The Lost Blue Hole
Experienced divers will want to explore this site, one of the most famous in The Bahamas! The swimming hole is actually an oceanic crater that’s more than 100 feet wide, and you’re likely to spot angelfish, grouper, rays, and turtles in its waters. To dive the Lost Blue Hole, you must have an open water certification or higher.
James Bond Wrecks
It’s been years since the James Bond films Thunderball and Never Say Never Again were released, but you can still experience a snippet of the films’ history underwater in Nassau Paradise Island! The 92-foot tug boat Tears of Allah was sunk during the filming of Never Say Never Again. With its shallow depth, it’s a fairly easy dive for new divers, who can even swim inside the boat to see the coral growing inside. Nearby, divers can explore the wreckage of a Vulcan bomber plane that was featured in the original Thunderball movie. On clear days, both wrecks can also be seen by snorkelers on the water’s surface.
Piece of Cake
As the name suggests, this dive is fairly simple for newer divers, but it’s a rewarding adventure, too! Here, divers can spot sea fans and other soft corals, as well as colorful fish such as snapper, blue tangs, and parrot fish.
Thunderball Reef
Another diving site that harkens back to James Bond movies, Thunderball Reef has been featured in underwater scenes with 007. Its shallow waters, typically ranging from five to 25 feet, are popular with snorkelers as well as scuba divers. Colorful corals and fish make for a stunning, picture-perfect display.
What to Pack
When you book a guided scuba diving trip, your tour company will provide tanks, weights, and weight belts. Additional dive gear and wetsuit rentals are also available on site. Many scuba tour providers offer drinking water on board the boat, but it’s a good idea to bring a snack–after all, you’ll work up quite an appetite! If you’ve got an underwater camera, bring it along so you can capture the sights underwater.
For the boat ride, you’ll want to bring along your typical sun protection gear–sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses–in addition to a swimsuit. Don’t forget to pack a towel or two. Lastly, a small waterproof bag will be handy for storing your valuables (wallet, room key, phone) while you’re diving.
What to Expect
Located on the southwestern side of New Providence Island, Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas offers half-day and full-day diving trips. Since 1978, Stuart Cove’s instructors have been teaching visitors how to scuba dive, and their fleet now includes seven dive vessels, a “Learn to Dive” program for beginners, and a variety of tours for more experienced divers.