oday,
more and more people are rediscovering
the simple joys of snorkeling and free
diving, and I can't think of any destination
more capable of satisfying everyone, from
the casual snorkeler to the serious free
diver, than The Bahamas. The reasons are
numerous. Let's start with the very quality
of the water. An unmatched clarity combines
with a striking spectrum of blues to create
a highly attractive picture. The shallows
sparkle with aquamarine and azure highlights
bouncing off the white sand bottom. This
gorgeous water is a shining blanket overlaying
thousands of square miles of lush coral
reefs. Virtually every professional dive
operator offers dedicated snorkeling trips,
so the questions come down to these: What
style of snorkel adventures do you want,
and where do you want to go?In The Bahamas,
every single island is surrounded by shallow
reefs, many of which reach to within a
few feet of the surface. Farther out, this
same theme continues, with tens of thousands
of shallow water sites on the banks peppered
with coral heads and reefs.
In
the Abacos, off the east side of the Little
Bahamas Bank, the primary reef structures
are seldom deeper than 30 to 40 feet. There
are open cavern systems and excellent shallow
wrecks. Bordering the north edge of Eleuthera
is the infamous Devil's Backbone, a jagged
line of shallow reef that has came as an
unwelcome surprise to many mariners. Today
it is a treasure for snorkelers. It offers
tons of fish, lots of other marine life
and a fascinating glimpse into history.
Off the west side of Eleuthera is one of
the most distinctive snorkel sites in The
Bahamas-Current Cut. Here, a relatively
narrow cut runs from the bank to the outer
waters. The current screams through this
cut, creating a perfect feeding ground
for marine animals. Harbour Island, off
the east side, shares some fine reef structures.
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South
of Eleuthera is Cat Island, home to Dry
Heads, one of the healthiest shallow reefs
in the islands. Long Island offers a huge
number of snorkeling possibilities. Shallow
reefs are found right offshore, as well
as at boat-accessible sites. The Exumas
have some of the thickest concentrations
of shallow reefs in The Bahamas, as well
as shallow blue holes.
There are other important snorkeling islands. Bimini features fine
shallow reefs, one great shallow wreck, the Sapona, and big animal
experiences. Then there are the islands of the Bimini chain to the
south and the Berry Islands (particularly Chub Cay) to the north of
Bimini. There is excellent snorkeling off San Salvador, too. Snorkelers
can also get in on The Bahamas dolphin and shark action. At Walker's
Cay, snorkelers can view up to 200 sharks at a time from the surface
or dive down to interact with them. Dependable snorkeling encounters
with Atlantic Spotted Dolphins have been occurring at White Sand Ridge,
northwest of Grand Bahama, for decades. It's the same in the southern
Bimini chain, near Orange Cay. These areas are both live-aboard territory.
Just north of Bimini, a pod of resident Spotted Dolphins is making
itself accessible on an almost daily basis. The islands of New Providence
(Nassau) and Grand Bahama (Freeport), offer tremendous snorkeling opportunities
along with an infrastructure that makes access a breeze. Another big
plus is Stuart Cove's Shark Snorkeling Adventure. Similar to the Walker's
Cay experience, free divers can view a big-time shark experience safely
from the surface. Grand Bahama has always been a classic snorkeling
destination. There are even marked snorkeling trails off the West End,
at Old Bahama Bay. One not-to-be-missed adventure is the Dolphin Experience.
Visitors have a choice of snorkeling either in an inland bay or in
the open ocean with tame dolphins.
Andros
is also popular with snorkelers, offering
shallow reefs, glimpses over the deep wall,
inland blue holes and occasional dolphin
encounters. This has just been a taste
of the snorkeling opportunities available
in The Bahamas. To find out more, contact
any of the dive operators listed on page
62 in this issue. Better yet, pack a set
of snorkeling gear and "go Bahamas."
