The Bahamas, our favorite neighbor

Special thanks to Jeff Birch and Mike Hornby of Small Hope Bay Lodge (smallhope.com); Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas (stuartcove.com) and its staff and boat crew members (Monique Bridgewater,  Chang Sien Chin, Alvin Duncanson, Terry Harrison, Adrianna Hutchinson, Marc Taggart and Clee J Vigal); Androsia (androsia.com); John Chambers, Neil Lucas and Mike Pitts from the BBC Natural History Unit; and Name the Wreck winners Rob and Denise Bentley.

Deco stops
On Andros, take a batik-making lesson from Androsia. Afterward, grab a bike from Small Hope Bay Lodge (they’re free for guests to use) and ride into the pine forest to Captain Bill’s Blue Hole for a swim. On New Providence, tour Fort Charlotte in Nassau and check out the cool “graffiti” left by the bored soldiers that were stationed there. Stop by Arawak Cay in Nassau and get a frozen daiquiri. While in Arawak, sample some incredbile conch offerings (fritters, chowder, etc.) at Fish Fry.

Big adventures
The Bahamas tend to get overlooked because of their proximity to the United States — people generally believe they need to travel to far corners of the globe for great adventures. This is a good thing if you’re reading this right now. Let them go. Then when they get home, tell them you went diving with dolphins off Grand Bahama and Bimini, sharks off Andros, Nassau, Long Island, Walker’s Cay, the Exumas, Cat Island, the Abacos and probably off the other 700 or so islands that comprise this island nation. Tell them that you slipped into the inky jaws of an oceanic blue hole or slipped down the wall of the world’s third-largest — and some might say least explored — barrier reef. Then tell them about the wrecks, dozens of them, prowled by sharks and rays, inhabited by giant groupers and filled with stories. Then woo them into a frenzy of envy with tales of endless beaches, a friendly welcome and nights filled with tropical breezes, rum punch and the magic of a star-filled sky. Then make them bend to your superior knowledge when you tell them that this diver’s haven was just an hour from the U.S. East Coast.

The guide to the Bahamas
Average water temperature: 75-82°F
What to wear: Shorty in summer, 3-5 mm jumpsuit in winter
Average visability: 80-150 feet
When to go: Year-round. You’ll see sharks, dolphins, rays, giant groupers, wrecks, walls and blue holes.

Must do
Get crafty: Try your hand at batik making on Andros at Androsia.

Must dive

• Whip Wire Wall, Andros: This multilevel wall dive is covered with thickets of wire and black corals.
• Shark experience, Andros: Watch a dozen Caribbean reef sharks tear into a chumsicle of frozen fish bits.
• Shark Arena, Nassau: Fifty-plus Caribbean reef sharks push and shove while a chain-mail-clad diver doles out the snacks.
• Alec’s Cavern, Andros: Check out the face in the rock silhouetted against the blue light.
• Dolphin Dive, UNEXSO, Grand Bahama: For guaranteed dolphin encounters, this is the place to visit.
• Ray of Hope, Nassau: This 200-foot intact and upright wreck comes complete with sharks, big groupers and holds full of silversides.

Must have
Handmade baskets on Andros: Pick up some handmade baskets woven from silvertip palm by craftsmen from Red Bays.

Travel tips
Exit strategy: You will clear U.S. Customs in the Bahamas, so give yourself some extra time at the airport.

Rigged & ready

• Apple iPhoto book: Create a customized travel keepsake from your own computer. Choose your photos, text, style and theme, then let Apple do the rest.
• Sperry Top-Sider Men’s Cabo 2-eye boat shoes: Whether you are walking the sandy beaches in the day or going out on the town at night, these leather Sperry shoes will work for all occasions.

As the official publication of the PADI Diving Society, Sport Diver is the magazine divers turn to each month to find out what’s going on in their world. Sport Diver is the ultimate source for up to date information on dive culture, equipment, travel, training and PADI Diving Society activities.

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