Posted by Andy on March 05, 2002 at 19:36:12:
In Reply to: SCUBA fans? posted by Andrew on March 04, 2002 at 12:25:26:
Hi Andrew,
I tried emailing you but my mail was returned undeliverable, hence my replying to you on here. Anyways...
There is much good diving around Harbour Island, ranging from calm, shallow patch-reef dives in the sound to coral canyons, grottos, caverns, and even an arch on the ocean side. April is generally a good time of year to visit this area as most of the cold fronts have passed through making the ocean a lot more hospitable than it is during the winter months! You may even be lucky enough to be here at the start of the eagle-ray migration through this part of the Bahamas - they tend to begin their migration through here towards the end of April, so fingers crossed for you!
Below are a few paragraphs briefly describing our operation and some of our more popular dive sites. If we can be of any assistance to you please do not hesitate to contact us.
Kind regards,
Andy
Dive@OceanFox.com
*************************************
Diving around Harbour Island, The Bahamas
The beauty of the marine habitats surrounding Harbour Island in the Bahamas is such that even the water refuses to hide it. On calm days our guests ride on the bow of Top Dog, our 35ft custom-built dive boat, and watch the sea floor pass one hundred feet beneath their dangling feet. Where we take our guests depends on their diving experience, their diving preferences, and the weather. Our sites range from a high-speed drift-dive at the famous ‘Current Cut’ to a relaxing meander through the coral canyons at ‘The Plateau’ (a site so special it featured in National Geographic magazine). Chilled water is available onboard to keep our guests suitably hydrated, as are towels for when they surface from the deep. We take a maximum of six divers on our boat, and every dive is led by either Jef Fox (the owner of Ocean Fox Diving who has been diving for more than thirty-five years and has been guiding divers here for over twenty years), or Andy Leggett (who has more than ten years diving experience, with almost two of those years spent diving around Harbour Island).
Some of our more popular sites are detailed below.
Current Cut (20-60ft):
Twenty nautical miles from Harbour Island a ‘cut’ separates Current Island from the main island of Eleuthera. The tidal flow that forces its way through this cut can at times reach eight knots, creating a thrilling ride for those experienced divers intrepid enough to make the plunge. The speed of the water flow does not only attract divers. Large schools of Jacks hang behind rocky outcrops, and sharks are often found lurking in the large crevices that pock-mark the bottom.
The Grotto (45-85ft):
A garden of soft corals swaying in the light surge seems to beckon to the divers as they descend the mooring line at The Grotto. The large reef does not readily betray its secrets, and first-time visitors are often bemused at the sight of their guide disappearing into a large crevice. However, their curiosity is rewarded as they follow a large, naturally-lit tunnel that runs through the base of the reef, causing a school of a thousand or more silver-sides to part before them, and then close behind. Once through the grotto itself, the dive continues around the reef, with your guide pointing out crawfish, crabs, turtles, and the occasional pelagic visitor.
The Plateau (35-95ft):
Featured in National Geographic magazine, the Plateau reef system is one of the most spectacular in the Bahamas. Large coral fingers running perpendicular to the coast of Eleuthera rise up to fifty feet from the sand floor, creating impressive canyons that play host to a multitude of marine creatures. Large schools of Jacks, Snapper, Durgeon, and Barracuda ply the mid-water, whilst the reefs provide shelter for damsel fish, parrot fish, queen angels, spotted drums…the list is seemingly endless.
Grouper Hole (70-90ft):
This offshore site is rarely dived, since the tide and winds have to be just right to enable the dive to be made safely. Patience is well-rewarded, however, as this site is teeming with large Groupers, Sharks, Eels, and Jacks. Swim-throughs and overhangs galore greet the adventurous diver - the scuba tank never seems to have enough air for this dive!
Blow Hole (15-55ft):
The rugged cliffs of Eleuthera provide the backdrop for this unique dive, and the boulders that have fallen from those same cliffs provide the unusual underwater topography. Sponges and the occasional soft-coral soak the submerged rocks with colour, and form the basis of the food chain that attracts larges schools of fish to this site. So many boulders have fallen over the years that swim-throughs exist where they abut, making for a fun, meandering dive.