Dive! Dive! Dive!

Dive! Dive! Dive!

by Zach R. Stearns

Publication Date: April 1996

As I strolled down a narrow, sandy path towards the dive shop located just two blocks from my hotel roomI barely had time to think about the fact that it was December 27th. I shouldn't be wearing a T-shirt, flip-flops, sunglasses, toting my dive gear, and looking forward to temperatures in the mid 70's with a light breeze, calm seas, and excellent views! Such is life in the Bahamas at Christmas. I didn't know what the folks in Louisville were thinking or doing, but someone had to be doing this and I was thrilled that someone just happened to be me!

Nestled in a little cove on the southwest corner of New Providence Island stood the very unassuming dive operation with a big reputation, Stuart Cove's Dive Shop (noted for the popularity of shark diving). As I approached the building under the great dive flag, I realized that I couldn't find the door. Fortunately, someone recognized me as a diver (probably from the great big smile stuck on my face) and directed me to the entry around the back. The first thing I saw brought up images of incredible history. An old weather-beaten boat and a series of neglected buildings gave the observer the impression that this was once a booming fishing village frequented by many a drunken sailor. Had it not been for the uproarious, screeching laughter that redirected my attention, I may have wandered off the boardwalk into the salty water. I couldn't wait to see who was responsible for that laugh. I soon found out it wasn't a person, but rather, "Bubbles"- one of two resident parrots.

The rest of that morning and the two that followed were filled with one amazing dive after another. I got to meet most of the dive staff, who were friendly, helpful, considerate, and informative. In addition they were especially concerned with the safety of the divers and conservation of their rich, underwater ecosystem.

The dive boats were well equipped, clean, fast, and not overcrowded. Getting to the reefs and wrecks was quick and easy, and entries and exits were well coordinated.

The dives that I made were absolutely spectacular. Much has been written in dive magazines about the lush corals and abundance of marine life in that area, but I was still truly amazed. As I made my descent on the first dive of the trip, the first thing I saw was a gray reef shark! It was about six feet long and a good fifty feet away; but with visibility of 80 to 100 feet, I could easily appreciate the powerful tail motion of that incredible creature. I know it sounds crazy, but I could have sworn I heard the theme from Jaws playing somewhere in the background! I never saw the shark again and didn't get the opportunity to make the famous shark dive. However, I saw slides that were taken while I was there where sharks were virtually teaming around the divers. Don't worry, the sharks are apparently rather accustomed to divers, and no one that I know of got bitten. From the looks on the divers' faces, they didn't look so sure at the time.

What I did see over the next few days were the most brilliant, massive, colorful, coral formations, sponges, and sea fans that I have ever seen. Many of the coral formations were in water as shallow as 30 to 40 feet. Other formations started at 40 to 50 feet and abruptly headed over a wall that dove to greater than 6000 feet. Each formation was seemingly more brilliant than the next. It is hard to do justice to the awe-inspiring feeling I got when I saw a large formation of Brain coral, yellow coral, and orange and purple sponges surrounded by schools of multicolored fish in a backdrop of clear, deep blue water. Stingrays and spotted Moray eels were commonly encountered, as was every variety of Angelfish, Stoplight Parrotfish, and many fish that I haven't learned the names of yet. For those who like wreck diving, the wrecks made popular in James Bond movies were well preserved but already supporting a lush overgrowth of soft corals, sponges, and tropical fish.

Photo opportunities were endless. A dive shop photographer made each dive with us and took time to capture each diver in the beautiful surroundings. The slides or photos were available for review and purchase if desired.

Of all the diving I have done, including Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Key Largo, to name a few, none quite measures up to New Providence Island. There are many other dive destinations that I hope to see soon, but this is one that I plan on frequenting many times over. The real beauty is that Nassau, Bahamas are one of the easier and more affordable places to go. If you can plan your trip with a group at a local dive shop, it would be even more affordable. If you would rather go it alone, there are many interesting and exciting hotels on New Providence and Paradise Islands.

If you've never been to Nassau, this is one spot you don't want to miss. If you've only thought about Scuba Diving, I hope that my most recent, incredible adventure will help you to quit thinking about it and take the plunge. Get certified and DIVE! DIVE! DIVE! The experience of a lifetime is just under the surface!