Diving in Surrounding Islands

Bermuda just looks like one big island from a distance but it's actually made up of over 130 islands, most of them uninhabited but there is some excellent diving off these islands. The dive sites are a little further out than from Main Island and if you look at all the sites together on a map, they actually form a big circle around the surrounding reef. Many ships have come to ground on these reefs, which are some of the most trechurous on the planet. I'm sure it's much better now we have GPS though!

The dive centres are based on Main Island but they visit the surrounding islands frequently. Most usually dive the wrecks and the reefs on a day trip, which is great because you get to see everything that the islands have to offer and even the wreck diving is suitable for beginners because of the shallow, calm waters with a sandy bottom that the wrecks lie on. And clear water means great lighting for those perfect photos.

The marine life on the surrounding islands is fairly similar to the whole of Bermuda but the lovely views of the islands on the trip out there makes it worth the extra time. Schools of fish are always hanging about and looking in all the nooks and crannies around the wrecks is great for spotting groupers, lobsters crabs and cool macro life. Nothing beats a day of diving on the surrounding islands.

Believe or not there is a Blue Hole here, nothing like the Great Blue Hole but still a lovely reef dive with colourful corals, a small cave and lots of fish. The Basilica is also a nice reef dive with many caves and caverns to explore and in the spring, it's keep an eye out for the rare sight of schooling parrotfish.

Wrecks including the Montana, a paddlewheel steamer with the wheels in tact and surround by large schools of fish. The Lartington is an old steamer with rays cruising by and large groupers around the wreckage. If you want to see the big wrecks then head to the Madiana, a 105m/345ft passenger ship, or the Caraquet, a 106m/350ft passenger steamer for some very interesting diving.

Great for beginners is the Tauton, a shallow dive where you can still see the boilers and steam engine of this cargo ship. Advanced deep divers can enjoy the Xing Da, which is now fairly broken up and in quite deep water, so it's not visited very often.

So as you can see, the surrounding island of Bermuda hold many treasures just waiting for you to encounter. You'll surely get your wreck diving needs subdued after a week or two of great immersions.

(By Kelly Luckman)

Travel to Surrounding Islands

The archipelago of Bermuda can be as perplexing as the mystery of the same name. From the air it looks just like a hook, and is actually made up of a series of islands connected by man-made bridges and walkways. There are eight worth a visit, along with Main Island. Most of the others are nothing more than rocks.

Ireland Island North, at the tip of the hook, is reached by walking over bridge from Ireland Island South. It´s home to the Royal Naval Dockland, once a major outpost for the British Royal Navy but now a major tourist attraction.

It´s where the cruise ships dock and you can spend a day, or more, at the maritime museum, visit the shopping mall, and browse through the arts and crafts markets.

Back across the short bridge to Ireland Island South, here you can catch some spectacular scenery and visit the historic convict and military cemeteries which give an interesting insight on the local history.

There´s quite a lot to see on St George´s Island, with the serene and tranquil Somers Gardens popular for whiling away an afternoon amongst the waving palm trees and soothing fountains. You can take the African Diaspora Trail, which traces the legacy of Bermuda’s historical connections to slavery.

The island’s black community were freed from slavery in the 1900´s. If you’re on the island in July you can catch the Thursday (Emancipation Day) and Friday (Somer's Day) before the first Monday of August, cricket matches - a traditional celebration of liberation. Almost all businesses, including tourist attractions, shut down and large numbers of tents appear throughout the islands on beaches and roadsides. It's a four-day weekend celebration, Bermuda-style.

Somerset Island is one of the main masses in the chain, and Mangrove Bay has to be seen. It´s a beautiful area with the appealing, natural Ely´s Harbour. It doesn´t take long to get to, so don´t forget one of the most important of islands, St George´s . With some of the oldest buildings and is at Bermuda´s northernmost point. It´s where the first English settlers were shipwrecked in 1609.

Bermuda´s unique and quirky make-up, combined with happy go lucky attitude of the locals, makes for a really special holiday.

(By Pamela Atkinson)