Bermuda diving

"Juggsler" <juggsler@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20030716213139.06310.00000027@mb-m03.aol.com...
> Has anybody been to Bermuda?
>
> We will be there next week (7-21-03), and should be able to dive at least
two
> days.
>
> Any tips, suggestions, or favorite dive spots? Which is the best dive
shop?
>
> thanks in advance
> Juggsler


I was there last October. Most of the diving is shallow and the big deal is
wrecks - 58 of them I think, spanning a couple of centuries. Last year they
had a program than gave you a certificate for each wreck you dove.

I dove with two different operators, and watched the operation of a third.
Didn't seem to see much difference among them if you are only doing a couple
of days of diving.

Bermuda is a bit expensive compared to most dive locations in my experience.
And you can't rent a car - only mopeds. The dive operators are not allowed
to transport you from residence to shop, so go for whoever is closest to you
and take the bus or a cab. I did it on moped, but it gets a bit tricky
balancing the dive gear.

There is no shore diving.

By the way, it is the only place that I discovered "treasure" on a wreck. I
found a 14K gold ring that has been appraised at $600 US. I also found a
mask, a golf ball, a snorkel and a weight belt in various dives there.
People seem to be careless.


--
But then again, what do I know?

Lou Vallone

LouVallone@aol.com

http://members.aol.com/LouVallone

Has anybody been to Bermuda?

We will be there next week (7-21-03), and should be able to dive at least two
days.

Any tips, suggestions, or favorite dive spots? Which is the best dive shop?

thanks in advance
Juggsler

"Lou Vallone" <LouVallone@bigfoot.com> wrote in message news:<vhc55ilvljl1a4@corp.supernews.com>...
> ...
> There is no shore diving.
> ...

There is some great fine shore diving in Bermuda, but one needs a
local diver with knowledge and a car to carry tanks, weights, and
other gear.

I have to rate it on the low side as a dive destination. The viz is not all that
great and what passes for dive wrecks are in very poor shape. But enjoy, and
then you'll be able to tell your friends you've been there, done that!

Juggsler wrote:

> Has anybody been to Bermuda?
>
> We will be there next week (7-21-03), and should be able to dive at least two
> days.
>
> Any tips, suggestions, or favorite dive spots? Which is the best dive shop?
>
> thanks in advance
> Juggsler

Daniel Kessler <dkessler@pop.cybernex.net> wrote in message news:<3F16965B.FC677A8F@pop.cybernex.net>...
> I have to rate it on the low side as a dive destination. The viz is not all that
> great and what passes for dive wrecks are in very poor shape. But enjoy, and
> then you'll be able to tell your friends you've been there, done that!

One shouldn't be surprised to discover that Civil War wrecks, now
almost 150 years old, aren't in such great shape! There are older
(wooden) wrecks there which are even more deteriorated. The amazing
thing would be if they weren't!

The 20th century wrecks found their fate on the reefs and having to
rest in shallow water open to the Atlantic, have been smashed by
storms for decades. I've enjoyed trying to reconstruct in my mind how
these ships came to their ends, keeping my eyes open for artifacts
(although one can't take them), swimming through and under some of the
wreckage, and admiring the massive engines, boilers, and winches. If
it's intact wrecks you fancy, there are two small vessels deliberately
sunk.

As for visibility, it's not dependable. However, it was in Bermuda
that I experienced the best visibility I've ever had in about 1000
dives (most in tropical waters) - about 200 feet. As soon as I jumped
in, I knew it was special. We had a good measure because the boat
(about a 45 footer) had put out a 150 foot trailer line with a big
float on the end off the stern and we could (barely) see the float
from beneath the bow.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Don Acheson" <don.acheson@verizon.net>
Newsgroups: rec.scuba.locations
Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2003 8:04 AM
Subject: Re: Bermuda diving


> "Lou Vallone" <LouVallone@bigfoot.com> wrote in message
news:<vhc55ilvljl1a4@corp.supernews.com>...
> > ...
> > There is no shore diving.
> > ...
>
> There is some great fine shore diving in Bermuda, but one needs a
> local diver with knowledge and a car to carry tanks, weights, and
> other gear.


I stand corrected. I guess anywhere there is a shore, there is shore diving.
I meant that for me as a tourist without being able to rent a car and having
no general help (such as the stone markers in NA or maps in other places)
there was no shore diving.

I did ask about shore diving with the operators I dove with, and no one was
forthcoming with a offer to arrange one for me.

15 4 3

But then again, what do I know?

Lou Vallone

LouVallone@aol.com

http://members.aol.com/LouVallone