GRAND BAHAMA DIVING Dive Operators Grand Bahama Dive Video from www.bahamasdiving.com Diving with Dolphins in Wild For one, Grand Bahama Island is the only place you can be guaranteed to dive with dolphins in the wild. This is done through the Underwater Explorers' Society's (UNEXSO) "Dolphin Dive" program, in which resident dolphins rendezvous with divers at a reef about a mile off shore. Many people wait their whole lives to get close to a dolphin in the wild before learning that they can swim with them right here on Grand Bahama Island. Go HERE for more info....... Shark Diving in Grand Bahama An encounter with a shark is an unforgettable experience for divers. Their timidity can be a problem, especially for photographers, who usually can't get close enough to get a good look. At Shark Alley there are 10 – 25 Caribbean reef sharks with which you can swim. The adventure begins with a detailed briefing at the dock, during which the shark feeder runs through the various phases of the dive. The journey to Shark Alley only takes 30 - 40 minutes. The fish used to bait the sharks are stowed in a special container at the dock. The shark feeder wears a stainless steel mesh suit to facilitate his control over the sharks. Go HERE for more info...... Shark Feeding Program Dive Sites Deep Dive Sites Bahamas Reef Fish Shark Diving from the West End: Old Bahama Bay Cavern Diving in Grand Bahama Our Beautiful Reefs By Unk Cooper Grand Bahama island is naturally blessed with countless miles of beautiful barrier reefs. The cooling waters of the nutrient rich Gulf Stream join with static coral communities to create individual portraits of paradise abound in lush splendor. Colourful parrotfish and banded butterflyfish peck around the reef for their food as the unofficial maintenance officers of the complicated system. A coral reef starts out as nothing more than a speck of organism floating through the water in the wide expanse of the ocean. This microscopic lifeform, similar to a worm, will become entrenched along the sandy bottom of the sea. When conditions are exact in regard to temperature, salinity and food supply, the plant will then begin to grow and form, feeding on passing particulate matter as a natural course of evolution. Over a period of millions of years, the coral will grow, getting bigger and bigger, slowly but surely. If the reef is lucky enough to be spared the ravages of storms or other climactic disturbances, what was once a microscopic organism will grow into a gigantic boulder of sealife. If this lifeform can grow close enough to another, the two or three or four will form into an even bigger colony. The result is what we see today. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the biggest, but Andros island in The Bahamas is number three in the world, standing as the longest single forming barrier reef system on the planet. Needless to say, where there is a ship, there are sailors. The amount of fishlife and external coral is truly amazing. Breathtaking to the casual observer, i.e. snorkeller, scuba diver. To a probing scientist, the marine world below offers a lifetime of study and classification. To the various fish and sponges that abound here, it’s just a way of life. Here on Grand Bahama, there are special dive/snorkel tour operators who have made it their business to show you the wealth of beauty and immersion that await the curious diver. Under the aqua-marine sea along the south shore of the island lies endless possibilities for enjoyment. For those who wish to go a little deeper, SCUBA diving is the ultimate excursion for the more adventurous. A valid diving license is required or at least a one-day training program with local diving companies. There are many tour operators that are recommended for snorkelling trips, and the captains and crews of these reputable companies have years of experience on the reefs and prevailing sea conditions. As you float gently, bobbing in the cool waters only feet above the world below, imagine yourself a modern-day Jacques Cousteau, identifying different kinds of coral and fish species. Be sure to look out for the ever-present trumpetfish and greedy yellowtail snapper that are in abundance. Or the elusive pufferfish that will blow up to immense proportions when it feels threatened. The marine life of the sea will go about their daily routines without interference from onlookers, and humans are reminded that the best way to observe the creatures of the depths is to do just that, and never attempt to harm or harass the sealife or their dwellings. One of the prettiest reefs off Grand Bahama is known as Treasure Reef. In the late 1960’s, real treasure was found among the scattered remains of a Spanish galleon. Various pots, silver and gold. Up until 1994, modern day treasure hunters could be seen moored at Treasure Reef, large suction hoses suspended from the back to bring up whatever the divers could find, an errant snorkeller or two occasionally lending a hand. Local skin diver Kwinn Kemp was featured in a major scuba diving publication as one of the only Bahamians aboard the treasure-hunting vessel to come up with authentic gold bullion. According to Bahamian law a certain percentage is given to the Bahamian government in exchange for police protection and securing of booty in well-guarded vaults. Another shallow reef worth seeing is Battery Hole, where a small blue hole is home to crabs, turtles, and an occasional sleeping nurse shark. To view Staghorn and Elkhorn coral, try the backside of Rainbow Reef and the western entrance to Seahunt Reef. This reef is named after the television show that filmed a few episodes of the 1980’s version in the area. For those wishing to try their hand at scuba diving, make sure to check the credentials of all the reputable operators on the island. While some specialise in one-day tours, others cater exclusively to licensed divers and jealously guard secret sites to preserve their beauty and prestige. Among the more well known medium to deep dive sites are Picasso’s Gallery, Arrowpoint, Buddha Heads, Ann’s Paradise, and Ben’s Blue Hole, to name a few. The experience of a deep wreck is not to be missed and Grand Bahama can boast it has several large vessels sunk to serve as new artificial homes to schools of grunt, snapper, barracuda and eels. Some of the sunken shipwrecks include the Ethridge, the Jose at Orson Welles, Hippie’s Wreck, the Badger, and the gargantuan Theo’s Wreck (M/V Logna). One of the most intriguing and historical shipwrecks was sunk in the 1970’s. Haitian revolutionaries left Freeport to pursue a course to their homeland, where they planned on executing a coup against the regime of dictator Papa Doc Duvalier. Alas they did not get far and a mile and a half off Lucaya ran into heavy seas and had to abandon ship to the elements. The remains of this noble effort now lie scattered across the ocean floor at fifty foot depths. On a good day you can find bullet-clip casings and the springs for machine guns. Snorkellers and scuba divers are reminded that it is against Bahamian law, therefore the policy of all tour operators, to take anything from the reef, dead or alive. Gloves are highly discouraged and standing on the coral is strictly forbidden. Once you’re close enough to see and appreciate the majesty of the reef, you’ll wish for others to see the reef and help preserve the beauty of the reefs for years to come.