Bahamas_Diving_Brochure
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It’,s Better in The Bahamas
Coral kaleidoscope
With the third largest barrierreef system in the world andaround seven hundred islandsand cays, the choice of TheBahamas’ reefs to dive is out ofthis world. From the vibrancyof Nassau and Grand Bahamain the north to thesouthernmost reaches of
quieter spots like Long Cay,Crooked Island and Mayaguanain the south, off-shore you’lldiscover healthy coral reefsthat teem with life and pulsewith colour. Should you choosea liveaboard dive trip, there’sthe rarely visited reef areas likethe Gingerbread Grounds andCay Sal Bank, claimed toinclude one of the largest atollsin the world.Reefs are better in The Bahamas
Shark action
Want to see sharks whileyou’re diving? The Bahamasare famous for sharkencounters. These are notsharks that disappear into theblue when you see them.These are not fleetingencounters. These sharks areup close and personal.
Typically, Caribbean reefsharks are impressive beastsbut they are not the onlysharks you might encounter.There are lemon sharks, nursesharks, bull sharks, greathammerheads and tiger sharkstoo. It’s the shark-divingcapital of the world.
Shark-diving is better in The Bahamas
Back to school
The name Bahamas comes from theSpanish for ‘shallow seas’ but deep bluechannels punctuate the clear turquoisewaters around the islands and these arefrequented by huge schools of fish thatmake their way across the dive sites.Atlantic spadefish, jacks, dorado, silkysharks, silvery tarpon, and even Nassaugrouper during spawning, school in largenumbers. If your passion isto swim with the fishes, thisis the place for you. Fish school better in The Bahamas
Flying high
Using a diver propulsion vehicle (DPV)is no fun if you can’t see where you’regoing. No problem in the high-visibilityconditions provided by the Bahamianwaters. You can rent a DPV at selecteddive-centres and fly along the reef walls,covering a lot more territory than youwould by fin-power alone.
For the less ambitious there are bubble-subs at selected dive-centres.Underwater wall-flying
is better in The Bahamas
Get wrecked
The waters around TheBahamas have never been achallenge to navigators overpassing years but anenvironmentally-awaregovernment has encouraged thesinking of artificial reefs in theform of manyold and obsoleteor unwanted
vessels. These have received anew lease of life, providing asafe habitat for marine life andprove popular with divers.Where else is the water so clear,you can see a whole wreck fromthe surface?
Wreck-diving is better in The Bahamas
Turn turtle
The islands and cays ofThe Bahamas are famous fortheir white, pink and goldensandy beaches. They stillprovide plenty of nestingsites for a vibrant turtlepopulation that is otherwiseendangered through loss ofhabitat in many parts of theworld. Hawksbill,loggerhead and green turtlesare most commonlyencountered and it’spleasant to spend timeunderwater with theseenigmatic reptiles.
Turtle encounters are better in The Bahamas
Keep smiling
Why do dolphin smile? No, it’s notbecause they live in The Bahamas! Likeall mammals they require fresh water,which they obtain from the fishes theyswallow whole. Their mouths are soshaped that they can squeeze theseawater out before they swallow.Spotted bottle-nose dolphin are oftenseen off the coast of The Bahamas andAtlantic bottle-nose dolphin, rescuedand rehabilitated from dolphinarium andaquariums around the world, are allowedto swim free from Sanctuary Bay inGrand Bahama.
Dolphin experiences are better in The Bahamas
Rock on!
You don’t need to be apetrologist to enjoy thespectacular rock formations ofThe Bahamas’ caves. Theseformed thousands of years agobefore sea levels rose andflooded them. Bahamian BlueHoles are formed from thecollapsed ceilings of such caves and have been explored
by pioneering cave divers likeRob Palmer, Steffi Schwabeand Ben Rose. You don’t needto be a full-on cave divereither, to experience what it’slike in the caverns andentrances of many of theseBlue Holes and cavern divingcourses are available atselected dive-centres.
Even the rocks are better in The Bahamas
Dive centres
* P = PADI; N = NAUI; S = SSI. Every dive centres will recognize the BSAC cards.
The Abacos Above and Below Abaco 2 2 1 15 � � � � � � � � N,S � � � www.scuba-diving-abaco-bahamas.comDive Abaco 1 or 2 3 1 14-22 � � � � � � � � � � � ALL � � � � � www.diveabaco.comDive Guana 1 2 1 7 � � � � � � P,S,N � � � www.diveguana.comFroggies Out Island Adventure 2 1 1 10 � � � � � PADI � � � � www.froggiesabaco.comBrendal’s Dive center 2 4 1 12 � � � � � � � ALL � � www.brendal.comTreasure Divers 2 1 1 6-20 � � � � � � � � P,N � � � � � www.treasure-divers.com
Andros Andros Diving 3 3 2 6-8 � � � � � � � � ALL � � � � www.androsdiving.comSmall Hope Bay Lodge 3 5 5 2-16 � � � � � � � � � � ALL � � � � www.smallhope.com
Bimini Bimini Undersea 2 3 2 14-22 � � � � � ALL � www.biminiundersea.com
Cat Island Hawk Nest Resort and Marina 2 1 2 8 � � � � � � � PADI � � � � www.hawks-nest.comGreenwood 3 2 12 12 � � � � ALL � � � � � www.greenwoodbeachresort.comShanna’s Cove 4 1 7 17 � � � � � � P,N � � www.shannas-cove.com
Eleuthera Ocean Fox Diving 1 to 3 3 3 10 � � � � � � � � � P,S � � � � www.oceanfox.comValentine’s Dive Center 2 3 2 5-30 � � � � � � PADI � � � � � www.valentinesdive.comCape Eleuthera Divers 2 to 4 3 1 15 � � � � � � PADI � � � www.capeeleuthera.com
The Exumas Dive Exuma 4 3 2 4-8 � � � � � � � ALL � � � � www.dive-exuma.comStaniel Cay Divers 2 to 4 1 1 10 � � � � � � � � PADI � � � � � www.stanielcaydivers.com
Grand Bahama Island Grand Bahama Scuba 2 2 1 15 � � � � � � � ALL � � www.grandbahamascuba.comSunn Odyssey Divers 2 1 2 10-18 � � � � � � � � PADI � � � � www.sunnodyssey.comUNEXSO 3 8 7 4-16 � � � � � � � ALL � � � � www.unexso.comViva Diving 7 2 23 � � � � � � PADI � � www.vivaresorts.com
Long Island Cape Santa Maria Dive Center 1 2 1 6 � � � � � � PADI � � � www.capesantamaria.comStella Maris Resort 3 3 3 20 � � � � � � � PADI � � � � www.stellamarisresort.com
Nassau Paradise Island Bahama Divers 2 5 2 20 � � � � � � PADI � � � � www.bahamadivers.comStuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas 4 20 13 16-45 � � � � � � � � P,S,N � � � www.stuartcove.com
San Salvador Club Med Columbus 3 12 2 100 � � � � � � PADI � � � � � www.clubmed.comRiding Rock Inn 2 1 2 15 � � � � � � � � � � � P,S � � � � � www.ridingrock.com
Dives/day
Instructors
Boats
Boat capacity
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*
PoolPhoto/Video
GearGift shop
Restaurant
The Abacos
Andros
� Information correct at the time of going to press. Contact individual dive centres for further information.
LiveaboardsN
O R T H
A T L A N T I C O
C E A N
Miami
CUBA
BIMINI
ANDROS
THE ABACOS
ELEUTHERA
CAT ISLAND
BERRY ISLANDS
GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND
LONG ISLAND
RAGGED ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND
ACKLINS
INAGUA
MAYAGUANA
SAN SALVADORRUM CAY
EXUMA CAYS
TURKS & CAICOS
T R OP I C
OF C
AN
CE R
Florida
Freeport International (FPO)
Nassau International (NAS)North Eleuthera (ELH)
Govenor’s Harbour (GHB)
Rock Sound (RSD)
Arthur’s Town (ACT)
New Bight (TBI)
George Town (GGT)
Stella Maris (SML)
Crooked Island (CRI)
Spring Point (AXP)
Mayaguana (MYG)
Inagua (IGA)
San Salvador (ZSA)
Deadman’s Cay (LGI)
North Bimini (NSB)South Bimini (BIM) Treasure Cay (TCB)
San Andros (SAQ)
Marsh Harbour (MHH)
Andros Town (TZN)
Mangrove Cay (MAY)
South Andros (TZN)
USA
G R E A T B A H A M A B A N
K
EXUMA
NASSAU/PARADISEISLAND
AQUACATDives per day: 4Instructors: 4Boats: 1, capacity 22-30Diving available: shark, night, wreck, Blue Hole, wall, drift, nitroxAgencies: AllFacilities: photo/videowww.aquacatcruises.com
BLACKBEARDDives per day: 4Instructors: 2Boats: 3 capacity 22Diving available: shark, night, wreck, wall, driftAgencies: PADI, SSIFacilities: gift shopwww.blackbeard-cruises.com
CAT PPALUDives per day: 4Instructors: 1Boat capacity:12Diving available: shark, dolphin, night, Blue Hole, wallAgencies: PADI, SSI, NAUIFacilities: photo/video, gearwww.catppalu.com
EXPLORER VENTURES UNLIMITEDDives per day: 5Instructors: 6Boats: 1, capacity 18Diving available: shark, dolphin, night, deep,wreck, wall, nitrox, snorkellingAgencies: AllFacilities: photo/video, gearwww.explorerventures.com
DOLPHIN DREAM TEAMDives per day: 5Instructors: 1Boat capacity:12Diving available: shark, dolphin, night, deep,wreck, wallAgencies: PADIFacilities: photo/video, gearwww.dolphindreamteam.com
AQUACAT
SCUBA ADVENTURES UNLIMITEDInstructors: 4Boats: 1, capacity 10Diving available: shark, dolphin, night, deep, wreck, nitroxAgencies: PADI, NAUIFacilities: gearwww.scuba-adventures.com
SEA DRAGONDives per day: 5Instructors: 5Boats: 1, capacity 10Diving available: shark, night, wreck, Blue Hole, wall, drift, snorkellingAgencies: PADIFacilities: restaurantwww.seadragonbahamas.com
JULIET SAILING AND DIVINGDives per day: 5Instructors: 2Boats: 1, capacity 12Diving available: night, nitrox, snorkellingAgencies: PADIFacilities: photo/video, gear, restaurantwww.sailjuliet.com
Airport
The Bahamas Tourist Office • 10 Chesterfield Street • London W1J 5JL • UK
Tel +44 (0)20 7355 0800 • Email [email protected] • www.bahamas.co.ukUNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN BANTIN
Produced for The Bahamas Tourist Office by
www.divernet.com
Everything is Better in The Bahamas