Dive Travel TV GTC by Denny Willis

DIVE TRAVEL 2010

the magazine

TV.com

It’s not just for Diver’s!

night dive off the coast of Green Turtle Cay in the Bahamas

GREEN TURTLE CAY

Tina explores a small Island in the Abaco’s, but make no mistake Fun, Adventure, and New Experiences are far from small on this gem from the Bahamas. Tina’s dive log, as well as her travel diary, get some amazing entries.

Brendal Stevens of Brendals Dive Center was our “master of ceremony” for Tina and our crew. His wife Mary and crew Jack and Tasha were the best.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Destination

Go Diving

Out & About

Our Host

Nightlife

Lodging

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The Green Turtle Cay episode had the assistance of Theresa Lynn Corvino Loucks as field producer/writer. She was a great asset to the production and was also responsible for most of the production photos as well as the cover photo of this issue. I also want to thank her husband Peter for allowing me to take her away during their move to a new city. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Great Job, Theresa!â&#x20AC;?

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DESTINATION

Green Turtle Cay, Abaco One of the Abaco Islands, Green Turtle Cay is an island in the Bahamas. Known by many for its several marinas which serve the boating community as a safe harbor and supply stop while passing through and traveling in and around the other islands. www.bahamas.com

Traveling to the Bahamas you will find diversity to suit anyone’s style of travel from luxury resorts to the remote beachside experience simply due to the number of islands. In past episodes “the Guys” went on a guy get-a-way weekend to dive with UNEXSO on Grand Bahama Island but this trip would be very different. This episode of Dive Travel TV would take us to Green Turtle Cay, a small island – one of the Abaco Islands within the Bahamas with Tina as our host.

If you like to walk, there really is no need for transportation but if you want to save your energy for the dives or sunbathing, you can rent golf carts or bicycles to get around. Everything you need can be found on the island, but it might be in small doses. For instance, we had a great night of food, drinks and entertainment listening to the Gully Roosters, one of the top bands in the Bahamas. Another night, Tina adds a dollar to the wall at the Dollar Bar located in the Green Turtle Club. If you’re looking for nightclubs, you won’t find it here. The town of New Plymouth offers shops, museums and dining options, but you won’t find shopping malls or modern chain stores and duty free jewelry. That’s not to say you won’t find it on another Bahamas Island – just not here - in the tucked away, quaint, little, laid back island of Green Turtle Cay.

The crew took off on an early morning flight from Newark to Miami with a connecting flight to Abaco. From there it’s a short ferry ride to Green Turtle Cay; she is all of 3 miles long and about 2 miles wide. The north end of the island is where you’ll find the 2 hotels: the Green Turtle Club and Marina, where our crew stayed and the Bluff House. If you prefer guest What you will find, just as we did, is a houses, you have several choices breath of fresh air, inviting white sand around the island. beaches, emerald green water, cold island beverages and the freshest The island offers activities to keep you seafood one could ask for. You’ll find busy such as fishing trips, kayaking, people who don’t care so much about sailing and diving the reef or special the unimportant things as much as opportunities such as diving with catching their lobster for dinner and dolphins or stingrays. Diving with spending time talking to their Brendal – Brendals Dive Center- was neighbors. We spent time on the water probably the highlight of the trip. Even and under the water. We were up close the non-divers in the crew were part of and personal – sometimes a little too the excitement as we caught our own personal- with green turtles, stingrays lobster and conch and Brendal and his and sharks, Caribbean and Bull crew served it up for us all during a sharks. We strolled around town as picnic on the beach. While the food though time wasn’t a factor enjoying was being prepared Tina had an homemade ice cream, taking in the amazing time getting acquainted with flavor of a town from a time gone by. the local stingrays. Did you know their New Plymouth was settled by those bodies are silky smooth and they glide fleeing the states and to this day has over your hand as they take food from the charm of a colonial New England your fingers – or toes? Our non-divers town. Talking to the islanders, you’ll did their share of snorkeling and, find there are still descendants of the although the divers aren’t quite sure original settlers living here, keeping why, they enjoyed their time as much their history alive. as the divers. The reef was shallow so we were all together.

Green Turtle Cay is also a popular island with the boating community; marinas offer safe harbor and supplies to both power and sailing vessels whether you are looking for a destination, or a stop on your way through the islands. Dive Travel TV is not just for Divers! so for those of you that don’t wish to get wet, diving or snorkeling, Tina checks out the other activities available. Although she didn’t go fishing, there are several fishing charters and boating options available. We did go sailing and she experienced sea kayaking with a lesson. With the number of beaches, there is always room to settle in with a good book, build castles or work on that well

deserved tan. If it’s total seclusion you’re looking for, there are beaches tucked away with little to no people at all.

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Green Turtle Cay isn’t the place for fast pace fun and dance-the-nightaway nightclubs. But when you are looking to catch up on your reading list, get up close and personal to the underwater world without the schedules of the big dive boats or spend a few days without making life changing decisions, Green Turtle Cay should be on your short list to visit. And, when you’re on the island, be sure to leave a dollar on the wall showing your hometown when you visit the Dollar Bar. Since time isn’t a factor, Tina recommends the Tipsy Turtle. Enjoy your adventure! To see Tina and share her experience watch Dive Travel TV on Untamed Sports. Eleanore Willis - Writer / Producer Dive Travel TV

That’s my Lobster!

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GO DIVING

Diving off GreenTurtle Cay Just like the island itself, diving off Green Turtle Cay is laid back and relaxed. The water is warm and calm with minimal current. The reef structure is relatively shallow making it a great dive destination for the novice diver. At the same time, just beyond the reef lie a few sunken wrecks and there are coral overhangs offering challenging swim-throughs the advanced diver can enjoy. This is not a destination for deep or true overhead technical diving. But Green Turtle Cay isn’t the place to exert all that energy anyway. Dive in, relax and enjoy the abundance of marine life. From Green turtles to Moray eels, from huge grouper to stingrays to dolphins to sharks and all the smaller fish and coral.The water surrounding the island is worth visiting.

The water surrounding Green Turtle Cay is abundant with marine life. The reef is shallow, perfect for novice divers. During our dives we saw Caribbean and Bull sharks as well as Green turtles, stingrays. Water temp was in the 80s and visibility about 60‘

Brendal’s Dive Center Since 1985 Brendal has been servicing the divers’ needs for training, rentals and, of course, guiding dives. Ask about the adventure dives and non-diving family friendly activities such as picnic beach lunches, glass bottom boats, fishing trips, kayaking and sailing excursions. www.brendal.com

New Plymouth Following the American Revolution in 1784, a group of people who wished to remain loyal to the British crown fled New England and settled on Green Turtle Cay establishing what has since been called New Plymouth. Farming the soil was not possible so fishing and ship building were common trades as well as salvaging the abundance of wrecks. During the Civil War, she became a port of safe haven for the Confederate blockade runners and again for the rum runners during prohibition. To this day she remains a port of safe haven for all boaters traveling the waters surrounding the island. The history of the Loyalists refugees, pirates and wreckers on the island has been documented and is on display at the Loweâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Museum. Add this to your list of stops to make while visiting.

and visitors will find walking a pleasure as the local residents are friendly and welcoming. Many a friendship has developed between locals and visitors, bringing visitors back again and again to Green Turtle Cay.

OUT & ABOUT

The New England architecture remains today with clapboard homes and gingerbread trim. The narrow streets are still the main thoroughfare

Visit New Plymouth Activities might include kayaking or sailing,but you can go deep sea fishing, stroll through the shops in town or visit the museums. Tour the island on bicycle or golf carts and stop for ice cream. This is the perfect place to relax and leave your troubles at home.

OUR HOST

Tina’s Travel & Dive Log 1st time additions to Tina’s list;

TINA DELCANE

NIGHTLIFE

Gully and the Roosters The Gully Roosters band is a national favorite. The Dive Travel crew was fortunate to hear them entertain the crowd with their reggae and calypso style music well into the evening.

LODGING

Green Turtle Club Situated on the tiny island of Green Turtle Cay, this resort offers an assortment of room arrangements,a private beach, restaurant,the Dollar Bar, pool and full service marina. www.greenturtleclub.com