Barbados Deep Beneath the Sea

Barbados has so much to offer with all its beauty and splendor but there is also an amazing tropical sea life deep beneath the waters to discover. Sure no problem if deep sea is your hobby, if you are trained and qualified as well as equipped to go deep sea diving but this is not an option for a majority of the Barbados visitors. However these visitors don’t need to miss out on this fascinating deep sea tropical life if you take an Atlantis Submarine tour.

The Atlantis submarine and these tours have been specifically designed to take visitors who cannot dive deep down beneath the surface waters and see this amazing tropical fish life for themselves. You will take a small scenic boat ride of approximately 10 mins to the dive site at Freshwater Bay also known as Clarke’s Reef on the West Coast of Barbados where you arrive and watch the 65 foot submarine rise slowly out of the water for you to board. First you see its antennae emerge, then a circular cone and then finally the tubular white steel hull. You need to climb down a 10 step ladder and then you are aboard the submarine. Once all the passengers are aboard, the submarine slowly emerges into the water and sinks down to about 100 to 150 feet stopping by the coral reef which stretches for about two miles and stands about 60 feet high, before heading deeper towards the bottom of the ocean where you will find an old shipwreck.

The submarine provides a comfortable spacious air conditioned cabin and holds 24 passengers with seats on each side for you to sit on opposite large circular viewing holes so that you can see first hand the amazing colours and tropical sea life around including visiting and getting up close to the old shipwreck. The inside of the submarine cabin is kept at sea level pressure for your comfort and at the front of the submarine there is a large 52 inch porthole to provide more viewing opportunities. You will see the pilot here surrounded by all of his controls and he moves the submarine along at a very slow speed (1.5 knots) so that you can slowly cruise by the under water marine life. You will find that the curious exotic fish can peep at through the port holes of the submarine and the 40 minute expedition is narrated by a knowledgeable co-pilot who will talk you through your under water journey and explain about what you are seeing.

Then the submarine will rise and your boat will be waiting for you to ferry you back to the shore. You will want to ensure you have brought your camera with you and you will be advised not to use your flash as taking pictures through the port holes will come out black but not using the flash you will be able to get some good pictures although the better your camera is will probably make a difference. You are OK to use flash inside to get clear pictures of you aboard a submarine. Each port hole has a picture card so you can try and identify what dazzling fishes you have seen. You are likely to see a range of fish such as butterfly fish, silversides, parrot fish as well as possibly a baracuda and a sea turtle. The sea fans give you an amazing sight of colourful shaped sponge like life swaying in the waters and are just truly amazing. As the submarine goes deeper to the shipwreck, this amazing coral life and tropical fishes and left behind and you are able to see the bottom of the sea bed.

This is a marvellous easy, safe and comfortable way to explore the amazing marine life deep beneath sea without being a qualified deep sea diver. These tours are award winning and come highly recommended as a fantastic water experience, something not to be missed.