A week of diving in GB
WELCOME BAHAMAS - GRAND BAHAMA - 2005
A week of diving in GB
Variety is the key to keeping it fun
Some things are best left to professionals, but diving doesn't have to be one of them. Grand Bahama dive companies are among the oldest in the Caribbean area, and cater both to those who have well-worn wetsuits and to those who are still wet behind the ears. But whether you're an experienced diver or a novice, you are sure to be captivated by the island's enchanting undersea creatures and the ways that UNEXSO and Xanadu Undersea Adventures can bring you face to face with them.
Pioneers of the shark feed on Grand Bahama Island more than 20 years ago, UNEXSO is also the home of three unforgettable dolphin experiences. The Dolphin Close Encounter is a fun and educational way to interact with these clever marine mammals. Up to 40 participants can sit or wade in waist deep water at the Dolphin Experience Lagoon Close Encounter Platform while two frolicking dolphins swim about.
For a closer encounter, try swimming with the dolphins in the protected waters of the lagoon, along the south shore of the island. Atlantic bottlenose dolphins are gentle and graceful; perfect swimming partners. "The dolphins are very comfortable being in such close proximity with humans," says Don Churchill, UNEXSO's chief operating officer. "That's how they get their stimulation. Even if there are no participants, the staff still interacts with them to keep them alert and active."
Eight participants get to spend about half an hour in an open ocean environment swimming and interacting with the trained dolphins during the Open Ocean Dolphin Experience. Be prepared to receive a hug from one of the dolphins, or brace for a dorsal tow in about 20 feet of water from one of the larger animals.
This year UNEXSO also celebrates the 15th year of its Dolphin Dive - the world's first. The signature dive allows certified divers to explore a coral reef with the dolphins at about 45 feet, and even hand feed these amazing animals.
Diving in the dark
Night dives introduce you to a more bashful group of sea creatures, says Churchill. The eight-tentacled octopus is one of many nocturnal undersea creatures that give night diving an "eerie" feel. "Being in the water at night is a different experience altogether," he says.
If you prefer to stick to daylight diving, horse-eyed jacks, amber barracuda, grouper, snapper and moray eels will be the main attraction, especially at the wrecks, says Xanadu dive manager Ben Cook. "The primary draw of the sunken wrecks are the fish who school there," says Cook.
Theo's Wreck, a 230-foot former steel freighter sunk in 100 feet of water, and Sea Star, a 190-foot vessel resting at 95 feet, are two artificial habitats for reef fish. Wrecks are easy places to view fish because, unlike reefs which are riddled with crevices, there are few nooks in which fish can hide, Cook explains.
Diving with sharks
Seven-foot-long Caribbean reef sharks make a formidable daytime display on a shark dive. An experienced shark feeder wearing a chain mail suit entices the sharks into a semicircle of divers kneeling on the ocean floor. The feeder removes fish from the bait box with a spear and the sharks circle in to grab the bait. The shark dive gives participants a chance to see up close how these animals interact with each other and humans.
The shark feeder sometimes joins the interaction in an awesome "massage" spectacle that puts the animals into a trance. Stroking a shark's snout mesmerizes the animal, but no one knows quite why. One theory suggests that the massage links into the animals' mating ritual. Another theory is that the shimmer of the chain mail suit worn by the feeder affects the shark's electro-sensory system, called the ampullae of lorenzini. "There are only a few shark feeding encounters in the world, and most of them are here in The Bahamas," Cook says.
Blue holes and caves
Grand Bahama Island is also one of the few places in the world that offers cavern diving. Sites like Ben's Cavern, Owl Hole and Mermaid's Lair are actually inland blue holes that are accessible only to experienced, certified divers. "Caverns are delicate and pristine," says Cook. "Because they're inland blue holes, 90 per cent of the water gets filtered through the rocks. The water is crystal clear so when you ascend to the surface, it?s as if you're coming up through air."
Cavern dives are available by request, and only for small groups, to avoid damage to the fragile environment.
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