Page 150 - The British Big Four

ontinental Shelf - The Continental Shelf drift dive is the sig- stop for liveaboard boats crossing over from Florida’s east coast.

C nature deep dive off the western side of Bimini and the Great The wonderfully diverse site is often home to caribbean reef sharks,
Bahama Bank, a chance to take a peek into the very core of the hammerheads, spotted eagle rays, a wide variety of tropical fish,

pulsating heart of the Gulf Stream. Depths begin at 140 feet along crustacians, and sea turtles. The wide range of creatures here often

the edge of the wall, dropping from there down well past a cou- make it a perfect spot for a night dive.

ple thousand feet into the deep blue. The strong currents sweeping
north along the vertical cut of the underwater cliff, the depth and
imini Road - Also known as the road to Atlantis. This 20’ dive is
Bthe unpredictable pelagic marine life combine to make it an experi- made up of large rectangular stones on a sandy bottom. Many

ence suitable only for the advanced diver. The rewards? They lie in people believe it to be man made, possibly a road from the lost city

the opportunity to experience the unexpected and the sheer thrill of Atlantis. You will be surprised by the richness of marine life. It

of the ride. What will you see? In this territory, you never know. This makes a great snorkel or dive.

is the wild, wild west. You toss the dice and see what comes up. But, H esperus - Also known as the turtle wreck. It has numerous log-
gerhead turtles, barracudas, sting rays, nurse sharks and occa-
be prepared, this is the great unknown.

H awksbill Reef - This stunning reef is made up of scattered coral sionally you see other types of sharks. It is visited by many pelagics,
heads that pepper a perfectly white sand bottom. It is virtually king mackerel, pompano, permit and cobia. Large schools of snap-
impossible to see all of this site on one dive, as the reef stretches per and grunts. It lies in 15’ of water.

nearly a mile. Hawksbill Reef runs roughly north to south, parallel
to the shoreline of north Bimini. The coralheads here are swarming
odules - This wall dive is a high energy treat. The wall starts at
Nwith all the local’s you would expect on a healthy reef. angelfish, 70’ and drops into the Gulf Stream. At 120’ there are overhangs

bermuda chubs, french grunts, creole wrasse, and moray eels all call and arches which are covered with deepwater sea fans and enor-

this site home. Of course, the main star here is usually the hawksbill mous orange elephant ear sponges.

turtles resting near the bottom.

P iquet Rocks - This reef lies directly east of a small chain of is-
lands south of the Bimini’s. The reef has long been a favorite