|
Bahamas scuba diving and
snorkeling Sites:
Abaco
Great Abaco and the
windward cays provide a good variety of scuba diving and snorkeling
sites, from walls to wrecks. This is one of our favorite stops on
our Bahamas catamaran sailing and scuba charters. Here are some of
the captains favorites.
The Tarpon Dive
This coral wall drops off to 50 feet and offers a chance to swim
with pet tarpons and feed a curious green moray eel.
The Barge
Here you will find a World War II landing craft at about 40
feet. This wreck is inhabited with beautiful tropical fish.
The Wreck Bonita
You can feed groupers by hand during this 60 foot dive to a
World War II English transport.
The Wreck San
Jacinto
Explore this old steamship and feed the green moray eel that
inhabits this ship that sank in 40 feet of water in 1865.
Hole in the Wall
Don't forget your camera when you visit these caverns that offer
a variety of fascinating subjects. Divers can also swim through
the huge coral head at 50 feet.
Sandy Cay
This is reported to be the largest stand of elkhorn coral in the
world.
The Wreck of the
Adirondacks
Lying in 30 feet of water near the Man-O-War Cay, you will find
this wreck with her cannons still exposed and well preserved.
Andros
Andros offers an endless
range of scuba diving and snorkeling experiences with the world's
third largest barrier reef offshore.
Brad's Mountain
Hordes of reef fish can be seen amidst sea fans and corals of
all kinds, where the majestic coral heads rise from a 60-foot
bottom to form this impressive underwater peak.
Over the Wall
Large fish and rays, as well as myriad coral and sponges can be
seen at this dive which starts at 80 feet with a decent to 185
feet on the Tongue of the Ocean Wall, which drops off to more
than 6,000 feet.
The Blue Hole
With depths ranging from 40 to 100 feet, this tame blue hole is
an occasional home to sharks and large rays.
The Barge
which was sunk intentionally in the mid 1960's, has become a
home for large grouper. It sits in 70 feet of water.
Alex and Cara
Caverns
Limited to experienced divers only, these dives are on the edge
of the wall at a depth of 90 feet.
The Black Forest
a crop of at least 30 black coral trees at 70 feet.
Bimini
Little Caverns
While scuba diving Bimini you will see larger reef creatures
during this 65 to 80 foot dive amidst the mountainous coral
formations on a white-sand bottom. Another of our favorite stops
on our Bahamas catamaran sailing and scuba charters.
Bimini Barge
If you want to see a good view of a 120-foot sunken vessel, dive
this wreck which lies in 90 feet of crystal clear water, not far
from the dock.
Hawksbill Reef
This 50-60-foot site was chosen by the Foundation for Ocean
Research for the filming of the television series "The Last
Frontier". It is home to large numbers of reef fish and
lobsters.
Off the Wall
Peer over the abyss that drops to 2,000 feet as you drift along
the Continental Shelf carried by the Gulf Stream at 130 feet.
Exuma
Exuma boasts a number of
blue holes, caves, and caverns. Scuba divers must be
cavern-certified to participate in these, even though each has a
safety line.
Angelfish Blue
Hole
Scuba dive with curious angels will come close enough to look
right into your mask at this dive starting at 30 feet,
descending to 90, and then leveling off into a network of caves,
this hole is a vertical shaft 25-30 feet in diameter.
Mystery Cave
Starting at an easy 15 feet and dropping to 97, this cavern
network extends below Stocking Island. The intricacy and expanse
of the network itself was demonstrated when divers released dye
near the entrance and it surfaced four miles offshore.
Crab Cay Blue
Hole
Spiny lobster, grunts, snappers, and round sting rays are among
the dramatic archways of this crevasse which is 30 to 40 feet
wide and ranges from 30 to 90 feet in depth.
Harbor Island and
Spanish Wells
The Arch-Schools of
jacks, rays, and an occasional shark are found among the formations
of spur and groove coral of this coral archway formed by the
collapse of a cavern. This dive extends from 75 to 110 feet. Another
of our favorite stops on our Bahamas catamaran sailing and scuba
charters.
The Blow Hole
This extremely safe and easy dive takes you through a network of
grottoes populated by parrot fish, tarpon, and lobsters. It is
easily reached from Harbor Island. Carved into the underwater
base of Eleuthera by the wave action of the Atlantic Ocean is
this dramatic amphitheater cavern.
The Plateau
Through acres of ridges that begin at about 40 feet and plunge
to canyons at 90 feet you will find large schools of grouper.
Current Cut
Sea life is virtually limitless at this fast drift dive which
carries divers with the tide at upwards of 10 knots through a
passage in the coast of Eleuthera. Depths range from 35 to 60
feet.
The Grotto
This hollow mound of coral has been known to be the hangout of
"sleeping" sharks.
Civil War Train
Wreck
Part of a Union train captured by the Confederacy and sold to a
Cuban sugar plantation which plunged from a barge in 1865 is
what you will find in just 20 feet of water. Snorkel or scuba
dive the few remains of this locomotive which struck the Devil's
Backbone on its way to Havana.
Long Island
There is no shortage of
scuba and snorkeling sites along the shores and in deeper water
around Long Island.
Grouper Valley
You will not want to miss this site each year in November, when
large groupers amass in schools virtually acres in width. It is
set among underwater mountains that extend from 40 to 80 feet
below the surface.
The North Long
Island Wall
You will need good weather for this dive which features colonies
of black coral under the ledges and deep cuts and channels. The
top of the wall is at about 100 feet and drops to sandy bottoms
at 130 feet.
Grouper Village
Here you will find the half dozen or so tame grouper who expect
to be fed, so don't forget to take along some food. Also, make
sure to keep your eyes out for the 350lb jewfish who live here
as well.
Barracuda Heads
Pet a tame barracuda during this 20-50 foot dive which is close
off-shore and crossed by cuts.
Shark Reef
A half hour boat ride will take you to the eight to eighteen
Caribbean Reef Sharks, and some bulls, in just 30 feet of water.
There is no other shark dive worldwide equal to what you will
find here. Dependable and safe for viewing and photographing.
Cape Santa Maria
Ship's Graveyard
This ship was sunk on purpose to provide divers a wreck they
could dive completely and safely. The intact MS Comberbach, a
103 foot ship, lies at 100 feet and is not far from a 45-foot
pleasure cruiser that sank accidentally.
Conception Island
Wall
The average visibility is 150 feet and better at this dive off a
beautiful leeside beach. It plunges from 45 feet to bottomless.
This has been described as one of the most beautiful walls in
the entire Bahamas and Caribbean. Naturally perfect in dramatic
scenery and the perfect beauty of all types of sponge and
soft/hard coral life.
Southampton Reef
Pause to explore a large ocean freighter, almost intact, in a
perfect setting for snorkeling and scuba diving at 20 to 30
feet. This is a massive reef boasting fantastic elkhorn and
staghorn coral on its tops, plunging to 90 fee along its edge.
Here you will find lots of fish life.
The Rum Cay Wall
Clear waters accent this plunge that starts at 40 or so feet and
drops off to extreme depths. Just a half mile away lie the
cannon balls, winches, and anchors of the Ocean Conqueror, a
British steam-powered battleship. All in just 25 feet of water.
San Salvador
The waters of San
Salvador are wonderfully clear year-round. With 100 to 200-foot
visibility the norm they are abundant with sites for excellent wall
diving. Another of our favorite stops on our Bahamas catamaran
sailing and scuba charters.
Grouper Gully
Large numbers of some major denizens of the deep are found here,
as the name suggests.
The Devil's Claw
Seeming to have been created by the action of some giant
underwater claw are the large deep gauges in this wall. They
arranged side-by-side at 45 feet and continue to a plateau of 85
feet.
The Hump
Perfect for night dives and guaranteed sighting of eels,
starfish, anemones, and an array of shrimp is this small mound
rising from the sandy bottom.
Basket Case
Beginning at about 30 feet, along a vertical wall cut at one
point by a deep grotto, you will find basket sponges.
The Frescaté
Perfect for novice divers, this wreck at just 20 feet gives you
a chance to see a 261-foot freighter which ran aground and went
down in 1902.
Walker's Cay
The northernmost of the
Abacos, offers diving and snorkeling with excellent visibility up to
100 feet, perfect for underwater photography. It is fringed by a
barrier reef and most of the dive masters' favorite sites are within
15 minutes of the dock. Another of our favorite stops on our Bahamas
catamaran sailing and scuba charters.
Old Wreck
A pet octopus lives in the anchor winch of this wreck among the
purple feather dusters, bright yellow and blue basuet starfish
and seawhips.
Charlie's Canyons
This shallow dive at 25 feet will find you amongst the schools
of French grunts, Nassau grouper, and squirrelfish. Legend has
it that ancient cannon can found here as well.
Sue's Reef
at 25-30 feet, in a system of ledges and canyons, you will see
sunken relics of World War II and the damsels, snappers, and
grunts guarding over them.
Queen's II
Here you will come face to face with pelagics, such as kingfish,
amberjack, mackerel and possibly schools of dolphin at the outer
edges of the Little Bahama Bank.
|
