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Witness the Wondrous World Underwater
The waters of Bermuda have been luring ships to their untimely demise since the colony’s founding in 1609. Although bad for sailors, shipwrecks turn out to be great for divers.
Besides wrecks, Bermuda offers nearly 300 square miles of coral reefs, where divers meet black grouper, tarpon and other exotic locals — many of the same fish found in the Caribbean.
Sitting atop extinct volcanic mountains, Bermuda’s upper crust was built by corals that thrive in the clear, warm waters pulled up by the Gulf Stream. On the north side of the islands, shallow reefs feature soft and branching corals. Adjacent to the south shore, the deeper corals of the rim reefs offer better visibility and have massive corals, such as brain and star. Zoologist Sir Maurice Yonge was the first to observe nocturnal feeding of hard corals, which live symbiotically with algae. In exchange for a safe place to live, the algae produce energy for the coral, which lays down a skeleton of calcium carbonate. The top layer is alive, and a colony can be killed by a single touch or kick of a diver. Zillions of tiny coral polyps form massive structures, often big enough to be seen from space. Bermuda’s coral reefs are healthy and contain many of the species also found in the Caribbean.
Bermuda maintains 29 protected marine areas for divers to enjoy. The best months to dive here are May to October. Expect visibility from 70 to 100 feet, sometimes to 150 feet, and water temperatures up to 85 degrees F (29 C) in summer, below 64 degrees F (18 C) in winter. Open-water diving requires training and certification by an agency such as the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI, www.padi.com), but no certification is required to grab a mask and fins and go snorkelling. The scenery is similar, great spots are everywhere, and it’s cheap. To wade out from the beach, try the snorkelling grounds at Church Bay in Southampton; Tobacco Bay in St. George’s; Daniel’s Head Park Beach in Somerset; or the Snorkel Park Beach in Royal Naval Dockyard. Take advantage of your Bermuda vacation to get certified in open-water diving. Crash courses can be completed in as little as two or three days; major resorts offer programmes; and PADI lists these local dive operators and trainers:
Blue Water Divers and Watersports
234-1034 / www.divebermuda.com
Dive Bermuda
238-2332 / www.bermudascuba.com
Fantasea Bermuda
236-1300 / www.fantasea.bm
Triangle Diving
293-7319 / www.trianglediving.com
Tucker’s Point Dive & Water Sports
298-4050 / www.divinginbermuda.com
Relax, enjoy, save and see Bermuda by bus. A blue or pink pole indicates bus stops. If the pole is topped with blue, the bus travels from Hamilton; if the pole is topped pink, the route is toward Hamilton.
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Make your Bermuda trip even more memorable with dolphins! Dolphin Quest offers fun, interactive dolphin encounter programs for all. Book your adventure today!
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Have a fun-filled vacation with a cycle from Oleander. If you can ride a bicycle, you can easily ride an Oleander scooter. See all of Bermuda...reserve one today!
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