News of The Abacos

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Diving and the Underwater Wonders of The Abacos
David Cote

There's more to beauty than that which meets the naked eye and so it is with the Abacos. Far out from the verdant tracks of the evergreen boughs bending in the breezes and beneath the sun-soaked beaches, the alluring enticements of our waters speak for themselves and we have noticed that the world wants to listen.

A little caution is always in order when in a foreign domain. So to take my own plunge into the wonders of our sunken seascape, I decided not to get my feet wet until I had sought out some assistance from the best guides in the business. I sent a number of messages out and thankfully everyone was happy to return my call.

For those who are short on time and still want to have a diving experience, the Abaco Dive Centre offers a tourist excursion with an experienced diver. Although it is ever so brief, many a diver can testify this was how is all began for them. During the winter months, when the temperature of our waters can drop to the low 70's, divers suit up with full 3mm wet suits. During the warmer months some people still prefer to wear the "shorties" version which leaves the limbs exposed.

I also had a chance to talk with Keith Rogers who owns and manages Dive Abaco. The company has operated out of Marsh Harbour since 1978. Mr. Rogers originally hails from Canada, and after acquiring his formative diving experience in more frigid waters, he decided to take over Dive Abaco and become a permanent resident. He feels grateful and privileged that diving is now his life and he says he is always honoured when clients tell him that he conducts a diving experience that is unique in the business. Keith says this refers to a couple of things which he has always insisted on. First, all dive instructors must undergo ongoing training to ensure the proper protection of our delicate reefs. Secondly, he is adamant about divers maintaining perfect buoyancy control. For the layperson, this means true weightlessness in the water. He jokingly assured me that this is a "lazy man's sport" and that there should be no struggle for divers to maintain any desired depth.

This conserves a person's energy and also ensures that the reefs will not be damaged by a diver squashing the sensitive coral in their effort to maintain a proper depth. Keith says that people appreciate the personal approach he takes and his dedication to ongoing training.

Mr. Rogers named his dive boat after his daughter and christened her the Anne Nichole. She is equipped for 18 persons, but for safety reasons no more than 16 are ever on board. During daily excursions, there are 20 different dive sites to pick and choose from The depths range from 20 to 120'. From the chronicles of our local history, residents should know that the deepest site is the wreck of the old mailboat, the Deborah K. It was just acquired as a dive site last year. Dive Abaco presently operates out of the Conch Inn.

If one wants to explore the island a little more, further north on Green Turtle Cay, dive tours are offered conducted by the Green Turtle Cay Club and Brendal's Dive Shop International. The Green Turtle Cay Club & Marina is presently making some changes. You could say they are upgrading their product. Instead of operating with a Dive Master who is only qualified to take out certified divers, they are in the process of hiring a full time Dive Instructor who can conduct resort classes and certify divers.

They were made aware that they were speaking to someone who is practically illiterate to the language of the underwater world, and so quickly helped me catch on to the fact that although Scuba Diving is fun, its also a very serious sport. People must care for and respect both the mysteries of the ocean and the scientifically precise equipment and instruments which make their enjoyment possible. They must realize that if the gear that allows them to freely flit about the ocean as though they were fish, can easily turn an exciting dive to disaster if it is not properly understood and maintained. To ensure safety standards, divers must produce proof that they have been certified by an international standard of testing and evaluation.

The most common testing standard in this part of the world is the PADI Certification. It stands for : Professional Association of Diving Instructors. With the presentation of a PADI card, you may rent equipment and visit a dive site of your choice. Obtaining one's PADI card is the first step for everyone who wants to dive and so, many of our visitors spend the first part of their holiday doing just that. The certification is offered as part of on Open-Water Course. Instructors are sensitive to individual differences in learning, but normally the course would take up to a minimum of 5 days and classes generally run for about 4 hours each day. There are 3 days of classroom instruction which includes video theory, lectures and practicals. All of the basic diving skills and procedures are learned and practiced in the safety of a swimming pool before anyone tries the open water.

For the final 2 days of the course, students are taken out for 2 dives each day. Oral or written examinations are given and practical demonstrations of skills and procedures are done in the water. Each of the four dives evaluates a separate number of skills.

(Depending on the type of trip you ultimately select, and the dive operator you've chosen) ... the day begins at 8:30 and involves instruction on and in the water. The divers actually catch their own food, the second part of their adventure - and prepare a beach front picnic during the afternoon. If your hunting skills are not up to snuff, not to worry, as I was assured the management will assist. This trip can accommodate as many as 20, but if you are with a small group, arrangements can be made for as few as 4. For those interested, there are also evening dives which set out at about 5:30 and continue for an hour to an hour and a half.

Some of the exotic fish which attract divers to Green Turtle Cay are the Tarpon, which grows up to 6' in length. Divers also enjoy diving around the ledges through the holes of the Coral Caverns. Swarms of tiny Silver Siders will curiously gather to greet a lone diver bobbing out of one of these holes, only to vanish in flutter of silver light when the diver gets too close for comfort. For historians (or those on a ghost hunt), on the end of No Name Cay, there is the wreck of the San Jacinto, the first American steamship which sunk in 1865.

All-in-all, a dive experience in the Abacos, whether as a beginner or as an expert offers a little something for everyone and is one not soon forgotten. For historians (or those on a ghost hunt), on the end of No Name Cay, there is the wreck of the San Jacinto, the first American steamship which sunk in 1865.

All-in-all, a dive experience in the Abacos, whether as a beginner or as an expert offers a little something for everyone and is one not soon forgotten.

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