MAIN Travel Bahamas

The Bahamas are a fantasy diving destination. The clear water and colorful fish add magic to the underwater scenes. At any depth, the water is a living theater with finned creatures in multicolor costumes appearing for the divers' entertainment. Natural reefs provide homes to sea life and a stunning backdrop for underwater photographers who visit. To complement the natural reefs, wrecks of old ships are placed in the water to provide homes for the fish and excitement for divers.

In July, 2003 the team at Stuart Cove's Dive Bahamas completed preparations and successfully rested the "Ray of Hope" on the bottom adding to the "reef" where divers can play. The 200-ft long wreck is sitting upright and is located directly behind another man-made wreck, the "Bahama Mama." You'll encounter the Ray of Hope at 40 feet. The bow rests at that depth and slopes down to the stern at 60 feet. The Port Authority of Nassau released the vessel for sinking as an artificial reef, making it the newest wreck dive in the Bahamas. If you've never tried a dive through the ghostly interior of a sunken ship, this is one that should be on your list of dives to experience.

Dropping a whole ship to the bottom of the ocean floor is always tricky, but this time it worked just fine. She landed fully intact, which allows divers to penetrate her interior, cabins, and gangways. The large cargo hold is open and is crossed with beams that cast shadows along the floor, providing some great photo ops for diving camera buffs.

She joins a fleet of other ships resting on the bottom. The "Ray of Hope" is now the 16th wreck location on the southwestern side of New Providence Island and joins over 40 other named spots for recreational divers and snorkelers to explore the underwater world of the Bahamas.

In 2002 the 80-foot "Captain Fox", came to rest in 40 feet of water forming the third trunk of the "The Steel Forest". The "Captain Fox" joined the "Manana" and "Fenwick Stirrup" on a sand bottom that starts at 30 feet and slopes to 120 feet where it drops over the edge of the "Tongue of the Ocean" wall.

While most of the diving in the waters near the islands of the Bahamas is less than 100 feet, the Tongue goes down 4000 to 6000 feet (1200 to 1800 meters). For anyone looking for the challenge of a deep dive as well as easy sport, this section of the Caribbean has it all.

Adding wrecks to the ocean has it's disadvantages. The ships often cannot stand up to the effects of undersea life. The "Bahama Mama" has deteriorated over the past few years. Even with the effects of aging showing, the "Bahama Mama" is one of the most popular wrecks on the island. The location has a large sand patch that looks like a giant runway from the air and sits right on the edge of the "Tongue-of-the-Ocean" wall. In addition, it is close to shore providing for short boat trips and good protection from the elements.

Placing the "Ray of Hope" behind her has created a welcome upgrade to the site. The location is excellent with wall and shark dive sites nearby. This new wreck will give underwater photographers incredible views to frame their shots and add new life to the Steel Forest.

To begin planning your first dive on the "Ray of Hope" check your gear, get your camera ready and visit Stuart Cove's Dive Bahamas or call 800-879-9832.

More resources to Bahamas diving on the Web:
Bahamas Diving Association
Lonely Planet World Guide: Bahamas
Scuba Board.com
Diving in the Bahamas