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Diving The Bahamas: Deep Blue Holes, Caves, and Shallow Cays

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Overview

Introduction

With an average of 340 sunny days per year and a claim by astronauts that The Bahamas have the clearest waters in the Caribbean, the 23 inhabited islands and thousands of unpopulated cays and islets make for a great destination.  Once ruled by pirates, the capital city of Nassau is now a cosmopolitan and internationally renowned destination.  In stark contrast, the desert-like wildlife sanctuary on Inagua seems worlds apart.  Overall, The Bahamas stretches over a massive area, and the diversity of the many islands, which offer everything from a glamourous night life to pristine beaches and tiny, humble villages, the beautiful islands of The Bahamas are the closest Caribbean getaway destination for many tourists.  Scuba divers have been visiting the region for decades, and The Bahamas now boasts one of the most vibrant diving communities in the world.

Geography

Much of the diversity of dive options offered by The Bahamas is a direct result of the huge area that this nation spans. With its westernmost islands resting 50 miles off the Florida coastline, The Bahamas then stretches southeast over 750 miles in length. Contained within its boundaries are more than 100,000 square miles of water, even though its land mass is under 6,000 square miles. The land of The Bahamas is split into 25 islands (or in some cases, island groups), over 650 cays (pronounced "keys") and thousands of islets and exposed rocks. There are active, professional dive operations on more than one dozen of these islands.

History

In its history, the islands of The Bahamas have long had international influences.  Most notably, the place where Columbus first arrived in the Western Hemisphere was The Bahamas, on the island of San Salvador in October of 1492. After many years under foreign rule, and being a haven for pirates, The Bahamas finally gained its independence in 1973.

Economy

The tourism and financial services industries help make the Bahamas one of the weathiest countries in the Caribbean Sea. The foreign influences of Bahamian history are very present today in architecture, industry, and accessibility of cuisines from around the world. These influences will likely direct the culture as long as tourism continues to rule industry in the island nation.  With the amount of international attention given to The Bahamas as well as its favorable climate, ecotourism and many efforts to preserve habitat and animal species continue to make it one of the most breathtaking natural destinations for tourists, scuba divers, and biologists alike.

Location:
  • Caribbean
  • Bahamas
Keywords: diving guides, caribbean, bahamas, dean's blue hole, nassau, paradise island, long island, abacos islands, andros island, grand bahama island Author:
Melissa Gwaldis
Related Tags: Diving Guides