ACTIVITIES GUIDE

from Visit Bermuda Hamilton Princess 2023/24

by North South Net, Inc.

Bermuda, amazing Italian...

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THE INDISPENSABLE ACTIVITIES GUIDE PUBLICATION IS AVAILABLE DIGITALLY AT WWW.VISITBERMUDANOW.COM.

With Bermuda’s temperate climate, there are year-round ocean-going offerings that will certainly delight just as much as a mid-summer’s sunny day. In March and April, humpback whales pass through the Sargasso Sea as they migrate north. During their passage, they often spend time playing along Bermuda’s south shore — oftentimes less than a mile offshore — so it is well worth a trip out to catch an aweinspiring glimpse of them. On a smaller scaler and a little closer to shore, though no less mesmerising, the sight of glow worms, which can be spotted dancing just under the surface of the water a couple of days after the full moon, can add a little sparkle to an evening cruise.

Bermuda’s waters are also teeming with marine life and game fish from wahoo to amberjack and tuna (both blackfin and yellowfin and, if you’re lucky, a rare giant bluefin) to blue and white marlin. Fishing charters are available year-round for half-day, three-quarter-day, or full-day trips; and no matter what your experience level, you’ll have no trouble getting hooked up with the wealth of knowledge from Bermuda’s fishing captains.

Those wishing to explore Bermuda’s bays and beaches on their own can head out in a rented boat, and most watersport outlets have a variety of vessels, whether you’re heading out with a larger gathering on a 23-foot pontoonstyle boat or you’re looking to dip in and out of some of Bermuda’s hidden coves and beaches on a 13- to 16-foot Boston Whaler.

Adrenaline Rush

For those who prefer to get their blood pumping, take a ride on the wild side on a banana boat adventure or zip around on a Jet Ski tour. Visitors can also use Bermuda’s prevailing winds to their advantage and speed along on adrenaline-fueled board sports, including wind foiling and windsurfing. You can also take a spin high above the Great Sound on a parasail, where you’ll catch panoramic views of the island and spy reefs, pink beaches, forts, and the colourful buildings that make the island of Bermuda so unique. Or maybe you want to take part in one of Bermudians’ favourite pastimes: cliff jumping.

To kick it up a notch and get a little more physical whilst enjoying the water, there’s no better way to explore the harbours, coves, and inlets than by kayak or paddleboard. Kayaks with glass bottoms can also be rented to really get a glimpse of the undersea life.

The Wonders Of The Deep

If you prefer to get up close and personal with the underwater environment that surrounds the island, whether snorkelling or with a certified PADI diver, you can explore from closer to shore or go a little deeper by heading out on a charter boat. Several beaches across the island provide concession stands where you can rent snorkels, and you won’t have to swim too far before you are surrounded by yellow and black–striped sergeant majors, multicoloured neon parrotfish, and angelfish; and, if you’re lucky, you might even spy a sea turtle munching on seagrass or an octopus hiding out amongst the swaying purple sea fans. There are plenty of other wonders to delight in, including a profusion of vibrant corals. Take a tour out to one of Bermuda’s most epic coral reefs, North Rock, on the most northern edge of Bermuda’s reef platform 10 miles off the shoreline. There, you’ll get the chance to see some of the Bermuda water’s grander fish species and ancient undersea formations with the tops of the reef just a few feet below the water. Outside of natural undersea wonders, Bermuda is considered the “wreck capital of the Atlantic,” laying claim to more than 300 shipwrecks that have succumbed to the island’s treacherous reefs that ring much of the island. There are about 40 of these iconic sunken ships, some dating back to the 1600s, that are worth exploring on a dive, including the Hermes, the Mary Celeste, the Cristóbal Colón, and the HMS Vixen