Q. What sort of dive equipment and wet suit should I bring?

A. Bermuda lies within range of the warm Gulf Stream sweeping up from the Caribbean, yet the water will get chilly during the winter (1/2’’ or7mm) and spring months. In the summer a Lycra skin will protect against coral abrasions. Please view our table One – Fast Facts for more detail.

If this is your first introduction into scuba do not worry about providing all your equipment. We have a full line of Major Brand rental equipment, in a wide variety of popular sizes. You will highlight your sizes on the booking form.

If you have your own mask and fins, we recommend you bring them.

For those with your own equipment, we offer storage space and fresh water rinse facilities at all our Dive Shops.

Please remember the diving is not deep and certainly not technical. We strongly advice bringing only what you are likely to need for shallow tropical diving. Your kit will take up valuable storage upon the boat and you will not want to be hauling heavy, unused equipment about.

Q. What condition are the wrecks in?

A. Bermuda has a vaste array of wrecks. They range in condition. Some have be sunk for the purpose of Diving. The Hermes (75Ft/23m) is intact and upright. At other sites you will find very little wreckage. Law protects all Bermuda’s wrecks. It is illegal to remove any artifacts from any wrecks.

Q. Can I dive alone or do I need to have a buddy?

A. We do not allow solo diving regardless of experience level. It is a PADI (and all other major certification agencies) requirement as well as a requirement of both Bermuda and international law that you never dive alone. A guide is available on all dives. We will find a buddy for you if you wish, or one of our staff will be your buddy.

Q. Will I need my "C CARD"?

A. Certified divers should submit their certification cards or other proof of certification prior to any diving activity. We can verify your PADI certifications via PADI's computer system.

Q. When do I check in for boat trips?

A. You should be checked in one half-hour before the boat departs.

Q. When does the Fairmont Southampton Princess boat depart?

A. Call the dive shop upon arrival in Bermuda for current departure times.

Fairmont Southampton Princess

Our boat here is a Newton 42, with showering facilities. It is 42 feet long.
She is called Narcosis.
The boat is equipped with Marine VHF Radio, Oxygen, First Aid Kit, Backboard, Life Raft, Life Jackets, Flares and all crew are CPR certified. Bermuda government regulations require all boats to pass an annual safety inspection.


Q. Where is the Dive Centre?

A. Our address is shown in Contact US while a map below shows our physical location

 

Q. Do you provide lunch?

A. Sadly, we do not provide lunch. If however you are a guest of the Fairmont, this can be arranged. Please contact us for details.

Q. Do you "pick up" from hotels?

A. No.

An excellent public transportation service including buses and ferries covers the whole of Bermuda. You will need exact change for the buses. You can buy booklets of tickets.

Rental scooters are an excellent option.

Taxis are always available. These are large vehicles, which can carry up to six persons so dive baggage is not a trouble to carry.

You can travel between the two Fairmont Princess hotels via the ferry system that runs between both locations. This is a free service for Fairmont guests.

Q. Where can I keep my dive gear?

A. We provide free, secure gear storage and rinse facilities for your dive equipment at our locations. We also offer equipment servicing.

Q. My party are all of different levels. I'm a certified diver, but my husband and children have no experience. What do you have to offer them?

A. Don’t worry. Every one can be involved. Dive Bermuda has something for all levels of experience. Snorkellers and passengers are welcome on all trips. We do daily "Discover Scuba Diving Course " at both locations specially tailored for the non diver. These are dives with an Instructor. We also offer a full range of Certification courses from total beginner to Instructor level.

Q. Do you offer night dives?

A. Yes, we do. Night Dives leave from Southampton Dive Centre at dusk, scheduled in advance by request.

Dive Bermuda, Southampton, also offers shore night dives. You may rent the tanks from our Dive Shop while keeping with your own schedule.

Q. Can we go snorkeling?

A. Southampton Beach offers snorkeling or walk the shore distance to Church Bay. Church Bay is an excellent snorkeling beach.
Snorkeling is also offered as a service on our boat trips.

Q. I want to dive 4 Days in a row, will I repeat any of the sites?

A. We will try our best not to repeat any sites in any given week but if sites are demanded by a number of individuals, on occasion we do repeat a site during a week.

Q. What is the minimum age for a student.

A. PADI requires a student to be ten (10) years of age. We offer a PADI, confined water (in a swimming pool) 6ft (2m), max depth, and called Bubble Maker to introduce younger individuals to the basics of Scuba. People must be eight (8) years of age. Bubble Maker is a perfect springboard to make your child comfortable in the water. Certificates and photographs will make this a memorable experience

See www.padi.com for further information.

Q. Tell me about the reef diving to be found off Bermuda.

A. Dive Bermuda visits a wide range of reefs. Bermuda was created by the formation of a gigantic volcano, which rises some 4,500 meters from the sea bed, the islands (150 islands in total) themselves are now the lower southeastern end of a former gigantic atoll. There are over 200 square miles of reef around Bermuda, which now accounts for the vast range in corals and sea fans. The Bermuda Government has in place strict environmental controls to safe guard their local waters. The warm, nutrient rich waters of the Gulf Stream pass through Bermuda providing natural habitat for many coral types. The reefs now form the world’s most northerly coral reef.

Q. What will be seen on the reefs?

A. Strict controls mean that the reef is very healthy, and has not suffered the effects of “Diver Damage” like some Caribbean locations.

You can see many hard corals and sea fans.

Many types of anemones will be seen too. The giant anemone is perhaps the most common with the corkscrew anemone

The colder water means that sponges are not as common as those seen in the Caribbean. They can be found at Flatts Bridge and Somerset Bridge where the waters run quickly.

The Purple Sea Urchin is usually seen in shallow waters.

Q. What type of fish will I see?

A. There are fewer fish to be seen here than in the Caribbean. However, most of the fish that can be seen in the Caribbean can be seen in Bermuda. There are few rays (southern stingray being most common) and eels (spotted and green being most common) to be seen. The Barracuda, Foureye Buttership, Yellow snapper, Parrotfish and Wrasses are all common place. You will find varieties of Butterfly and AngelFish to brighten up your every dive.

Environmental protection laws introduced by the Government against “pot fishing”, spear fishing and lobster fishing seasons have helped stimulate growth in numbers.

Q. Will I see whales?

A. April and May mark the migration of the Hump Back whales. The whales’ journey takes them past South Shore. They are readily visible. Special boat charters allow you to follow their progress down South Shore. This is a must see experience.

Q. How cold is the water?

A. Please see our Table One – Fast Facts for more detail.

Bermuda lies within range of the Gulf Stream sweeping up from the Caribbean, but it is an Atlantic Island, so the water does get chilly during the winter and spring months. Generally, during the winter months the water temperatures are around 64-degree f. (18’c). In The summer months the water temperatures are around 86-degrees f (31’c).

Q. I'm not Wreck Certified, can I dive on wrecks?

A. You don't need wreck certification to dive Bermuda's wrecks, but we do offer wreck specialty courses. The PADI wreck Diving video was shot with Dive Bermuda.

Q. If I decide to get certified or complete higher dive education whilst in Bermuda can this be arranged at short notice?

A. Yes.