Page 145 - The British Big Four
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alls The walls off Bimini can be deep, and that’s the way some tuna often found schooling along the reef. In the deep, blue water
divers may also encounter loggerhead turtles and a reef or nurse
W nitrogen junkies like ‘em. The site known as the Nodules shark. Tuna Alley, Victory Reef and the Nodules comprise multiple
dive sites stretching from Cat Cay south down a series of small cays
starts at just 70 feet, but the best stuff, the overhangs, gorgonians generically referred to as the Bimini Cays.. This strip of wall stretch-
and largest elephant ear sponges, are at 120 feet, so be prepared to es well over seven south of Bimini on the western edge of the Great
dive deep. South of the Bimini is a short underwater limestone rock Bahama Bank. Multiple moorings allow a broad variety of both dive
formation. The north section (called North Bimini Wall) begins in 38 profiles and experiences. Tuna Alley was originally named for the
metres/120 feet of water and is typically a drift dive for experienced annual northerly migration of giant Bluefin Tuna in the spring. While
divers. To the south are many other walls such as the South Cat Cay the underwater terrain varies considerably, it generally begins with
Wall, Victory Cays Drop-off and Riding Rock Wall that begin in about a sloping wall slanting from 50 feet to an average of 120 feet, rising
9 - 28 metres/30 - 90 feet of water. up to a second ridge at around 70 feet and descends from there,
bouncing down over a series of reef lines and then dropping steeply
T una Alley - The Tuna Alley is often called one of the best dive away into the depths of the Straits of Florida. All ridges are rem-
sites in all of the Caribbean. It is a pristine, healthy reef sys- nants of ancient shorelines, each defining the rise and fall of the
tem off of North Cat Cay, one of the Bimini Islands. Magnificent, sea levels through time. Most dives are done at depths of 60 to 100
high profile corals have formed walls at 45 feet that gently slope feet and feature highly variegated walls with overhangs, caverns
down to 80-100 feet. Divers can swim along a canyon with numer- and swim-throughs, all featuring lush coral and sponge growth.
ous crevices, caverns, and swim-throughs that exit 100 feet or more
down the wall. The Gulf Stream currents wash through and keep the
system healthy and vibrant. When the current is running this site is
a great drift dive. The name, Tuna Alley, comes from the scores of
