Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
W The Cristóbal Colón: The largest known shipwreck in Bermuda's waters is this
144m (472-ft.) Spanish luxury liner; it ran aground in 1936 on a northern reef
between North Rock and North Breaker. It lies in 9 to 17m (30-56 ft.) of water.
W The Hermes: This 50m (164-ft.) steamer ship rests in some 24m (79 ft.) of water
about 1.5km (1 mile) off Warwick Long Bay on the south shore. It foundered in
1985. The Hermes, the Rita Zovetta, and the Tauton (see below) are Bermuda
favorites because of the incredible multicolored variety of fish that populate the
waters around the ships. You'll have a chance to see grouper, brittle starfish, spiny
lobster, crabs, banded coral shrimp, queen angels, tube sponge, and more.
W L'Herminie: A first-class, 60-gun French frigate, L'Herminie was 17 days out of its
Cuban port, en route to France, when it sank in 1838. The ship lies in 6 to 9m
(20-30 ft.) of water off the west side of the island, with 25 cannons still visible.
W The Marie Celeste: This paddle-wheeler sank in 1864. Its 4.5m-diameter (15-ft.)
paddle wheel, off the southern portion of the island, is overgrown with coral stand-
ing about 17m (56 ft.) off the ocean floor.
W The North Carolina: One of Bermuda's most colorful and well-preserved wrecks,
this English sailing barkentine foundered in 1879 and now lies in about 12m (39
ft.) of water off the western portion of the island. The bow, stern, masts, and rig-
ging are all preserved, and all sorts of vibrant marine life call the wreck home.
W The Rita Zovetta: A 120m (394-ft.) Italian cargo ship, lying in 6 to 21m (20-69 ft.)
of water off the south side of the island, the Rita Zovetta ran aground off St. David's
Island in 1924. It's a favorite with underwater photographers because of the kalei-
doscope of fish that inhabit the area.
W South West Breaker: This coral-reef dive off the south shore, about 2.5km (1 1 2
miles) off Church Bay, has hard and soft coral decorating sheer walls at depths of
6 to 9m (20-30 ft.).
W The Tauton: This popular dive site is a Norwegian coastal steamer that sank in
1920. It lies in 3 to 12m (10-39 ft.) of water off the north end of the island and is
home to numerous varieties of colorful marine life.
W Tarpon Hole: Near Elbow Beach, off the south shore, this dive's proximity to the
Elbow Beach Hotel makes it extremely popular. The honeycombed reef—one of
the most beautiful off the coast of Bermuda—is known for its varieties of coral:
yellow pencil, elkhorn, fire, and star.
THE best GOLF COURSES
All three of these courses are 18 holes.
W Belmont Hills Golf & Country Club (Warwick Parish): California-based designer
Algie M. Pulley, Jr., radically reconfigured this par-70, 5,501m (6,017-yd.) course
in 2002. Since its re-opening, amid justifiable brouhaha surrounding the most
extensive golf course rebuilding in the history of Bermuda, there has been endless
discussion about the peculiar features of this relatively short but quirkily challeng-
ing course. See p. 136.
W Fairmont Southampton Golf Club (Southampton Parish): This is a par-54, 2,454m
(2,684-yd.) course, with elevated tees, strategically placed bunkers, and an array of
water hazards to challenge even the most experienced golfer. One golfer said of this
course, “You not only need to be a great player, but have a certain mountaineering
agility as well.” See p. 137.
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