Much of the diversity of dive options offered by The Bahamas is a direct result of the huge area that this nation covers. With its westernmost islands resting only 50 miles off the Florida coastline, The Bahamas stretches southeast over 750 miles. Contained within its boundaries are more than 100,000 square miles of water, dwarfing a land mass of a mere 5,382 square miles. This land mass is distributed between 25 islands or island groups, more than 650 cays (pronounced "keys") and some 2,400 islets and exposed rocks. There are active, professional dive operations on well over a dozen of these islands. Areas beyond reach of day boats and land-based operations are made accessible by a fleet of high-quality liveaboards, departing both from the United States and from strategic jumping-off points within The Bahamas. The Bahamas owes its very existence to the ocean and its creatures. The archipelago sits upon a platform of pure limestone that was created by marine sediment deposited over the millennia-the skeletal remains of thousands upon thousands of generations of both large and small marine creatures. Over the years the water levels have varied greatly, receding as much as 400 feet or more during the ice ages. The evidence of varying sea levels can be seen in the different ledges along the drop-offs, each indicating an ancient shoreline.

To the north is the Little Bahamas Bank, bordered by the Abacos and Grand Bahama Island. To the south is the massive Great Bahamas Bank, roughly shaped in the form of a U. The western branch is the base for Bimini, the Berry Islands and Andros. The eastern branch gives us New Providence, Eleuthera, the Exumas, Cat Island and Long Island. To the southwest of the Great Bahamas Bank one finds the small Cay Sal Bank. With only barely exposed rocks and dunes above water, underwater it is ringed with fringing reefs and also offers splendid world-class drop-offs and walls. There are also several islands to the south that are the isolated peaks of undersea pinnacles. These include wall-diving legends such as San Salvador, Rum Cay and Conception Island, as well as Mayaguana, the Inaguas, Plana Cays and Hogsty Reef (the only Atlantic atoll).

The highly productive shallow banks function as huge juvenile nurseries, constantly replenishing the piscine inhabitants of The Bahamas. The deep waters of the Atlantic, the Gulf Stream and the assorted rifts running through the banks introduce pelagic species into the formula. This combination creates a population of fish much denser and more varied than the Caribbean norm.

Transportation to and from the islands is made available by commercial plane, cruise ship, live-aboard dive vessels or private plane or boat. Standard commercial air service is provided by a number of airlines, including the national carrier, Bahamasair. Departing from a full array of conveniently located U.S. gateway cities, and utilizing Nassau and Freeport as hubs, connections to the entire archipelago are made convenient. Some of the Family Islands utilize my personal favorite means of travel, smaller four to 12 passenger charter planes. These give an ideal birds-eye view of the swirling shoals and isolated cays of the island chain. This is flying heaven, and private pilots will find The Bahamas convenient and comfortable. There are dozens of functional airstrips and casual customs and immigration clearance points.

Welcome to The Bahamas, the island nation where you can have it all and do it all or simply relax and do nothing at all. The following pages will give you some big hints on the possibilities awaiting you. Read, explore and enjoy.