Bermuda Diving
There’s something unique about diving wrecks. Sure, navigating coral reefs and swimming amongst colourful schools of fish is fine for a while but the novelty soon wears off. Wrecks on the other hand are a visual reminder of the fragile relationship between man and nature and the battles that have raged between them. Welcome to Bermuda; the undisputed world heavyweight champion of wreck diving.
It’s somewhat ironic that many visit to dive Bermuda's wrecks. The island was first colonised as a result of Sir George Somers’ ill-fated Sea Venture floundering on the reefs in 1609. Since then more than 400 vessels have made Bermuda their final port of call. Many serve as physical reminders of the island’s history; the Montana and the Marie Celeste were Confederate blockade runners during the US Civil War. The island owes much of its early prosperity to its trade in munitions with the desperate South. Others have inspired; the Constellation was the basis of Peter Benchley’s novel The Deep. Most are in shallow waters and easily accessible.
Bermuda’s reefs are the northernmost in the Atlantic. Warmed by the waters of the Gulf Stream the ocean life is surprisingly similar to that in the Caribbean. The water also boasts excellent visibility; up to 200 ft in winter and around 100 ft in summer. Water temperatures in winter average around 68 F and 81 F in summer. However, those who can stand the cooler winter temperatures will benefit from substantial discounts on hotels.
Dive operations in Bermuda include:
Visitors who want an underwater experience but can’t dive (or even swim) may wish to try helmet diving.
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