Coral kaleidoscope. Reefs are better in The Bahamas

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Dana Wilcox
6 years ago
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1 It, s Better in The Bahamas

Coral kaleidoscope With the third largest barrier reef system in the world and around seven hundred islands

From the vibrancy of Nassau and Grand Bahama in the north to the southernmost reaches of Reefs are better

discover healthy coral reefs that teem with life and pulse with colour.

2 Coral kaleidoscope With the third largest barrier reef system in the world and around seven hundred islands and cays, the choice of The Bahamas reefs to dive is out of this world. From the vibrancy of Nassau and Grand Bahama in the north to the southernmost reaches of Reefs are better in The Bahamas quieter spots like Long Cay, Crooked Island and Mayaguana in the south, off-shore you ll discover healthy coral reefs that teem with life and pulse with colour. Should you choose a liveaboard dive trip, there s the rarely visited reef areas like the Gingerbread Grounds and Cay Sal Bank, claimed to include one of the largest atolls in the world.

Shark action Want to see sharks while Typically, Caribbean reef

The Bahamas sharks are impressive beasts are famous for shark but

These are not sharks you might encounter.

3 Shark action Want to see sharks while Typically, Caribbean reef you re diving? The Bahamas sharks are impressive beasts are famous for shark but they are not the only encounters. These are not sharks you might encounter. sharks that disappear into the There are lemon sharks, nurse blue when you see them. sharks, bull sharks, great These are not fleeting hammerheads and tiger sharks encounters. These sharks are too. It s the shark-diving up close and personal. capital of the world. Shark-diving is better in The Bahamas

Back to school The name Bahamas comes from the Spanish for shallow seas but

these are frequented by huge schools of fish that make their way across the

Atlantic spadefish, jacks, dorado, silky sharks, silvery tarpon, and even

4 Back to school The name Bahamas comes from the Spanish for shallow seas but deep blue channels punctuate the clear turquoise waters around the islands and these are frequented by huge schools of fish that make their way across the dive sites. Atlantic spadefish, jacks, dorado, silky sharks, silvery tarpon, and even Nassau grouper during spawning, school in large numbers. If your passion is Fish school better in The Bahamas to swim with the fishes, this is the place for you.

Flying high Using a diver propulsion vehicle (DPV) is

No problem in the high-visibility conditions provided

You can rent a DPV at selected dive-centres and fly

5 Flying high Using a diver propulsion vehicle (DPV) is no fun if you can t see where you re going. No problem in the high-visibility conditions provided by the Bahamian waters. You can rent a DPV at selected dive-centres and fly along the reef walls, covering a lot more territory than you would by fin-power alone. Underwater wall-flying For the less ambitious there are bubblesubs at selected is better in The Bahamas dive-centres.

Get wrecked The waters around The vessels.

of life, providing a challenge to navigators over safe

government has encouraged the you can see a whole wreck

6 Get wrecked The waters around The vessels. These have received a Bahamas have never been a new lease of life, providing a challenge to navigators over safe habitat for marine life and passing years but an prove popular with divers. environmentally-aware Where else is the water so clear, government has encouraged the you can see a whole wreck from sinking of artificial reefs in the the surface? form of many Wreck-diving is better in The Bahamas old and obsolete or unwanted

loss of habitat in many parts of the world.

7 Turn turtle The islands and cays of The Bahamas are famous for their white, pink and golden sandy beaches. They still provide plenty of nesting sites for a vibrant turtle population that is otherwise endangered through loss of habitat in many parts of the world. Hawksbill, loggerhead and green turtles are most commonly encountered and it s pleasant to spend time underwater with these enigmatic reptiles. Turtle encounters are better in The Bahamas

Keep smiling Why do dolphin smile? No, it s not because they live in The Bahamas!

whole. Their mouths are so shaped that they can squeeze the seawater out before they swallow.

bottle-nose dolphin, rescued and rehabilitated from dolphinarium and aquariums around the

8 Keep smiling Why do dolphin smile? No, it s not because they live in The Bahamas! Like all mammals they require fresh water, which they obtain from the fishes they swallow whole. Their mouths are so shaped that they can squeeze the seawater out before they swallow. Spotted bottle-nose dolphin are often seen off the coast of The Bahamas and Atlantic bottle-nose dolphin, rescued and rehabilitated from dolphinarium and aquariums around the world, are allowed to swim free from Sanctuary Bay in Grand Bahama. Dolphin experiences are better in The Bahamas

the Rob Palmer, Steffi Schwabe spectacular rock formations of and Ben Rose.

These to be a full-on cave diver formed thousands of years ago either, to

9 Rock on! You don t need to be a by pioneering cave divers like petrologist to enjoy the Rob Palmer, Steffi Schwabe spectacular rock formations of and Ben Rose. You don t need The Bahamas caves. These to be a full-on cave diver formed thousands of years ago either, to experience what it s before sea levels rose and like in the caverns and flooded them. Bahamian Blue entrances of many of these Holes are formed from the Blue Holes and cavern diving collapsed ceilings of such courses are available at caves and have been explored selected dive-centres. Even the rocks are better in The Bahamas

Dive centres The Abacos Above and Below Abaco 2 2 1 15 N,S www.scuba-diving-abaco-bahamas.com Dive Abaco 1 or 2 3 1 14-22 ALL www.diveabaco.com Dive Guana 1 2 1 7 P,S,N www.diveguana.

com Andros Dives/day Instructors Boats Boat capacity Andros Diving 3 3 2 6-8 ALL www.androsdiving.com Small Hope Bay Lodge 3 5 5 2-16 ALL www.smallhope.com Bimini Bimini Undersea 2 3 2 14-22 ALL www.

10 Dive centres The Abacos Above and Below Abaco N,S Dive Abaco 1 or ALL Dive Guana P,S,N Froggies Out Island Adventure PADI Brendal s Dive center ALL Treasure Divers P,N Andros Dives/day Instructors Boats Boat capacity Andros Diving ALL Small Hope Bay Lodge ALL Bimini Bimini Undersea ALL Cat Island Hawk Nest Resort and Marina PADI Greenwood ALL Shanna s Cove P,N Eleuthera Ocean Fox Diving 1 to P,S Valentine s Dive Center PADI Cape Eleuthera Divers 2 to PADI The Exumas Dive Exuma ALL Staniel Cay Divers 2 to PADI Grand Bahama Island Grand Bahama Scuba ALL Sunn Odyssey Divers PADI UNEXSO ALL Viva Diving PADI Long Island Cape Santa Maria Dive Center PADI Stella Maris Resort PADI Nassau Paradise Island Bahama Divers PADI Stuart Cove s Dive Bahamas P,S,N San Salvador Club Med Columbus PADI Riding Rock Inn P,S * P = PADI; N = NAUI; S = SSI. Every dive centres will recognize the BSAC cards. Shark dives Dolphin dives Night dives Deep dives Wreck dives Cave dives Blue hole dives Wall dives Drift dives Nitrox dives Children dives Snorkelling Agencies* Pool Photo/Video Gear Gift shop Restaurant

Liveaboards USA Florida Miami North Bimini (NSB) South Bimini (BIM) BIMINI GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND Freeport International (FPO) THE ABACOS Treasure Cay (TCB) AQUACAT Dives per day: 4 Instructors: 4

com BLACKBEARD Dives per day: 4 Instructors: 2 Boats: 3 capacity 22 Diving available: shark, night, wreck, wall, drift Agencies: PADI, SSI Facilities: gift shop www.blackbeard-cruises.

South Andros (TZN) Arthur s Town (ACT) North Eleuthera (ELH) Govenor s Harbour (GHB) ELEUTHERA Rock Sound (RSD) N O R T H A T L A N T I C O C E A N CAT ISLAND CAT PPALU Dives per day: 4 Instructors:

com EXPLORER VENTURES UNLIMITED Dives per day: 5 Instructors: 6 Boats: 1, capacity 18 Diving available: shark, dolphin, night, deep, wreck, wall, nitrox, snorkelling Agencies: All Facilities:

com DOLPHIN DREAM TEAM Dives per day: 5 Instructors: 1 Boat capacity:12 Diving available: shark, dolphin, night, deep, wreck, wall Agencies: PADI Facilities: photo/video, gear www.dolphindreamteam.

com SEA DRAGON Dives per day: 5 Instructors: 5 Boats: 1, capacity 10 Diving available: shark, night, wreck, Blue Hole, wall, drift, snorkelling Agencies: PADI Facilities: restaurant www.

11 Liveaboards USA Florida Miami North Bimini (NSB) South Bimini (BIM) BIMINI GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND Freeport International (FPO) THE ABACOS Treasure Cay (TCB) AQUACAT Dives per day: 4 Instructors: 4 Boats: 1, capacity Diving available: shark, night, wreck, Blue Hole, wall, drift, nitrox Agencies: All Facilities: photo/video BLACKBEARD Dives per day: 4 Instructors: 2 Boats: 3 capacity 22 Diving available: shark, night, wreck, wall, drift Agencies: PADI, SSI Facilities: gift shop AQUACAT ANDROS Andros Town (TZN) T R O P I C O F C A N C E R BERRY ISLANDS San Andros (SAQ) Nassau International (NAS) EXUMA CAYS Marsh Harbour (MHH) NASSAU/PARADISE ISLAND Mangrove Cay (MAY) South Andros (TZN) Arthur s Town (ACT) North Eleuthera (ELH) Govenor s Harbour (GHB) ELEUTHERA Rock Sound (RSD) N O R T H A T L A N T I C O C E A N CAT ISLAND CAT PPALU Dives per day: 4 Instructors: 1 Boat capacity:12 Diving available: shark, dolphin, night, Blue Hole, wall Agencies: PADI, SSI, NAUI Facilities: photo/video, gear EXPLORER VENTURES UNLIMITED Dives per day: 5 Instructors: 6 Boats: 1, capacity 18 Diving available: shark, dolphin, night, deep, wreck, wall, nitrox, snorkelling Agencies: All Facilities: photo/video, gear DOLPHIN DREAM TEAM Dives per day: 5 Instructors: 1 Boat capacity:12 Diving available: shark, dolphin, night, deep, wreck, wall Agencies: PADI Facilities: photo/video, gear SCUBA ADVENTURES UNLIMITED Instructors: 4 Boats: 1, capacity 10 Diving available: shark, dolphin, night, deep, wreck, nitrox Agencies: PADI, NAUI Facilities: gear SEA DRAGON Dives per day: 5 Instructors: 5 Boats: 1, capacity 10 Diving available: shark, night, wreck, Blue Hole, wall, drift, snorkelling Agencies: PADI Facilities: restaurant JULIET SAILING AND DIVING Dives per day: 5 Instructors: 2 Boats: 1, capacity 12 Diving available: night, nitrox, snorkelling Agencies: PADI Facilities: photo/video, gear, restaurant G R E A T B A H A M A B A N K CUBA EXUMA LONG ISLAND RAGGED ISLAND New Bight (TBI) George Town (GGT) Stella Maris (SML) Inagua (IGA) Spring Point (AXP) RUM CAY Deadman s Cay (LGI) CROOKED ISLAND Crooked Island (CRI) ACKLINS MAYAGUANA San Salvador (ZSA) SAN SALVADOR Mayaguana (MYG) Information correct at the time of going to press. Contact individual dive centres for further information. Airport INAGUA TURKS & CAICOS

12 Everything is Better in The Bahamas UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN BANTIN The Bahamas Tourist Office 10 Chesterfield Street London W1J 5JL UK Tel +44 (0) Produced for The Bahamas Tourist Office by

The Bahamas is undoubtedly one of the oceans shark diving hotspots! Join Shark Explorers and get up close and personal with a variety of shark

BAHAMAS The Bahamas is undoubtedly one of the oceans shark diving hotspots Join Shark Explorers and get up close and personal with a variety of shark species including Tiger sharks, Great Hammerhead sharks,