Walker Cay, Grand Bahama Island, Bimini, New Providence (Nassau), Eleuthera, Exumas, Cat Island, San Salvador, Conception Island, Long Island
Destination profiles and travel information
The Red-tipped Sea Star (Fromia monilis) is one of the commonest species of Fromia in the western Pacific and one of the most striking.
DIVE ATLAS OF THE WORLD
INTRODUCTION
by Jack Jackson
TROPICAL ISLANDS, BEACHES, TURQUOISE SEAS AND COLOURFUL reefs attract non-divers, divers and snorkellers alike, but experienced divers also enjoy deep walls in open sea, interaction with marine animals, the bounty of cold waters and the atmosphere of shipwrecks.
Remaining shallow maximizes divers’ time in the water, but some divers favour short deep ‘bounces’, hoping to encounter sharks. While most divers prefer relaxing dives, some seek heart-thumping, shark feeding-frenzies or the adrenaline rush of high-voltage drift dives. Some divers prefer clear, warm water while others are happy with limited visibility or cold water. Wreck fanatics often ignore everything else. Whatever type of diving is preferred, most training agencies will offer a speciality course on how to enjoy it safely. Remember that deep dives, cold water and strong currents are physically demanding and conditions can change quickly, so always be prepared to abort a dive.
We have chosen popular sites for each region, with a good range of underwater environments and geographical coverage. Our criteria included quality, quantity, beauty and uniqueness of marine life, accessibility and the requirement of only a reasonable degree of physical fitness. The selection offered here celebrates the underwater world while appealing to a broad spectrum of active and armchair divers.
The book is organized according to oceans and regions within those oceans, beginning with the Atlantic and working west to east and north to south. Practical information is given in the directory appendix.
There is considerable diversity among diving destinations. Most temperate and warm water species or seawater and freshwater species do not mix. Where regions become isolated, either permanently or temporarily such as when ice ages lowered sea levels and cut off the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Gulf from the Indian Ocean, some species evolve in isolation and become endemic to those regions. Coral reefs harbour many colourful species. Nutrient-rich, cold waters offer abundant marine life that is often larger and longer-living than its tropical counterpart. Some regions have large tidal ranges. Under ice, over rock or coral and over deep water visibility can be exceptional, but where there is a large tidal flow, a sandy or muddy bottom or a plankton bloom, visibility can be awful.
Most coral reef life evolved in what is now the region bordered by the Philippines, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea and then spread out to colonize other regions. The Atlantic Ocean formed late in geological time and, early in its development, was cut off from the Pacific by North and South America fusing together. The connecting ridges in the eastern Caribbean also prevent the interchange of deep water from the Atlantic into the Caribbean. Partly as a result of being cut off on west and east, the Caribbean has fewer marine species than the Indo-Pacific.
Many Caribbean countries have sophisticated ambience, extensive facilities, maximum water clarity, habituated animal encounters and often current-free diving, a package that is particularly attractive to divers on vacation. The Indo-Pacific has the greatest species diversity, though the high level of plankton that feeds this profusion of life often degrades visibility. Some Pacific areas have strong currents and one tide each day much stronger than the other.
SHORE DIVING
Entering the water from a beach or jetty is relatively simple, but climbing over slippery rocks in full diving gear can be difficult. When entering from the rocks of a slope or wall, divers will require knowledge of the local tides because low water could result in a large drop into the water and a height too great for divers to be able to exit the water. There may be long swims across fringing reefs and photographers have extra problems with grit. Shore diving is cheaper than day-boat diving, but most of the accessible sites are not as good as those on offshore reefs.
DAY-BOAT DIVING
Day boats leave the shore for near-shore dive sites once or twice a day (few operators offer three per day). Night dives are optional. Frequently, equipment needs to be carried to and from the beach or jetty. As with any form of boat diving someone must be delegated to ensure that everyone who should be on board is on board when it departs and, most importantly, when it leaves the dive site.
In the case of an inflatable or small tender, divers will embark already kitted-up, except for fins. On larger boats divers will kit up about 15 minutes from the dive site.
Shore and day-boat diving are preferred by those who cannot sleep on a moving boat or are accompanied by non-diving partners or families and those with an interest in the local nightlife.
LIVE-ABOARD BOAT DIVING
With live-aboard diving there is less carrying of heavy equipment, no swimming over fringing reefs, biting insects are left behind when you leave port and sailing overnight maximizes the diving time on remote offshore sites. There are fewer restrictions on night dives and divers get three to five dives each day instead of heading back to shore after two dives. Photographers do not have to worry about sand damaging O-rings and have more time to sort out cameras between dives.
On the minus side, narrow boats and those that are high in the water
