Page 437 - The British Big Four

There are still 10,500 more words to read to learn all about Bermuda of
Franko’s Bermuda Guide & Dive Map. Plus, remember that “a picture
tells 1,000 words”, and realize that there are over 20 photographs on
side 1 of Franko’s Bermuda Guide & Dive Map, plus the whole map
itself is the finest picture of them all. This Franko Map captures what
Bermuda is all about – it is an amazing compilation of information,
laid out on a handy, waterproof, durable synthetic map, which meas-
ures 18.5 inches x 26.5 inches, folding to 4.42 inches x 9.25 inches. The get practice during WWII, so she is fully destroyed, with half on one
color and beauty of this map is unique to Franko Maps, and this is the
best and most interesting map of Bermuda ever produced. The inspir-
ing hues of ocean blue and the rolling hills shown in hand-rendered
green shaded relief exclaims, “I love Bermuda!”
Side 2 of Franko’s Bermuda Guide & Dive Map - This is the dive side of
the map, with five dozen of Bermuda’s most famous and popular wreck
and reef dives accurately located with over 5,000 words of descriptive
details. Combined with side 1 there are a total of 10,650 words on
Franko’s Bermuda Guide & Dive Map! The basic dive map itself is
identical to the map on side 1, but it is zoomed-out to display a larger
area to encompass the surrounding Bermudian reef, and all of the
things to see and do information is replaced with locations and details
all about Bermuda’s most famous and popular dive sites. Bermuda’s
reef is infamous in that it has claimed hundreds of ships and boats
- from Spanish galleons to modern yachts and fishing boats – over
five centuries of history. This Franko Map locates and describes the
most interesting and accessible ones which Bermuda dive operators
take you to, or which you can reach from shore. With such a long list
of sunken ships and boats on such a huge reef, one wonders, “What
ships and what treasures have not yet been discovered?” As for the
ships that have been found, and as for the ones that are of interest
to Bermuda’s visitors, this map captures them all. An example of the
wreck dive site descriptions is as follows:
“CRISTÓBOL COLÓN” (1936) This beautiful 10,833-ton, 499’
(152m) Spanish Luxury Liner was built in 1923, and is the largest
shipwreck in Bermuda. She had a full crew of 160, but no passengers
when she ran high and upright onto the reef at 15 knots. North Rock’s
light was out of commission at the time. The IRISTO steamed into the
rocks the next year, believing the
COLÓN to be a ship under way. The U.S. Military used her for tar-
side of the reef, and half on the other, all ranging from 15’ (5m) to 60’
(18m) depth.”
There are 59 more dive site captions, and 5,000 more words of dive site
descriptions on Franko’s Bermuda Guide & Dive Map. After you study
this map you will see why proud Bermudians claim that they host the
“world’s best shipwreck diving”. Taking a look at the title block of side
2 you will note that the caption proclaims, “The World’s Best Ship-
wreck Diving”. Bermudians indeed have an excellent case that these
dangerous waters are number one in their variety of diveable wrecks.
This comes from five centuries of mariners running into deep trouble
on Bermuda’s treacherous reefs. Although Bermuda is subtropical in
climate, much of the underwater allure is that Bermuda also enjoys
the northernmost coral reefs in the world, which are inhabited by
multitudes of tropical Caribbean reef creatures. As on other Franko
Maps, 100-plus reef creatures are depicted on this side of the map. The
Franko-style of showing reef creatures on maps adds stunning color
and attraction to the map. Descending hues of blue waters shows the
depth contours, accurately replicating government charts of Bermu-
da’s waters. is also an excellent dive guide for Bermuda.