The Bahamian archipelago, 500 miles off the southeast point of Florida, is a destination of rich history, beautiful warm, tropical weather, gorgeous resorts, and deep-sea Grouper fishing. Among these 700 islands, Grand Bahama Island has a lure of its own, unique among other island destinations; in its clear emerald-green waters lie scuba diving sites that are the in the world. Here, both beginning divers and hard-core veteran divers find exactly what they're looking for; an underwater paradise that has been carefully preserved to protect its delicate ecology.

The geography of Grand Bahama is particularly well-suited for divers. The island slopes gently into the Atlantic Ocean and the Northwest Providence Channel near Cuba. The ocean shelves range from shallow to deep and each has its own appeal to divers. "Divemasters" know all the fascinating places to take beginners and veterans to explore the natural beauty of the reefs and the many wrecks found off the coasts. For snorkelers, however, the shallow reefs provide lovely views of brightly colored fish and gently waving sea plants. The commercial dive sites are very well maintained and quite safe.

Dive sites on Grand Bahama have extensive mooring systems, a series of underwater trails for scuba divers to find their way through the reefs. The use of moorings prevents damage to the undersea marine life and plants. The rule is "Leave it there!" Well-mannered divers are aware that fragile undersea ecosystems must be treated with respect if they are to survive.

The shallow reef slopes downward off the island for about twenty feet. It is a wonderland of colorful small fish that dart among corals of all shapes, sizes and types. This reef is best for beginners; an easy dive filled with feasts for the eye. At night, however, the shallow reef draws advanced divers to the breathtaking nocturnal spectacle of octopus, lobster, crinoids, and other species that aren't seen during the day. A simple lamp on their diving gear reveals what is only possible to see clearly at night. The shallow reefs include Silver Reef, Sanctuary Reef, Treasure Reef, and Fish Reef.

The medium reef is about 40-50 feet deep, and the vertical growth of the large coral heads can reach ten feet. The corals grow in fascinating shapes from mushrooms to hollow; both are home to all sorts of marine life. These sites include Angel Reef, Camp Reef, Badger Reef and Spid City.

In the deep reef is a complex maze of undersea canyons, tunnels and rock formations. Divers are wary of the ill-tempered Moray Eels that can quickly bite through a rubber wet suit in seconds. Favorite sites include the Pygmy Caves, The Tunnels, Gail's Grotto, and Lady of Lucay.

Grand Bahama is home to the one-of-a-kind Shark Junction. In this deep dive, the ocean floor is vast and empty except for the sharks that circle towards divers as they kneel on the bottom. The sharks circle slowly, never taking their eyes off the divers, then swiftly depart, only to appear again from another direction. The sharks don't see divers as prey; they're merely curious about what creature this is that's invading their space!

The wreck dives off Grand Bahama are numerous and exciting. Lying in only 100 feet of water is the wreck of a 230-foot freighter that's now home to teeming sea creatures. This wreck is a favorite among divers because of its accessibility and opportunities to thoroughly examine its interior.

Advanced divers never pass up the chance to explore Grand Bahama's caves; the "blue holes" caverns and sinkholes. Some of the caves are part of a national park, and access is limited to only four divers every other day. Some caves are closed to the public during the summer to allow birth and growth of various marine creatures.

Whatever your diving skill level, Grand Bahama's reefs beckon, calling you to experience the "other world" that can only be found under the surface of the rolling ocean waters.