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 info@bahamas.co.uk • www.bahamas.co.ukUNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN BANTIN

Produced for The Bahamas Tourist Office by

www.divernet.com

Everything is Better in The Bahamas