Bermuda has long been known as a romantic haven. Its warm Gulf Stream waters, pink-sand beaches, perfectly manicured landscapes, excellent shopping, first-rate cuisine and friendly Bermudians make visitors feel right at home. Accommodation possibilities are endless and include Bermuda's unique cottage colonies, intimate B&Bs and a variety of resort hotels to suit any budget. Take all of those qualities, add in several hundred known and easy-toexplore shipwrecks, and this romantic island becomes one of the most desirable dive-adventure destinations in the world.

Located in the Atlantic, 650 miles due east of Cape Hatteras, N.C., visitors can jet nonstop to Bermuda in less than two hours from several U.S. gateway cities. Less time spent travelling means more time to dive and enjoy the countless charms of this British Crown Colony. Comprised of about 180 islands, with the seven largest connected by quaint bridges and a causeway, Bermuda's location in the Gulf Stream produces a balmy subtropical climate that cools down slightly during the winter months.

The warm air and moderate rainfall create lush greenery, freshly coiffed at all times. Bermuda's rocky limestone hills are dotted with picturesque homes made of local stone, painted in bright pastel hues. The buildings are topped off with whitewashed, layered slate roofs, designed to direct falling rainwater into cisterns. Cast your gaze in any direction to view postcard vistas, including the turquoisehued sea that stretches to the horizon.

Exploring these relics can be fascinating, exhilarating and even eerie as you gaze up toward the surface. See the sun's rays penetrating through the wide variety of soft and hard corals that hang from the ribs, bulkheads and engines of the wrecks, much like cobwebs enveloping a haunted house. Since the wrecks lie in relatively shallow water (45-50 feet on average), Bermuda is one of the most accessible wreck diving locations in the world. Best of all, there's no special advanced certification required to enjoy Bermuda underwater, although this is a perfect place to obtain your PADI Wreck Specialty certification.

While the historic shipwrecks are truly the highlight of any Bermuda dive experience, the Island also boasts a diverse reef system complete with tunnels, swim-throughs, coral gardens and more than 650 species of colourful marine life.

Details

Information: Global House, 43 Church St.Hamilton, HM 12
Phone: 1-800-BERMUDA
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.gotobermuda.com