As with all fun activities
such as scuba diving, parasailing or jet skiing, horseback
riding, and bell diving, Bermuda insurance requires a waiver to be signed. Payment can be by traveler's checks,
Visa/Master Card, American Express, US check, and even cash. Undersea Digital photos CD are available. Check-in time is 20-30 minutes before departure.
Snack items are available on the boat at reasonable
prices. Our 2009 prices are $80 for adults and $55 for those 12 and under. Contact us for charter rates at (441) 234-2861. Complementary fruit drink flows freely.
Hot chocolate and full length wetsuits are provided when the water is below 80°f. Hartley's 2009 departure point is 95% of the time from Dockyard. Direct trips are from the north side of the north arm (Kings Wharf) of the north basin of Dockyard. After you walk past the big concrete pillars holding up big metal gates you will see a moongate on your right. Go through the moongate and there will be steps right infront of you leading down to a dock. The new cruise ship dock, Heritage Wharf, will be on your right and the high walls encircling the tip of Dockyard will be on your left. Look for our whit 40ft boat, Rainbow Runner, which has diving helmets on the back. The upper photo is taken from the top of the fortifications of Dockyard looking south. The Norwegian Spirit is to the right and the Grandeur of the Seas is to the left at the original dock, Kings Wharf. Our boat is in the foreground with the moongate(Circle of stone which looks like a 'Stargate') just above the front of the boat. |
This is a photo of a map of Dockyard which shows the new berth called Heritage Wharf. We used to leave from where it says 'Bus stops here' in the water right nest to the ferry. The Moongate is on the upper end of thefatter shorter of the two strips of green which lead out to the portion of the dock the ships actually use. We may use the portion of the dock closer to the ship for Shore Excursion Tours and then further away, around the corner of the dock edge for direct trips in the afternoon, as shown in the photo.
Click here to see a satellite view of Dockyard |
This is a photo of an old arial view of Dockyard. All the boats and those floating docks have been moved. They have built an extention onto the pier to accommodate another ship. Our departure departure point is at the bottom left of the photo below the black and white line of rocks where the turquoise water is, (now filled with concrete).
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During the 20-minute ride to the reef I explain how the diving helmet works, what the dive will be like, and
what sea creatures you will be seeing. At the reef we pick up our mooring ropes (anchors damage the reef), and
position the boat bow into the wind for comfort. Divers rarely get seasick because our reef is inside the
barrier of reefs around Bermuda which prevents ocean swells and big waves from reaching us. Bermuda is on the top of an extinct volcano. The southerly currents made the coral grow on the southern side faster, so that is why there is land there. The western and northern edge of the crater comes within a few feet of the surface and is totally covered with reefs. The inside of the crater is called the platform and is about 30 to 40 feet deep. It is dotted with reefs called flats. The flats are ringed with reefs and have an area in the middle which is about eight to ten feet deep and is dotted with reefs. The reef we use is called Half Way Flat because it is half way from the shore to the outer reef's edge. Our spot is nestled in an indentation on the northern side. This means we can handle strong winds any where form the west through the south to the east. We are very sensitive to wind out of the north as we have no protection from the reefs. Click here to see an ariel view of our dive site.Zoom out and in to get your perspective. Then hit back to return. This links to an extremely addictive fun site that will have you playing for hours exploring the globe, instead of researching your trip to Bermuda. Our site is in the center of the photo. We walk in the white crescent just below the G of Google and the boat sits Between the 5 of 2005 and the G of Google. |
The 25-minute dives are arranged in groups of six or seven. Amazingly in 2005 we had only three trips with 5 dives and three with only one. The number of trips with two dives was equal to the number of trips we had four dives. Three dives occured the most often-a perfect bell curve.
We have a glass bottom, fish books, games, sunbathing deck or conversation to keep you busy while
waiting for the other dives. Or you can Zen out and do nothing but de-stress and watch the white puffy clouds
and turquoise water. We have two ounce bags of cookies for 75 cents to keep young and/or hungry mouths busy. Hot chocolate and black currant juice are self serve items. The first couple walks down the ladder till the water reaches their shoulders (the first
three rungs of the ladder are flat and very wide for tender feet). After the helmet, which is heavy only on
land, is gently placed on your shoulders, you walk to the bottom. For most people it is only about four rungs to the sea bed.
Click here to see tide, sunrise/sunset timetable.
At spring low tide the ladder would hit the bottom at high tide there can be up to a three foot hop, which is done very easily underwater- especially with my assistance.
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Swallowing, yawning or just wiggling your jaw up and down will allow the increasing pressure to get to the other side of your ear drums. If you have had a cold recently then you may have to reach inside your helmet (no, water will not come in), hold your nose, close your mouth and blow gently. Each time you exhale you will hear the air bubbling out. When you breathe in, it is quieter and you can hear the air as it comes out of the hose attached to your helmet.As you walk down the ladder you will notice that your hands look bigger and closer than they really are. When looking from air to water, through a flat window, everything is magnified by about one third. The same goes for looking at an aquarium. As you descend you will see the bottom of the bost and the propelor. Snappers usually hang out in formation pointing into the current. | |
Once on the bottom all divers hold a seven-foot long PVC pipe, which keeps us in a close group
and allows everybody to see the show. I get each pair of divers to kneel on the sandy bottom and hang on to the grab-bar, once they have assured me their ears are OK.Then we identify some of the fish with the message stick while the dust moves away. Then we take the digital photos. Then we stand up and walk with knees bent to the first kneeling down spot right up close to the reef. I pass samples of living creatures that either live on the bottom or have been broken off by storms. We demonstrate the filtering action of the sponges and let you see corals respond to the human touch. Most of the interesting details of the dive should be for you to discover
for yourself. Some divers are quite inspired by their dive It is a fantastic adventure you should not miss. Your walk undersea will be the highlight of
your trip or cruise to Bermuda.
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| Teenager Impressed When I first heard of this I thought it would be dull and corney. Then when I got on the boat and got a big talk on it, then I thought it would last 20 seconds and be over. I never knew I would have such a good time. It was great, and I would do it again if I had the time. Age 13 Chris Ackad 13516Travilah Rd. North Potomac. MD viper37844@aol,com 20878 |
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