.

Montserrat, by virtue of being an island, is blessed with a scintillating variety of marine and sea life. The island is surrounded by a shelf that slopes to a depth of about 60 feet. This slope is covered by sand and volcanic rocks that lead to the growth of extensive and rich reefs. It is on these reefs that you find a veritable feast of undersea life like spotted rays, turtles, sponges , sea plumes, sea fans, star corals, pillar corals, and other exotic species.

Areas safe for diving

Montserrat offers excellent diving and snorkelling facilities both for the first timer and the veteran. There is a coastline of almost 20 kilometres to explore as the Northern Part of the island is entirely safe. The area suitable for diving extends from the Old Road Bluff in the West, right through to Hell's Gate in the northeast corner of the island. On the eastern coast, you can dive safely in all the regions unto the border of the Volcanic Maritime Exclusion Zone.

If the volcanic eruptions have damaged life on land, they have ironically, been responsible for enriching marine life. Thanks to the huge boulders that tumbled into the sea after each eruption, entire new substrates formed on which reefs grew. At the same time, the larvae of the existing sea life were washed up north due to strong currents and began to thrive there. So, what you have is an explosion of another kind, a gentler and a more beautiful one. 

Dive Sites

Lime Kiln Bay, Woodlands Bay, Bunkum Bay, Carr's Bay, Rendezvous Bay; the list of diving sites in Montserrat seems almost endless and you wonder how an island so small has so much to offer.

Lime Kiln Bay is in the southern most regions, in the safe area. Located near Olveston, with black sands against the backdrop of cliffs and forests, Lime Kiln beach has several ledges that go to a depth of about 45 feet. In this stretch you can find huge boulders with a virtual carpet of sea life on them.

The reefs at Woodlands Bay offer some very interesting sights for divers. Not only can you marvel at the underwater wonders, you can also creep into a small cave in the beach and gasp at its coloured walls, coral shrimp and copper sweepers. These reefs run from Runaway Ghaut (pronounced ‘gut') to Woodlands Bay and have good infrastructure for divers, in terms of changing rooms, rest rooms and showers.

Bunkum Bay, where you will find a small sandy bottom shelf, is the snorkelling enthusiast's delight. You can snorkel your way to a depth of about 90 feet to 140 feet, to boulders that promise some good specimens. North of Bunkum Bay are the cliffs of Virgin Islands, where there is a sizeable reef of boulders and rocky ledges full of marine flora and fauna. Bunkum Bay is a small, quiet beach and is the place for some peaceful communion with nature.

Carr's Bay, in the north of Montserrat, is another popular area for shore dives. The beach at Carr's Bay has several huge boulders, some as tall as 25 feet. Nestled in these, are some very colourful corals and sponges. Carr's Bay is the place for avid undersea photographers.

To the south end of Little Bay, lies the Potato Hill reef. This is truly one of the most interesting diving and snorkelling areas of Montserrat - there are deep sea coral species at a depth of a mere 20 feet! Feast your eyes on deep sea fans, pillar corals, wire and black corals, even if you are a first time diver and snorkeler.

Rendezvous Bay lies to the north of Little Bay and can be reached either by a kayak or a small hike from Little Bay. A unique feature at Rendezvous Bay is the bat cave dive - you can hear thousands of fruit bats chirping and hanging from the ceiling. Incidentally, Rendezvous Beach is the only white sand beach in Montserrat and the Rendezvous Bay area is rated as one of the best for snorkelling and diving.

The diving area at Northwest Bluff is for more experienced divers and snorkellers, as the sea registers some strong surges here. In this diving area, there are cliffs under the water that fall to a sandy bottom 60 feet below and form the perfect wild backdrop for pelagic fish.

Little Redonda in the North Eastern Island of Montserrat offers some spectacular diving sites and some exotic marine life. You can marvel at the large spiny lobsters or glide with the spotted Eagle Rays and Eels at a depth of about 80 feet. A word of caution - the diving at Little Redonda and other diving sites located in the North and Eastern shore is a bit risky, and sometimes rendered impossible by the strong and high waves.

Other diving sites that are worth mentioning are the Pinnacles and Yellow Hole. The Pinnacles lie on the north-eastern part of the island and have interesting underwater rock formations. South of the Pinnacles are the ruins of a nineteenth century steel schooner  

You have the choice of diving with one of our two certified Dive Shops, which offers snorkelling, scuba diving, rental of equipment and dive courses with an experienced and qualified dive instructors.

Sea Wolf Diving School

Based at the ocean front Vue Pointe Hotel, Seawolf Diving School was opened in 1992 by Wolf and Inge Krebs, and quickly built a reputation as the most knowledgeable and professional dive centre in Montserrat. The school has provided diving packages, certifications, and private charters to visitors from all corners of the globe, offering a chance to dive the Caribbean as it was meant to be - far from the crowds of tourists, in pristine waters and through untouched reef. Their custom diveboat, the Seawolf, allows us to offer both incredible shore dives, and boat dives around Montserrat and the neighbouring island of Redonda.

In April 2005, Wolf passed on his legacy to Bryan Cunningham, an experienced diver looking for a new home in which to share his passion for diving. Bryan has travelled the globe, teaching people to dive in his birthplace of South Africa, The Red Sea, the Virgin Islands, Turks & Caicos and then 4 years in The Bahamas before buying Seawolf Diving School from Wolf in 2005. His experience has led him to certify over 600 students in his time, and he is qualified as a PADI staff instructor, SDI instructor trainer, NAUI instructor trainer and Universal Referral instructor.

Sea Wolf Diving School
Vue Pointe Hotel, Isle's Bay
Tel: (664) 496 7807
E-mail: info@seawolfdivingschool.com
Website: http://www.seawolfdivingschool.com/ 

The Green Monkey Inn and Dive Shop

The Green Monkey Inn & Dive Shop is a full-service dive operation and watersport rental facility on the southern shore of Little Bay. They offer scuba packages including multiple day packages, discover scuba, and PADI training courses. The shop also offers guided snorkeling tours to nearby Rendevous Bay and other local sites. In addition, items such as inflatable dive kayaks, sea scooters, and snorkeling rafts are available for rent. Following an afternoon of diving or snorkeling you can enjoy a refreshing drink at the Dive Shop's bar facility, The Monkey Bar. The new beach deck provides a perfect location for sipping a cool drink while watching the surf and sunset.

The Green Monkey Inn & Dive shop is operated under the expert guidance of Master Scuba Diver Trainer Troy Deppermann. With twenty-plus years of dive experience, Troy is abundantly qualified to lead experienced divers as well as instructing the novice diver. He possesses nine advanced specialty certifications including Underwater Navigator, Night Diver, Deep Diver, Search & Recovery, and Peak Performance Buoyancy.

Troy works with you to develop an itinerary designed specifically for you or your group. He and his wife Melody can also help you arrange top-side tours distinctively designed for your own unique enjoyment - from eco-tours and nature hikes, to viewing the volcanic ruins of Plymouth. Troy and Melody ensure that your land based excursions will be just as exciting as your underwater experience.

The Green Monkey Inn and Dive Shop
Little Bay
Tel: (664) 491 2960 or 496 2960
E-mail: troy@divemontserrat.com
Website: http://www.divemontserrat.com/

At Carr's Bay, you can witness a slice of Montserratian history. There are the remnants of an ancient fort, complete with canons pointing in the direction of Redonda. There is also a slice of modern history in the model of the War Memorial and the Clock Tower that were submerged under the ashes in Plymouth. And on a lucky day, you can spot the large iguana that lies nestled in the rocks there.

Ghauts (pronounced guts) are deep valleys that carry rainwater from the mountains down to the sea. There is an interesting legend that if you drink the spring water flowing to the fountain at Runaway Ghaut, you will return to Montserrat again and again!

Montserrat is a small island. It is rendered even smaller by the demarcation of the Exclusion Zone. It is therefore best explored by foot. And there is a lot to explore. Keeping this in mind the Montserratians have constructed a number of trails for both fresh as well as veteran hikers. You must remember that some of the trails could be arduous, it is therefore necessary to take along a local guide. Needless to say, you also need to wear sensible shoes and clothing and carry along water.

Hiking Trails

All guided walks and trails and hikes are arranged by or under the supervision of the Montserrat Forest Range. There are trained guides who explain to you the nuances of the flora and fauna of Montserrat. Cot Trail, Runaway Ghaut, Centre Hill Trail and the Silver Hill Trail are some preferred trails and most of them pass through the Centre Hills.

The Oriole Walkway

The Oriole Walkway is surely one of the most exciting trails. It covers the Centre Hills Region, which is almost a rainforest in which you can find most of the 33 species of resident land birds and migrant song birds, as well as different species of wild life.

If you are alert (and lucky) you could spot the Oriole from which this trail gets its name. You could also spot other rare birds like the Forest thrush, the Bridled quail dove, the Mangrove cuckoo, the Trembler, the Purple throated carib and many more.

You can also spot some fascinating reptiles and unusual amphibians on this trail. If you look carefully you can spot the galliwasp, the only reptile of its kind in the world: half lizard, half snake. Or you could spot the mountain chicken, which is no chicken at all, but actually a frog!  And of course, there are tree frogs, anoles, ground lizards, dwarf geckos and iguanas.

Trail to ‘the Cot'

‘The Cot,' is the summer cottage of the Sturge family, one of the more influential families of Montserrat. It is in ruins today, but it stands as a symbol of Montserratian heritage. It is situated in the Centre Hills region in the midst of lush oki banana plantations.

The Cot trail starts on a dirt track that leads to the cottage passing through thick, lush forests. Along the way as you ascend, you can get some scintillating views of the surrounding villages and the Exclusion Zone. The track goes up to a height of almost 100 feet above sea level from where you get some breathtaking views of the coastline.

The Blackwood Allen Trail

The Blackwood Allen trail starts from the Grand View Bed and Breakfast in Baker Hill, runs along the Blackwood Allen Stream, and terminates at Mongo Hills. It passes through some breathtaking climbs and dipping valleys. This trail could very well be named the National Trail of Montserrat, as it gives you the opportunity to see both the national bird, the Oriole, and the National flower, the Heliconia. There are platforms placed at strategic points along the trail, from where you can get some amazing views of the coastline and the Northern region. The Blackwood Allen Stream is home to a wide variety of fresh water fish which are certainly worth a look.

Silver Hills Trail

Silver Hills is Montserrat's oldest volcanic centre where you can see a dead volcano. It gives you a preview of how the Soufrière Hills of today will looks hundreds of years down the road.

The Silver Hills trail commences from Drummond and passes through fields and forests giving you different views of the coast line and its surrounding areas. This trail again promises to be an ornithologists dreams come true as you can spot birds like the Red billed tropic bird, the Mangrove cuckoo and the Pearly eyed thrasher. You can also stop at Pelican point to admire the breeding colony of the magnificent frigate birds.

Trail from Little Bay Rendezvous Bay

The trail from the Little Bay to the Rendezvous Bay is not an easy one; it is therefore advisable to check with a Forest Ranger before starting on it. The trail follows a steep mountain climb at the end of which you can flop down on the white sands of Rendezvous Beach which is one of the more secluded spots in Montserrat. Then you could jump into the clear waters and glide along with exotic creatures of the sea. If you are exhausted then you could opt to make the return journey to Little Bay by boat.

Montserrat is the home of three of the seven known species of sea turtles. Turtle watching is therefore a very interesting activity where tourists can observe the Green Turtle, the Hawksbill and the Loggerhead. The nestling season of the turtles is from August to September and the black sand beaches of Montserrat are ideal places for turtles to lay their eggs. A huge sea turtle laying its eggs on the black sands is an unusual and awesome sight. It is not to be missed. You could take one of the turtle watching treks that are organised by the Montserrat National Trust and carry home memories of this unique sight.

If you want more information on turtle watching you can call the Government Agriculture Department on (664) 491 2075.

Montserrat's beaches are unforgettable, with their clean grey, black and white sands and clear waters. Most of the beaches have soft grey volcanic sand. All beaches are on the West Coast.

You can start your beach beat with Little Bay, a place very popular with swimmers. If you are in a more sedate mood, you could just sit and watch the boats entering and leaving the Port, and then saunter over for a drink at one of the beach bars or the Good Life restaurant for a bite.

Then you can come down to Bunkum Bay at the end of St. Peter's Road. Bunkum Bay is quiet and as yet relatively undiscovered. It has a solitary Beach Bar and could be secluded at times.

Woodlands Beach is more popular and thus more populated. It is a favourite with families thanks to an organised picnic area and better infrastructure. The waves at Woodlands Beach are rough, and could pose a problem to swimmers who are not very experienced. Children need to be carefully watched.

Then you can come down to Lime Kiln Beach and Old Road Bay. Lime Kiln Beach once again is quite secluded but Old Road Bay is popular with bathers and you can see how volcanic mud flows have pushed the shoreline.

Further down south right at the end, just before the Exclusion Zone is Foxes Bay. Foxes Bay was a bird sanctuary and a mangrove swamp but volcanic ash and hurricanes destroyed it all. Foxes Bay stands as a mute testimony to the fury of nature.

And lastly, no visit to Montserrat can be complete without a trip to Rendezvous Beach. The only non-volcanic white sand beach up north, Rendezvous Beach is only accessible by boat from Little Bay or by a strenuous hike. But all is forgiven and forgotten, when you get to the beach with its white sands and clear water and the serenity and peace of a hitherto undiscovered paradise. Do remember to carry plenty of cold water to Rendezvous beach.

Montserrat is quite the angler's delight. There is marlin, dolphin, King, Tuna, Wahoo, and a variety of other fish that could bite your bait. If you are an avid angler, then you have a choice of deep water, shallow water or shore fishing. You could hire boats that will take you deep and shallow water fishing or you could cast your line in one of the quiet and peaceful beaches. Old Road Bay, Rendezvous Bay and Little Bay are traditional shore fishing spots. Remember to carry a hat and lots of water. It can get quite hot! 

For more information on fishing in Montserrat contact:

Danny Sweeney
Tel: (664) 491 5645
E-mail: mailto:mwilson@candw.ms

Carlton O'Garro
Tel: (664) 491 8902

Bruce Farara
Tel: (664) 491 8802
E-mail: mailto:farara@hotmail.com