Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
Essential Reading for Divers/Snorkellers going 2 the Bahamas, 9 Mar 2001
By A Customer
I have just returned from a liveaboard scuba-diving holiday to the Bahamas (mainly around the Biminis), and I wish that I had bought this book before I went, rather than as a souvenir having come back.The book did not cover all of the 18 dive sites I visitied, but I agree with the rating of the diving. (The book assigns each site with a separate 5 star rating for its level of appeal to scuba diving and where appropriate snorkelling). Each chapter takes a different part of the Bahamas and provides a map, clearly highlighting the dive sites. Then each site is given a fairly detailed review of what the diver can expect in terms of acquatic life/coral. At the end of each chapter there is a 'getting there' summary with useful contact information. I have certainly found it a useful aide memoir for re-living the history and background to those sites I have already visitied and since most of the dives I had done were rated at 2 star, I will certainly be using the book to help me to plan subsequent visits to the other Bahamian islands where the dives are 4 and 5 star.
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Excellent Dive Holiday Guide, 6 Nov 2005
This book is one of the series of definitive guides to the major dive destinations around the world. I own seven in the series and can heartily recommend them to other divers.
The book starts with a brief guide to the history and culture of the Bahamas and useful information about travelling to, from and around the islands. Also provided are those vital travel tips - which currency, who and how much to tip, electrical voltage used, which side of the road to drive on and much more. This is followed by an overview of diving and snorkeling in the Bahamas, including contact details for liveaboards and advice on how much thermal / dermal protection is beneficial, adjusted for season.
All the major islands with dive facilities have a dedicated chapter. Each island's well known dive sites are individually numbered and rated within that chapter. These guides are honest about the poorer quality sites and use a star system with five stars awarded for the best; they also indicate if the site is unsuitable for novices.
The individual dive site guides include - means of access, average dive conditions at the site, average depth and visibility, maximum depth, whether or not the site is suitable for snorkelling as well as diving and finally a description of the site underwater and the marine life that is commonly found there.
One of the joys of these guides is the very high quality of the underwater colour photography, liberally sprinkled throughout . Marine subjects of special interest like the famous Bahamian shark diving locations, the mangrove lagoons and the Blue Holes, each have a dedicated page.
At the end of each island chapter there is a wealth of information about hotels, dive operators and restaurants with addresses and phone numbers included. This brings me to the only cautionary note, these guides are not revised as often as they might be and some of the data may be several years old. If you wish to use the contact information supplied, check it is up to date before you travel!
The final chapters provide a brief local marine life guide, tips for underwater photography and effective emergency first aid advice should an accident occur.
If you are going diving in the Bahamas, buy this book!
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