St. Kitts-Nevis is a constitutional monarchy within the British Commonwealth, having achieved full independence in 1983. The federation includes the two neighbouring islands of St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Nevis, as well as Sombrero Island. However, although travel and commerce between the two islands flows easily, most Nevisians would like to be independent from the larger, more populous St. Kitts.

Nevis' original participation in the federation was contingent on being able to secede and in 1997, Nevis gave notice that it would be withdrawing. Located near the north end of the Lesser Antilles, both islands are volcanic and dominated by central, dormant volcanoes with some fertile plains planted in sugar cane on the larger St. Kitts and considerable dry scrublands along the coast. Some 80% of the people live on St. Kitts where the capital and main port of

Basseterre is found. With the ferry link and the chance to visit either island on a day trip, the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis are usually visited as part of the same holiday. Both islands have international airports. Tourism, however, has never attained the glossy high profile achieved in other Caribbean countries. Lightly developed for tourism, these relaxed islands are ideal for a quiet holiday, and retain a character closer to what the Eastern Caribbean was like decades ago. Most of the accommodation is in guesthouses and old plantation greathouses.

Tourism is the main industry on Nevis, but on St. Kitts, more people work in agriculture and light manufacturing, especially surrounding the locally grown sugar cane. It is worth nothing that fishermen in St. Kitts consider the whales to be harbingers of good fishing. The tuna, mackerel and other fish seem to be plentiful when whales and dolphins are around. Although there are no dedicated whale or dolphin watch tours on either St. Kitts or Nevis, whales and dolphins have become a small but growing part of diving or boat trips.

On St. Kitts, Kenneth's Dive Shop reports occasional whale and dolphin sightings, including humpback whales close to the port at Basseterre, and bottlenose and other dolphins inshore. A mile (2 km) west of the islands (on the Caribbean or lee side) near the reefs, yachts, diving and sightseeing boats periodically report bottlenose, spinner, and other dolphins, as well as pilot whales. Access is via companies on the west sides of St. Kitts and Nevis such as from the capitals of Basseterre and Charlestown.

Acknowledgments: Kenneth's Dive Shop (St. Kitts), Ellis Chaderton (Scuba Safaris Ltd,
Nevis), Larry Armony (Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, St. Kitts), Nathan Gricks, Lesley Sutty, CTO 1997.