The Bahamas has always had a special place for me among the different dive locations I have worked in the Caribbean. I would like to share with you the underwater beauties of this geography that surprise and fascinate me on every dive and why it is more special than the rest of the Caribbean.
The first reason that makes the Bahamas different is the location. Located at the point where the Gulf Stream Warm Water current meets the slightly cooler Atlantic Ocean, it creates a favorable atmosphere for rich underwater life.
It’s a complex food chain of microscopic life forms that come in on warm water currents, followed by larger creatures that come to prey on them.
To simplify, plankton and the schools of fish that feed on plankton make the Bahamas attractive to larger creatures.
Consisting of 700 different islands, the Bahamas’ diverse underwater topography; caves, walls and bluehole formations offer different habitats for living creatures. For this reason, each new location you dive is a world in itself.
The most common hard coral species in the Bahamas where you can find both hard and soft coral species are brain coral, star coral, pillar coral and Staghorn Coral.
The most common soft coral species that do not have a skeletal structure like hard corals are SeaFans, SeaWhips and SeaRods.
As for Fish Species, it is impossible to write them all here. Among the many tropical fish species, AngelFish, ButterFlyFish, ClownFish, ParrotFish and TriggerFish are the most common species you will come across.
Grouper, Snapper, Grunt and Damselfish, natives of the reefs, are among the most popular fish.
If you dive a little away from the shore , in the open sea, it is possible to see fish such as Mahi Mahi and Tuna.
And of course Sharks are on everyone’s mind. You can see them almost everywhere. I used to enjoy watching sharks chasing small fish on the shore every morning on my way to the dive center. Reef Sharks, Nurse Sharks are the ones we see most often. You can also see TigerShark and Hammerhead.
Also turtles, dolphins, lobsters, stingrays are the ocean creatures you will see in abundance.
The indispensable part of the post-dive briefings -What Did We See? conversations go on and on in the Bahamas. I believe that post-dive briefings, which I believe are very important in the protection of oceans and seas, are both effective in the development of divers and I think that divers who know underwater creatures better take a more active role in protecting them.
So why is the Bahamas able to preserve its wealth while other parts of the Caribbean have similar conditions but fewer fish species and unhealthier coral reefs?
With the Marine Protected Areas created, sustainable tourism is supported and educational activities are carried out. In addition, the fact that the Bahamas, which does not have much source of income other than tourism, is aware of this is an important factor in taking protected areas more seriously.
In the Caribbean, which is fed by warm water currents, water temperatures help corals to repair themselves. Unfortunately, if water temperatures become warmer than this, this delicate balance can be upset, with devastating consequences.
Also undeveloped coasts mean less pollution and less human pressure on nature.
In conclusion; The Bahamas offers unique diving experiences suitable for all levels of divers with its rich underwater diversity and healthy coral reefs. Whether you are a beginner diver or an experienced diver, you will not be disappointed in the Bahamas.
I will answer the question of where to go in which season in the next article.
See you soon
