Above sea level, Bermuda’s islands are made up of limestone rock; below the surface, the limestone reefs that surround the islands extend in steps and grades to depths of about 150 feet, where they top an ancient volcanic seamount that drops away to about 1,000 meters. From space, Bermuda looks a bit like a gigantic question mark punctuating the deep blue ocean water; and you can see the atoll clearly pronounced, with its patch reefs, rim reefs, and terrace reefs beckoning. There are countless dive sites along the reefs, which are home to various species of marine life; here are just seven of the best.
Aquarium
Located at the east end of the island, Aquarium is prized for its enormous variety of fish, with many of the reef’s citizens being just a little bigger than average. Not only is the marine life here fantastic, so is the underwater topography; the reef is punctuated with swimthroughs and arches gloriously draped in colorful soft coral and sponges. The hard coral is incredible here as well, with a wide variety of species adding even more excitement to a dive that is memorable for all its shapes, textures, and colors.
The reef itself begins at a depth of fifteen feet, then drops away along a mini wall to a depth of 45 feet, where a long sandy bottomed stretch separates the shallow reef from the deeper boiler reef, where 50 foot tall structures with more looping arches and swim throughs await. Some of the most incredible reef inhabitants are the tarpon, which are huge, sometimes in excess of seven feet; these friendly fish like to follow groups of divers around as they investigate the site. Smaller inhabitants are in attendance as well; cowries and trumpet tritons, razor fish, lizardfish, nudibranchs, crabs and lobsters, sea worms, and more. Watch for groupers and moray eels, and keep an eye out for the eagle rays and turtles that often pass through the site.
Kevin’s Reef
Named in honor of one of Bermuda’s sport diving pioneers, Kevin Burke, Kevin’s Reef is a fantastic site for divers new and experienced alike. Featuring maximum depth at about 30 feet, the reef’s top is at an easy depth of just 10 feet. With exceptionally vibrant coral growth and located just west of the Sonesta Beach Hotel, this marvelous reef features a striated structure with fingers and overhangs, and is home to a wealth of fish, crustaceans, and invertebrates in a breathtaking array of shapes, sizes and colors. Eagle rays frequent the site, and conch can be found along the sand. Lizardfish, razor fish, brilliantly colored parrotfish, butterfly fish, and other tropical species are here in abundance, and to top it off, there are several caves for more experienced divers to investigate. Often used for diver training, and a great site to visit when other areas are blown out, Kevin’s Reef is a wonderful site for photos.
South West Breaker
A huge, intriguing reef structure formed from fossilized masses of prehistoric seaworms, the South West Breaker has the distinction of having been featured in a number of books and films. You won’t find giant man-eating squid here, nor are you likely to find Jacqueline Bisset diving in a white tee-shirt like she did in the 1977 movie The Deep. Instead, you’ll discover intriguing topography and an abundance of colorful fish, crustaceans, and invertebrates. With three breakers, including one that actually breaks the surface and two other blind breakers that nearly skim the bottom of the waves, the site routinely offers visibility in excess of 100 feet and features maximum depth at about 30 feet. Schooling snapper, grunts, hogfish, and barracuda can be found here, often taking shelter underneath the many coral-covered overhangs. Inside the tunnel that cuts through one of these monolithic rocks, you’ll find green moray eels, glass-eyed sweepers, and spiny lobsters; during the summer months, massive swaths of silversides create a fishy curtain that parts to let you pass through as you explore. Watch for giant groupers, and don’t forget to visit the cleaning station, where busy gobies and creole wrasse wait patiently for customers to arrive; and, keep an eye out for passing turtles and eagle rays.
North Rock Nature Preserve
Bermuda’s largest nature preserve, North Rock is an area that features shallow breaker reefs. Marked by the North Rock Navigational Beacon, the site is situated about 7 miles from the east coast of the island and 20 miles from the west. The site extends for 1000 meters in all directions from the beacon, and is quite shallow, with maximum depth at just 25 feet or so. Featuring huge coral heads that nearly brush the surface, and which were regularly exposed during the early 1900’s, the site is like an underwater playground, with a labyrinth of channels between the coral heads. Here, you’ll find friendly fish that are accustomed to visiting with divers and snorkelers; look for Pudding Wives, a wrasse species with blue and bronze coloration, along with parrotfish and gobies, angelfish, and many others. Trumpet tritons, conch, and flamingo tongue are found here as well, all swimming and crawling against a vibrant tapestry of sea fans and huge candelabra coral.
Mill’s Breaker
Notorious for causing countless shipwrecks, Mills Breaker is a series of blind breaker reefs where one can find countless artifacts embedded as evidence of wrecks, with the most recent having occurred in 1943. Anchors, deck plates, engine parts, propeller blades, and various bits of rigging can be seen all among the corals and sponges that shelter the site’s many inhabitants. Wrecks are often visited in conjunction with the reef; these include the Avenger, the Colonel William G. Ball, and the Beaumaris Castle.
Most of the area around the reefs features maximum depth at about 25 feet, and while the site, with its maze of channels between shallow coral heads that almost reach the surface is fun year-round, visibility is best during the winter months, at about 150 feet. During the summer, when cruise ships traverse the nearby channel, silting can be a problem and visibility can be poor. Look for everything from nudibranchs to big barracuda here, along with countless fish and other creatures.
Killa Puffa Reef
Home to quite a few puffer fish, and located a short distance from the Southwest Breaker and Three Sisters sites, this lovely little patch reef is renowned for its Queen Conch population. Featuring huge mushroom formations that rise up from the sandy bottom at about 45 feet to within ten feet of the surface, the site is also a favorite feeding ground for eagle rays.
In addition, you’ll find flamingo tongues and seahorses taking shelter among the enormous sea fans and sea rods that cover the coral heads, along with juvenile filefish that mimic the sea rods in order to protect themselves from predation. Look for big groupers and hogfish hiding beneath ledges, and pause at the cleaning stations to watch the wrasse and gobies in action. There are caves for more seasoned divers to explore, and there are lobsters, nudibranchs, sea cucumbers, and other creatures everywhere; this big site is great for at least two dives and is fantastic for all levels.
Table Top
A horseshoe-shaped coral lagoon with shallow fingers of coral that provide protection from outside wave action, Table Top is named for a huge table-shaped coral head, which has fallen over, but which is still growing. Here, where the warm inshore waters of Bermuda blend with nutrient rich Atlantic waters, there are vibrant soft corals and sponges everywhere you look, along with massive sea fans and splendid hard coral formations. Home to an eye-popping array of marine life, and frequented by eagle rays and turtles, the site is sometimes subject to current, and gradually slopes away into deeper water; pay close attention to your depth here as it is easy to find yourself exceeding limits.
Despite many myths and legends regarding strange occurrences and disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle, this marvelous slice of paradise is really a wonderful place to visit, with friendly people, magnificent scenery topside, and a rich history; not to mention excellent accommodations and great cuisine. There are several different dive operators to choose from, and enough diving to keep you coming back again and again; pack your camera, grab your favorite dive buddy, and enjoy!