Bahamas....

THE BAHAMAS:

The Bahamas are better in so many ways. This heavenly haven for boaters is close, calm, and clear. That's why many southern boaters love the Bahamas. So do scuba divers.

When Columbus wrote to the King of Spain shortly after his discovery of the Bahamas, he said, "Believe me, Sire, these countries far surpass all the rest of the world in beauty and conveniency." Columbus couldn't even dive.

The grass may seem greener in someone else's backyard (or body of water), but the Bahamas offer great boating very close to home. An exploration of the Bahamas shouldn't end, however, at sea level. The islands feature some of the finest scuba diving in the world.

James Bond fans know the diving in the Bahamas is good, thanks to films like Thunderball, Dr. No, and Never Say Never Again. Fans of the TV series Flipper know that the show was filmed in the clear and friendly waters of the Bahamas.

As word spread of the great diving in the Bahamas, high-quality dive operations developed quickly. Government aid helped fuel this growth on the smaller islands, in that tourism had already developed on New Providence and Grand Bahama. In the 1970s, many excellent operations opened throughout the Bahamas and still flourish today. Today, all of the popular dive spots have shops to support the diving desires of everyone.

These operators make it easy to explore the underwater world of the Bahamas. Many of the best dives are offshore and difficult to locate. Given the experience, expertise, and efficiency of dive shops, boaters should always utilize their services. It's ultimately easier and more enjoyable to let local dive shops handle all aspects diving. Many of the dive shops in the Bahamas are located at or near a marina.

Dive shops in the Bahamas can lead interested divers to some of the finest diving in the world. There are shallow reefs, deep walls, and many wrecks. All of this is accompanied by varied and colorful marine life.

There are about 700 landmasses in the Bahamas, stretching over 90,000 square miles. They stretch from 50 miles off the Florida coast in the north to just above the Windward Passage, between Cuba and Haiti, in the south. In between, there's lots of great diving.

NEW PROVIDENCE AND NASSAU

Situated on the island of New Providence, Nassau is the most-known name in the Bahamas. The city is the capital of the Bahamas and its chief port of entry. It lies at 25o05' N latitude, 77o25 W longitude, roughly in the middle of the Bahamas chain.

In their book, Diving and Snorkeling Guide to the Bahamas: Nassau and New Providence Island (Gulf Publishing, 800/231-6275 or 713/520-4444), Steve Blount and Lisa Walker say, "The bare trickle of divers going into New Providence has left much of the island's submarine scenery pristine."

Though popularized by many movies and the Flipper TV series, diving is still relatively new on New Providence. That means there are still lots of new and unusual diving sites, all easily-found on one of the dive shop trips.

North side diving near Nassau is convenient for novices and those pressed for time. Bahamas Divers (393-3431) and Sun Divers (325-8927) are both located in town and offer good trips to the shallows around Athol Island, the LCT wreck, Thunderball Reef (used for the speargun sequence in Thunderball), and the Mahoney Wreck, a steel freighter that sank in the hurricane of 1929. The Alcora Wreck is another popular site, intentionally sunk by Sun Divers to become a great dive (intentional sinking of derelict vessels is very popular in the Caribbean and produces some great diving).

The South side of New Providence offers some of the best diving in the Bahamas. The three major operators are Dive Dive (362-1401), Nassau Undersea Adventures (362-4171), and Peter Hughes Dive South Ocean (362-4391).

Dive Dive is located on the west end of the island at Coral Harbour. Stuart Cove's legendary Nassau Undersea Adventures is located in upscale Lyford Cay, featuring the homes of Sean Connery and Diana Ross. Stuart is a friendly Canadian who grew up on the island and has played a big part in the growth of diving in the Bahamas. Peter Hughes is a name synonymous with high-quality Caribbean diving and this dive center, located at the marina of the Divi Bahamas Beach Resort & Country Club, is no exception.

The Clifton Wall area features plenty of excellent diving at a variety of depths, with lots of colorful coral and fish. The Bond Wrecks include the freighter filmed in Never Say Never Again and the airplane prop created for Thunderball. Other hotspots include 20,000 Leagues, the Cessna Wreck, the Runway, and the Buoy (great for getting up close and personal with some sharks).

GRAND BAHAMA

This island features one of the grandaddys of Caribbean diving and lots of grand underwater experiences. Located just sixty miles off of Florida, east of Palm Beach, Grand Bahama is the home of the Underwater Explorers Society (UNEXSO), a pioneering dive operator.

For more than 25 years, UNEXSO (373-1244) has been a leader in diving instruction, service, and sales. "We are committed to offering one of the finest diving experiences in the world, says UNEXSO's Chris Allison.

UNEXSO is an ideal base for exploring the underwater world of Grand Bahama. They have a large variety of daily trips, including highly-recommended outings to Theo's Wreck (a 228-foot freighter); Shark Junction (the feeding of Caribbean reef sharks); and their unforgettable dolphin programs (interaction, swims, snorkeling, and diving). UNEXSO also offers the perfect opportunity to try diving for the first time or to get certified (they've certified more than 50,000 people).

UNEXSO is located right on Port Lucaya, a sparkling marina, shopping, and dining development. The nearby Lucayan Marina Hotel (across the water from the Lucayan Beach Resort & Casino, 305/591-5675 or 800/772-1227) offers a convenient way for boaters to enjoy the island and UNEXSO, with "Scuba Play" packages starting at just $145 per person for two nights.

THE FAMILY ISLANDS

The Family Islands (still called the "Out Islands" by locals), feature world-famous diving in more remote settings. They offer an ideal opportunity for boaters to see another side of the Bahamas.

Bob and Charlotte Keller, authors of Diving and Snorkeling Guide to the Bahamas: Family Islands and Grand Bahama (Gulf Publishing, 800/231-6275 or 713/520-4444), say, "Some of the islands are rather remote, others are rather rustic, while others are a combination. This is compensated by near perfect diving."

The Abacos chain holds claim as the boat-building capital of the Bahamas and sailing capital of the world. Another claim is that the stunning red- and white-striped lighthouse on Elbow Cay at Hope Town is the most-photographed lighthouse in the world. Consisting of Great Abaco and Little Abaco, Abaco is the second largest Bahamas island mass. They are the northernmost part of the islands.

The most popular dive sites include: the Pillars; the Wreck of the San Jacinto (the first U.S. steamship built for ocean travel, which sank in 1865); and the Tarpon Dive (huge shiny tarpon are often at the site). Popular operators include: Brendal's Dive Shop (367-2572); Island Marine Dive Shop (367-2822); Dive Abaco (367-2014); Treasure Cay Divers (305/763-5665); and Walker's Cay Dive Shop (305/522-1469).

Bahamians call Andros "the Sleeping Giant," because it's so big, but so quiet. The same could be said of the diving. Divers should head for Small Hope Bay Lodge (368-2014) or Andros Undersea Adventures (305/763-2188) at the Andros Beach Hotel Marina.

Andros is a group of islands just 25 miles from Nassau, but they are classified as one island. The best dives include: Ocean Blue Hole (an offshore pit on the ocean bottom); the Wreck of the Potomac (a shallow wreck from the busy shipping years of Prohibition); and Conch Alley (lots of queen conch, the national food of the Bahamas).

The Berry Islands are just becoming known as a dive destination. Once private, the Chub Cay Club (Chub Cay Undersea Adventures, 305/763-2188) now caters to divers and underwater photographers. Check out the Chub Cay Wall along the Tongue of the Ocean and Mama Rhoda Rock.

Bimini may be very close to the mainland, but it shouldn't be bypassed by boaters or divers. This Hemingway hangout, long a fishing mecca, is now becoming an "island in the stream" for divers.

Two famous sites worth exploration are the Wreck of the Sapona (a shallow and easy dive on a World War I troop carrier built by Henry Ford) and the Drift Wall Dive (a more difficult drift dive fueled by the Gulf Stream). Dive with Bimini Undersea Adventures (347-2089).

Eleuthera, the "Breadbasket of the Bahamas," features one of the more unusual dives in the Caribbean. The Current Cut offers a current-driven dive in the passage between Eleuthera Sound and the sea that separates Current Island and North Eleuthera. Dive operators drop divers at one end of the cut and pick them up at the other end. There are usually three passes of the cut, making for an unusual form of "drift" diving.

Two other top dive sites on Eleuthera are The Train Wreck and Blow Hole. The train wreck features a railroad car that went down on a wooden barge in 1865 (a shallow dive great for beginners). Blow Hole is interesting because huge boulders, rather than coral, form the underwater topography. Eleuthera dive operators serving these and other sites include: Romora Bay Club (333-2324) and Valentine's Dive Center (333-2309) on Harbor Island; Cotton Bay Club (334-2101) at Rock Sound; and Spanish Wells Dive Center (332-2645) at Spanish Wells.

Appropriately named, Long Island was the place Columbus first saw a version of today's hammock. The Stella Maris Resort (336-2106) has allowed many people to experience the incredible diving available. Some of the many dives include: Grouper Valleys (huge grouper and Jewfish); the Stella Maris Shark Reef (feeding of various sharks); and the virgin diving off Conception Island.

San Salvador is known for great diving, often with big and friendly grouper. One of the best choices is Telephone Pole, which features a cave tunnel that comes out on a wall at 110 feet. There's a huge telephone pole lying at the opening to the cave. Contact the well-known Riding Rock Inn at 305/761-1492. A beautiful Club Med, called Columbus Isle Village (800/CLUB MED), just opened. They offer their well-respected Dedicated Dive Center programs at this resort.

Exuma features famous blue hole diving. One of the best sites is Angelfish Blue Hole, a dive ranging from 30 to 90 feet and offering colorful coral, a large variety of fish, and a cavern-like room at the end of the dive. Ask about this dive in George Town at either Exuma Aquatics (336-2600) or Exuma Divers (336-2030).

The Family Islands have other diving gems, including Cat Island, Crooked Island, and Rum Cay. It's best to check with the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism at 255 Alhambra Circle, Coral Gables, FL 33134, 305/442-4869. Ask about their popular People-to-People programs, a great way for boaters to meet locals.

For further dive- and sports-related information, call 800/32-SPORT. For general information, call 800/8-BAHAMAS.