) , I# " Be##e!

in The Bahama"

Co!al kaleido"co e
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 quieter spots like Long Cay, Crooked Island and Mayaguana in the south, off-shore youll discover healthy coral reefs that teem with life and pulse with colour. Should you choose a liveaboard dive trip, theres the rarely visited reef areas like the Gingerbread Grounds and Cay Sal Bank, claimed to include one of the largest atolls in the world.

Reef" a!e be##e! in The Bahama"

Sha!k ac#ion
Want to see sharks while youre diving? The Bahamas are famous for shark encounters. These are not sharks that disappear into the blue when you see them. These are not fleeting encounters. These sharks are up close and personal. Typically, Caribbean reef sharks are impressive beasts but they are not the only sharks you might encounter. There are lemon sharks, nurse sharks, bull sharks, great hammerheads and tiger sharks too. Its the shark-diving capital of the world.

Sha!k-di%ing i" be##e! in The Bahama"

Back #o "chool
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 to swim with the fishes, this is the place for you.

Fi"h "chool be##e! in The Bahama"

Fl(ing high
Using a diver propulsion vehicle (DPV) is no fun if you cant see where youre 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.

For the less ambitious there are bubblesubs at selected dive-centres.

Unde!&a#e! &all-fl(ing i" be##e! in The Bahama"

Ge# &!ecked

The waters around The Bahamas have never been a challenge to navigators over passing years but an environmentally-aware government has encouraged the sinking of artificial reefs in the form of many old and obsolete or unwanted

W!eck-di%ing i" be##e! in The Bahama"

vessels. These have received a new lease of life, providing a safe habitat for marine life and prove popular with divers. Where else is the water so clear, you can see a whole wreck from the surface?

T$!n #$!#le
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 its pleasant to spend time underwater with these enigmatic reptiles.

T$!#le enco$n#e!" a!e be##e! in The Bahama"

Kee "miling
Why do dolphin smile? No, its 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.

Dol hin e' e!ience" a!e be##e! in The Bahama"

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

E%en #he !ock" a!e be##e! in The Bahama"

The Abacos
Above and Below Abaco Dive Abaco Dive Guana Froggies Out Island Adventure Brendals Dive center Treasure Divers

Di ve s/ da y In st ru Bo ct at ors s

2 1 or 2 1 2 2 2 3 3 2 2 3 4 1 to 3 2 2 to 4 4 2 to 4 2 2 3

2 3 2 1 4 1 3 5 3 1 2 1 3 3 3 3 1 2 1 8 7 2 3 5 20 12 1

1 1 1 1 1 1 2 5 2 2 12 7 3 2 1 2 1 1 2 7 2 1 3 2 13 2 2

15 14-22 7 10 12 6-20 6-8 2-16 14-22 8 12 17 10 5-30 15 4-8 10 15 10-18 4-16 23 6 20 20 16-45 100 15

Andros
Andros Diving Small Hope Bay Lodge
G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

Bimini
Bimini Undersea
G G G G G

Cat Island
Hawk Nest Resort and Marina Greenwood Shannas Cove
G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

Eleuthera
Ocean Fox Diving Valentines Dive Center Cape Eleuthera Divers
G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

The Exumas
Dive Exuma Staniel Cay Divers
G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

Grand Bahama Island

Grand Bahama Scuba Sunn Odyssey Divers UNEXSO Viva Diving
G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

Long Island
Cape Santa Maria Dive Center Stella Maris Resort 1 3 2 4 3 2
G G G G G G G G G G G G G

Nassau Paradise Island

Bahama Divers Stuart Coves Dive Bahamas
G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

San Salvador
Club Med Columbus Riding Rock Inn
G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

* P = PADI; N = NAUI; S = SSI. Every dive centres will recognize the BSAC cards.

Bo at ca pa Sh ci ty ar Do k d lp ive N hin s ig h div De t di es ep ves W di re ve c s Ca k d ve ive Bl div s ue es W ho al le l d Dr div ive ift es s N div itr es o Ch x d ild ive Sn ren s or d ke ive lli s Ag ng en ci es Po * ol Ph ot Ge o/V ar ide o Gi ft sh Re o st p au ra nt
G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

Di%e cen#!e"

N,S ALL P,S,N PADI ALL P,N ALL ALL ALL PADI ALL P,N P,S PADI PADI ALL PADI ALL PADI ALL PADI PADI PADI PADI P,S,N PADI P,S

G G G G G

G G G

G G G G G G G G G G G G

www.scuba-diving-abaco-bahamas.com www.diveabaco.com www.diveguana.com www.froggiesabaco.com www.brendal.com www.treasure-divers.com www.androsdiving.com www.smallhope.com www.biminiundersea.com

G G

G G

G G

G G

G G G

G G G

G G

G G G

www.hawks-nest.com www.greenwoodbeachresort.com www.shannas-cove.com www.oceanfox.com www.valentinesdive.com www.capeeleuthera.com www.dive-exuma.com www.stanielcaydivers.com www.grandbahamascuba.com www.sunnodyssey.com www.unexso.com www.vivaresorts.com www.capesantamaria.com www.stellamarisresort.com www.bahamadivers.com www.stuartcove.com www.clubmed.com www.ridingrock.com

G G

G G

G G

G G G

G G G

G G

G G

G G

G G G

G G G G G

G G G G G G G

G G G

G G

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Li%eaboa!d"
AQUACAT
Dives per day: 4 Instructors: 4 Boats: 1, capacity 22-30 Diving available: shark, night, wreck,

USA Florida

GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND

Miami

Freeport International (FPO) North Bimini (NSB) Treasure Cay (TCB)

BIMINI

South Bimini (BIM)

THE ABACOS
Marsh Harbour (MHH)

BERRY ISLANDS

N O R TH

Blue Hole, wall, drift, nitrox

Agencies: All Facilities: photo/video

San Andros (SAQ) Nassau International (NAS) North Eleuthera (ELH) Andros Town (TZN)

A TL A

www.aquacatcruises.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.com CAT PPALU
Dives per day: 4 Instructors: 1 Boat capacity:12 Diving available: shark, dolphin, night,

ANDROS

NASSAU/PARADISE ISLAND

N TI C

Govenors Harbour (GHB)

Mangrove Cay (MAY) South Andros (TZN)

ELEUTHERA
Rock Sound (RSD)

O C EA N

AQUACAT

I C O F C A N C

EXUMA CAYS

Arthurs Town (ACT)

CAT ISLAND
New Bight (TBI)
E R

Blue Hole, wall Agencies: PADI, SSI, NAUI Facilities: photo/video, gear www.catppalu.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: photo/video, gear www.explorerventures.com DOLPHIN DREAM TEAM
Dives per day: 5 Instructors: 1 Boat capacity:12 Diving available: shark, dolphin, night, deep,

SCUBA ADVENTURES UNLIMITED Instructors: 4 Boats: 1, capacity 10 Diving available: shark, dolphin, night, deep, wreck, nitrox Agencies: PADI, NAUI Facilities: gear www.scuba-adventures.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.seadragonbahamas.com 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 www.sailjuliet.com

R E A T B A

EXUMA George Town (GGT)

Stella Maris (SML) San Salvador (ZSA)

A M A B A N K

SAN SALVADOR

LONG ISLAND

RUM CAY
Deadmans Cay (LGI)

RAGGED ISLAND

CROOKED ISLAND
Crooked Island (CRI)

ACKLINS
Spring Point (AXP)

MAYAGUANA
Mayaguana (MYG)

wreck, wall Agencies: PADI Facilities: photo/video, gear www.dolphindreamteam.com

CUBA

Inagua (IGA)

G Information correct at the time of going to press. Contact individual dive centres for further information. Airport

INAGUA

TURKS & CAICOS

E%e!(#hing i" Be##e! in The Bahama"

UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN BANTIN

Produced for The Bahamas Tourist Office by

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.uk

www.divernet.com