In response to a question recently on where a person can go on vacation and spear lionfish we have made up a working list. Please send us feedback if you think we are in error on any of these and we will keep it updated with the latest information.
Places to spear lionfish in Caribbean
Fortunately more and more dive destinations are starting to open up lionfish hunting for tourists. Even places that have never allowed spearfishing in the past are finally realizing what a significant hazard to the marine environment the lionfish pose, and they are figuring out that allowing tourists to hunt lionfish in their waters is good for the reef and also good for business. Many divers prefer to spend their precious vacation dollars where they can also hunt lionfish while diving.
Dive destinations where tourists are allowed to spear lionfish
For starters, don’t rule out Florida. We have great diving, no license required for an unlimited number of lionfish, and I’ve never heard of a dive business other than in Pennekamp Key Largo that won’t let you hunt lionfish. Pretty much every dive operator will allow it, although some like to see an ‘Advanced’ dive certification. As a courtesy, it’s also always a good idea to bring your own small cooler with ice for storing your lionfish. We don’t want the other guests to have to reach past your lionfish to get into the boat’s cooler for other items.
Please help us keep this list updated by sending us a message here if you know of any other places that will allow tourists to hunt lionfish.
Akumal, Mexico– http://www.divewithnatalieandivan.com/index.html
Anguilla-?
Antigua & Barbuda-?
Aruba– Norman Arends, PADI Instructor, Bucho_420@yahoo.com 297-731-6336 https://www.facebook.com/ArubaUnderWaterHuntersAuwh
Bahamas– http://www.julietsailinganddiving.com/ (liveaboard dive boat departs Miami)
Barbados– http://www.divebarbadosblue.com/
– http://spearfishingbarbados.com/
Bay Islands of Honduras
– Utila– http://www.utilacaysdiving.com/
– http://www.coralviewutila.com/
– Roatan– http://www.roatanlionfishcompany.com Kelly Ash lionfish hunting trips
– Guanaja-?
Bermuda– http://www.bermudascuba.com/lionfish
Belize– http://reefci.com/ Sapodilla Cays
– http://www.splashbelize.com/ Placencia
Bonaire– http://www.wannadive.com/wannapress/
British Virgin Islands – Sorry, the BVI don’t allow visitors to hunt lionfish
Cayman– http://oceanfrontiers.com/dive-boat-trips/lionfish-hunt.html
– http://www.ambassadordivers.com/
Colombia-?
Cozumel, Mexico– http://triplesail.com/ Guided lionfish hunts
Cuba– Nothing to link to, but we understand you can lionfish hunt around the island.
Curacao– http://www.oceanencounters.com/en/diving-a-snorkeling/lionfish-scuba-dive-experience
Dominica– http://www.divedominica.com/
Dominican Republic– http://scubafun.info/ contact John Sack
– http://divingdr.com/ Sharky’s
Grenada– http://www.ecodiveandtrek.com/
Guadeloupe-?
Jamaica– http://www.scuba-jamaica.com/
Martinique– Sorry, the french islands don’t allow tourists to hunt lionfish
Montserrat– http://www.aquamontserrat.com/#!home/mainPage
Panama– http://www.goldenfrogscuba.com/ Rey Sanchez
– http://dive.com.pa/ Alvaro Silva
– http://www.2oceansdivers.com/
Puerto Rico– Lionfish hunting is allowed, still waiting to hear from dive shops that will take tourists out hunting
Playa Del Carmen, Mexico– http://tankha.com/
St. Barts-?
St. Kitts & Nevis– http://www.divestkitts.com/
St. Lucia– http://www.aadivers.org/about.html
St. Martin– Sorry, the french islands don’t allow tourists to hunt lionfish
Trinidad & Tobago– http://divingintobago.com// Wild Turtle Scuba Club
– http://www.cocomotion.net/ Marlon Winter Roach
– http://www.tobagofrontierdivers.com/ Frontier Divers
– http://www.underseatobago.com/ Undersea Tobago
Turks & Caicos Islands – Sorry, the Turks & Caicos don’t allow visitors to hunt lionfish
US Virgin Islands– http://www.corevi.org/invasive-lionfish.html
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Thanks for this list Foldspear! It’s a great help planning our next vacation.
You’re right about the locals only in Cayman, we were there a couple months ago and that is what we found.
Just got back from Barbados and all dive shop employees are able to spear them. I do not think they allow visitors to do it.
You can not do it in Belize at most sites. A baracuda bit someone”s hand.
I was allowed to hunt at Ansa Chastenett on St. Lucia in February 2013.
Just returned from St. Lucia last month and the dive boat kept a log on the number of lionfish they caught. 42 on one dive. Very sad but satisfying to point them out to the local crew that dove with us and thankfully the fish are pretty stupid and wait to get speared if they miss the first time I think I hate them almost as much as stink bugs! At least you can eat the lionfish!