Tobago (toe-BAY-go) is as far down-island as you can go and well worth the trip, though it might prove difficult for some people to find. Almost 80 miles off the coast of South America, it lies 11 degrees north of the equator, midway between Grenada and Venezuela. Though geographically the southeastern anchor of the West Indies, in geological terms Tobago is not part of the Antilles island chain at all. Rather, it's the last remnant of a sunken mountain chain arising from the South American continental shelf; in a figurative sense, the northeastern extremity of the Andes. The smaller portion of the twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago, it is the quiet country cousin to the more cosmopolitan island of Trinidad.

Twenty-six miles long, 7.5 miles wide, with a land area of only 116 square miles and a population of 40,000, Tobago is dwarfed by Trinidad (1,864 square miles and a population of more than a million) 21 miles to the southwest.

For the modern traveler, Tobago as a diving destination remains as exotic as it is unspoiled. According to one estimate, fewer than 4,000 divers visit each year, and although tourism is its only industry, the entire island has only 750 hotel beds and a pace of life that varies between tranquil and somnolent.

Tobago lies off the coast of Venezuela in the southern Caribbean, approximately 20 miles northeast of Trinidad.

Tobago enjoys a tropical climate tempered by northeast trade winds. Year-round temperatures average 85°F during the day and 74°F at night. The rainy season runs from May to November; however, rains generally last no more than a few hours a day. The rainfall is interrupted by a brief dry spell called Petit Carême in September and October. Bring a good insect repellent when visiting during the rainy season.

A verdant island cloaked in tropical forest, with a mountainous midsection that reaches heights of 2,100 feet and cascades down to wide, sandy beaches.

The average year-round water temperature is 75°F.

The confluence of the strong Guyanese Current and the seasonal outflow of Venezuela's Orinoco River cause Tobago's waters to be rich in nutrients, making the vis variable, averaging between 50 and 80 feet. Can be far less following seasonal rains.

Tobago is definitely worth exploring and the best way to see the island is by car. Sightseeing tours by taxi are quite common with rates negotiable.