Diving and Snorkeling in the Bahamas

Some devotees believe the Bahamas are the remains of the lost continent of Atlantis. How's that for fodder for interesting diving and snorkeling? Be sure to check out some of these sites.

The best diving

The Bahamas are known for its wreck dives and sea gardens. Consider these:

• New Providence: Right off the coast of Nassau lies a spectacular underwater world with many stunning dive sites that offer a panorama of rainbow-hued fish, large sponges, and a wide variety of coral reef life along with ocean holes, wrecks, old shipwrecks, caves, and cliffs. One of the greatest dive sites is Shark Wall, which is 16km (10 miles) off the coast of New Providence. Other good dive sites are Southwest Reef, Razorback, Booby Rock Reef, and Rose Island Reef.

The coastline of New Providence, called "the best-kept diving secret in The Bahamas," is home to some fascinating wrecks that you can explore in shallow water, including the Mahoney and the Alcora. The Never Say Never Again wreck was a backdrop for the James Bond film: A 100-ft. freighter, seized as a drug runner, was sunk by the film crew. Nearby, you can explore the remains of an airplane prop created for another Bond thriller, Thunderball. The best outfitter is Bahama Divers (242-393-5644).

• Grand Bahama: On Grand Bahama, you can hook up with Underwater Explorer's Society (800-992-DIVE ), also called UNEXSO, which is one of the premier dive outfitters in The Bahamas. Its escorted dives include a series of dramatic reef trips, shark dives, shipwreck dives, and even night dives.

• Theo's Wreck (Grand Bahama): This is one of the most famous wrecks in The Bahamas, and it lies off Freeport. The site is ideal for photo ops. In 1982, the 70m (230-ft.) freighter was deliberately sunk just to attract marine life. It succeeded: The wreck teems with sea turtles, moray eels, eagle rays, and horse-eyed jacks, among other creatures of the deep. For spur and groove coral beds, you can also explore other dive sites, including Gold Rock, Pygmy Caves, and Silver Point Reef. If you're an experienced diver, you can explore these sites independently; otherwise, hook up with the previously recommended UNEXSO.

• Marsh Harbour: You can explore the Abacos Train Wreck in 15-20 ft. of water. This wreck consists of two almost-intact locomotives lying on their sides. Another wreck in the area, Adirondack, also lies in shallow water. Marsh Harbour is also the jumping-off point for the government-protected Sea Preserve and Fowl Cay Land, both teeming with sea life in shallow reefs. Divers have actually kissed barracudas here (not recommended!). Look for "The Towers," two coral towers rising 23m (75 ft.). The best outfitter is Dive Abaco (800-247-5338 ).

• Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park: A major attraction of The Bahamas, this park, inaugurated in 1958, is the first of its kind in the world. The 22-mile long, 8-mile wide natural preserve attracts scuba divers to its 175 sq. miles of sea gardens with spectacular reefs, flora, and fauna. You can access it only by boat.

• San Salvador: Some of the best diving in the southern Bahamas centers around this remote island, which is the site of Riding Rock, a dive resort, and a Club Med. Some 40 well-preserved dive sites are no more than 45 minutes away by boat from either resort. You can experience wall diving here — diving amid stunning sea walls at sites where the coral reef drops steeply. The underwater photography is great here, and you can even arrange to night dive.

The best snorkeling

Snorkeling is colorful in the Bahamas, where you'll see beautiful reefs, moray eels, and a plethora of rainbow-hued fish. Don't miss at least one of the following:

• New Providence/Paradise Island: Most of the big hotels and resorts at Cable Beach and on Paradise Island lend or rent snorkeling equipment. A number of intriguing sights await you, especially at Love Beach on New Providence. Also attracting snorkelers are such areas as Rose Island Reefs, Booby Rock Channel, the Goulding Reef Cays, and Gambier Deep Reef, plus some underwater wrecks lying in shallow water. Bahamas Divers (242-393-5644) can give you the most helpful advice on snorkeling possibilities. The company's branch on Paradise Island is located at the Sheraton Grand Resort. Also consider Hartley's Undersea Walk (242-393-8234 ), which allows you to walk through an underwater world.

• Grand Bahama: Resort hotels on island can hook you up with snorkeling excursions, such as the ones offered by Ocean Motion Water Sports Ltd. (242-374-2425 ), which is the best outfitter for snorkeling. In addition, the outlet can connect you with any number of other watersports, from banana-boating to water-skiing. The clear water around Grand Bahama is wonderful for snorkeling because it has a rich marine life. Snorkelers are fond of exploring Ben's Cave, a stunning cavern that's part of Lucayan Caves, as well as the coral beds at places like Silver Point Reef and Gold Rock.

• Elbow Cay: With its 130-mile string of beautiful cays and some of the best beaches in The Bahamas, the Abacos are ideal for snorkeling, especially in the waters off Elbow Cay. Visibility is often great because the cay lies close to the cleansing waters of the Gulf Stream. Mermaid Beach, a particularly colorful reef, is a favorite. Sea Horse Boat Rentals (242-367-2513 ) provides equipment and the best snorkeling advice.

• Green Turtle Cay: Because the Abacos have one of the world's largest barrier reefs, the island chain — and especially Green Turtle Cay — is a snorkeler's delight. Some of the colorful reefs start at depths of just 5 feet. Immerse yourself in a world of schools of fish along with coral caverns, huge tube and barrel sponges, and fields of elk and staghorn coral. Snorkelers can contact Green Turtle Divers (242-365-4271) or Brendal's Dive Center (242-365-4411 ).

• Stocking Island: George Town is the capital of Exuma, which is celebrated for its crystal-clear waters so beloved by yachties. From George Town, Stocking Island lies across Elizabeth Harbour, which is only 1 mile away. Stocking Island is a long, thin, barrier island that attracts snorkelers who explore its blue holes (ocean pools of fresh water floating on heavier salt water). The island is also ringed with undersea caves and coral gardens in stunning colors. Stocking Island also has some of the most gorgeous white-sand beaches in the southern Bahamas.

• San Salvador: Following in the footsteps of Columbus, snorkelers find a rich paradise on this relatively undiscovered island, with its unpolluted and unpopulated kilometers and kilometers of beaches that are ideal for swimming, shelling, and close-in snorkeling. A week's stay is enough time to become acquainted only with the possibilities, including Bamboo Point, Fernandez Bay, and Long Bay, which are all within a few kilometers of Cockburn (the main settlement) on the western side of the island. At the southern tip of San Salvador is one of our favorite places for snorkeling, Sandy Point, and its satellite, Grotto Bay.