Uniqueness of Bermuda

Scuba Diving

Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean, an hour and half flight from New York. Located at 32°17'N, 64°46'W off the east coast of the United States, it is situated 1,100 miles (1,770 km) northeast of Miami, Florida and 840 miles (1,350 km) south of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Bermuda is the second most populated island in the world. It is the highest of the three underwater mountains that make up the Bermuda ridge.

Although Bermuda's latitude is similar to that of Savannah, Georgia, the subtropical climate of Bermuda is warmed by a warm water eddy from the Gulf Stream. Winters are mild, with average daytime temperatures in January and February 20°C (68°F). Although an occasional Atlantic winter storm can produce powerful winds and heavy rain, the air temperature rarely drops below 10°C (50°F).

Coral Reef

Bermuda has 280 square miles (725 square km) of reef. The warm, nutrient rich waters of the Gulf Stream have led to the formation of the world's most northerly coral reef.

Bermuda's reef is very healthy, and has not suffered the effects of Diver Damage or not suffered the effects of Global Warming like many Caribbean locations. Abundant hard corals and sea fans the size of blankets are common in Bermuda's waters.

Bermuda is part of three mountains, Challenger, Argus and Bermuda. Bermuda is the only mountain that rises above sea level. Challenger is Bermuda's closest underwater mountain which is approximately 13 miles (21 km) west of the island. The depth to the bottom is 100+ feet (30+ meters). Argus Bank lies 28 miles (45 km) west of the island and the depth to the bottom is about 200+ feet (61+ meters).

Most of Bermuda's dives are shallow, 30 feet (9 meters) to 60 feet (18 meters) on average, which makes it ideal for recreational divers. Deeper dive sites are also available for the more experienced diver.

During the winter months the water temperature drops as low as 64°F (17°C). In the summer months the water rises to a bath tub like 83°F (28°C). See our Bermuda diving temperatures table for full details.

Wrecks

Bermuda is one of the few places in the world where you can dive on shipwrecks dating from the 1600's to 1997. It is the wreck capital of the Atlantic and has more ship wrecks per square mile than anywhere else in the world. 98% of the ship wrecks in Bermuda are naturally occurring.

Bermuda has been an important land mark for mariners since the 1500's. In the 1500's and 1600's mariners would stop at Bermuda to gather water and meat: turtle meat, fish, foul and wild bore. After the colonisation of Bermuda in 1612, ships would stop to make repairs and gather more supplies. In the 1900's, with the advent of the steam power, ships would stop to load coal. Bermuda, being a natural fortification surrounded by barrier reef, has only two entrances through the reef which leads to the safe working harbour, and both are located on the eastern side of the island.

With the opening up of the new world by the iron-age, more and more ships were crossing the Atlantic which in turn forced more and more ships into the Bermuda reef. It wasn't until the 1920's, when radar was invented, that mariners were able to detect the coastline of Bermuda at night or in foul weather.

Fish

Most of the fish that can be seen in the Caribbean can also be seen in Bermuda. Fish stocks were seriously depleted in the 1980's by the use of fish traps. In the 1990's fish traps were banned and the fish stocks in Bermuda have been making a strong come back. With the advent of better fish management, scientists have made some interesting and unique findings.

Bermuda's Black Grouper, although related to the same species as the black grouper which can be found in the Caribbean is in fact genetically distinct to Bermuda. In other words, Bermuda Black Grouper DNA is not found in other Black Grouper species. This is perhaps due to Bermuda being so remote. The Bermuda Black Grouper is not a pelagic fish and stays on the Bermuda atoll.