Rodale’s Scuba Diving

THE ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS

One Nation, Two Oceans, 700 Islands, and a World of Diving and Snorkeling Opportunities

Imagine a dive destination with 700 islands surrounded by miles of clear, pristine water and filled with stunning vertical walls, modern and historic wrecks, both shallow and medium depth coral reefs, abundant sea gardens, spectacular blue holes, and countless species of sharks, dolphins, tropical and pelagic fish, and lots of other critters. It’s The Islands of The Bahamas, a multi-destination country guaranteed to please undersea adventurers of all ages and skill levels by offering incredibly varied diving, snorkeling opportunities, lots of accommodations options, and topside activities to rival the bottom time.

Some of the top dive (and snorkeling) destinations include the Abacos, Andros, the Berry Islands, Bimini, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama, Long Island, New Providence (including Paradise Island), and San Salvador. But keep in mind that almost any island you choose will have at least one dive operator and some of the world's best scuba diving and snorkeling. Live-aboards provide yet another ideal way to dive and experience this incredible dive vacation spot. Whatever your Bahamas pleasure, just dive right in.

Wherever You Choose, Dive Right In

In addition to its diverse underwater attractions, warm climate, accessibility, and typically great visibility, The Bahamas encompasses more than 100,000 square miles of ocean rich with life, energy, and action, offering an array of dive experiences like no other destination in the world.

The Bahamas have been the setting for numerous Hollywood movies, including Flipper, The Silence of the Lambs, Splash, and many others. For several James Bond films, a number of wrecks were placed on the ocean floor as underwater sets during production. The framework that passed as the “Vulcan Bomber” from Thunderball and the vessel Tears of Allah from Never Say Never Again are all now popular dive sites.

Also waiting to be experienced first-hand is the Andros Barrier Reef, the third-largest reef system in the world, stretching for 140 miles between New Providence Island and Andros. Of course, the crystal clear Bahamian waters also contain an abundance of colorful marine life, ranging from schools of Nassau Grouper and spiny lobsters to squadrons of Eagle Rays, seahorses, and yellow tail snappers sleeping under coral coves--a photographer's heaven.

Many properties and operators in The Bahamas provide economical dive packages and there are professional dive operations throughout the islands that offer regularly scheduled dives and personal custom diving. The people of The Bahamas are friendlier than ever, the facilities are better than ever, and the diving is virtually unmatched. That must be why even sharks like The Bahamas.

Sharks!

For those looking to get up close and personal with the larger animals in the ocean, feeding dives offer thrill-seekers an opportunity to watch and photograph Caribbean reef sharks, while divemasters wearing chain-mail suits hand-feed them. A number of dive operators and resorts now offer renowned (and popular) shark diving adventures. Always at the forefront of new diving possibilities, The Bahamas have become known as a place to see sharks. Now that’s a vacation video the folks back home will actually want to see!

Flipper & Friends

The excitement of shark diving in The Bahamas is possibly matched only by the thrill of dolphin encounters. Home to two species of dolphins--the bottlenose dolphin with their familiar ' grin' and the smaller and rarer wild spotted dolphins--The Bahamas offers some of the best opportunities in the world to observe and interact with dolphins. From swimming with Flipper's friends to scuba diving with trained bottlenose dolphins and snorkeling with spotted dolphins, these encounters offer diverse experiences and educate both Bahamians and visitors alike about the intelligence and friendliness of these docile mammals, along with the importance of protecting the world's marine environments.

Family diving (and snorkeling) is also extremely popular throughout The Bahamas, thanks to great conditions above and below the surface for parents and their kids. Family-friendly resorts make it easy to create a diving and snorkeling Bahamas adventure for the entire crew, no matter their age.

A Great Place to Learn

For those not yet certified, The Bahamas offer the perfect place to make it happen. Both dive operators and resorts offer affordable opportunities for learning how to dive, including resort courses, full open-water certification courses, and the "Resort Referral Program," where classroom work and pool sessions are completed at home and four open-water dives are completed in The Bahamas. In addition, The Bahamas make for an ideal place to pursue advanced certification in an idyllic setting.

Snorkeling

If you'd rather snorkel than dive, there are numerous spots throughout The Bahamas for viewing the world below the surface of the sea. The waters surrounding The Bahamas--particularly the Out Islands--are clear and shallow, offering an abundance of fish, coral reefs, and underwater gardens to explore. Popular snorkeling sites include The Abacos' Pelican Cays National Park, the Andros Barrier Reef, Harbour Island's Devil's Backbone, Long Island's Rainbow Reef, and San Salvador's Wreck of the Frascate. Nassau, Paradise Island, and Grand Bahama Island also have vast stretches of shallow reefs, most lying just a short boat ride or swim from shore.

Live-Aboards

One additional great diving option in The Bahamas is go explore by live-aboard. Some of the many draws to Bahamas live-aboard diving include: cost; only unpacking once (this includes clothes and dive gear); more dives each day, if desired; more diving flexibility; generally smaller dive groups; less-explored diving, wrecks, and other dives; onboard photography and video services; and advanced certification courses and other educational programs.

Bahamas live-aboards depart from both South Florida and directly out of The Bahamas. Their destinations are widely varied, but all promise pristine diving away from any possible crowds, lots of diving, convenience, flexibility, and more.

Get Info

For a list of popular dive and snorkeling sites and further information on scuba diving, shark diving, dolphin encounters, and snorkeling in The Islands Of The Bahamas, call (800) 4-BAHAMAS or (800) 866-DIVE (Bahamas Diving Association) or visit www.bahamas.com or www.bahamasdiving.com (Bahamas Diving Association).