Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
»
The Playground
At the tip of Devil's Point, a varied site with a prolific fish life, includ-
ing turtles, jacks, groupers, lobsters, squirrelfish and nurse sharks hanging under ledges.
»
Tartar Bank
An offshore pinnacle 3 miles from the coast, its near-constant current at-
tracts plenty of schooling fish, along with nurse sharks and turtles.
ELEUTHERA
Eleuthera offers a wide range of diving experiences, ranging from wall-diving to drift dives
and wreck dives. Most sites are located in the north, out of Harbour Island. The
Plateau
,
the
Arch
, the
Grotto
and the
Blow Hole
, as their names suggest, boast a dramatic topo-
graphy, with canyons, grooves, ledges, tunnels and crevices, all harboring large and small
tropical fish.
Must-see dives:
»
Current Cut
If you want a thrilling ride try this narrow channel between the western tip
of North Eleuthera and Current Island. During tidal exchange, divers are sucked into the
pass and propelled through the funnel by the powerful current. For about 10 minutes, you'll
feel as though you're gliding, accompanied by a procession of fish, both reef species and
pelagics. The ride of a lifetime!
»
Devil's Backbone Wrecks
For wreck enthusiasts. The treacherous Devil's Backbone
reef has snared many vessels, such as the
Cienfuegos
, a 292ft American steamship that
ran aground on the reef in 1895, the
Potato & Onion
wreck and the
Carnarvon
, another
freighter. They are mostly dismembered but some of their structures are still recognizable.
THE EXUMAS
If you want relaxed diving, the Exumas will appeal to you. There are some excellent reef
dives off George Town, near Stocking Island - the barrier reef is in pristine condition,
ablaze with colorful life, and you'll have the sites to yourself. Another highlight is the nu-
merous caves and blue holes that are hollowed out in the reef. They are far less intimidating
than those at Andros and are a perfect introduction to blue-hole diving.
»
Fowl Cay Reef
A shallow reef with a rainbow of tiny darting tropical fish.
»
Crab Cay Crevasse
A very atmospheric blue hole, divable only at outgoing tide.
»
Angelfish Blue Hole
Has an O-shaped entryway in about 25ft. Look for the resident lob-
sters, grunts, angelfish and nurse sharks.
RESPONSIBLE DIVING
The Bahamas islands are ecologically vulnerable. By following these guidelines
while diving, you can help preserve the ecology and beauty of the reefs:
» Encourage dive operators in their efforts to establish permanent moorings at
appropriate dive sites.
