Scuba diving holidays in Long Island, Bahamas

The beautiful Bahamas archipelago comprises over 700 islands and 2000 cays, surrounded by crystal clear waters which are renowned for their world-class diving opportunities. From deep caverns and vibrant coral reefs to historic shipwrecks and spectacular blue holes, there is a dive site to suit every level, whether you're a beginner or a professional.

Long Island is one of the most beautiful islands in the Bahamas and one of the most popular for scuba diving because it offers an excellent range of dive sites – from a wide choice of shallow reefs which are ideal for novices, to deep reefs, underwater caverns, wrecks and lagoons. Some of the best dive sites in long Island include the 30ft Shark Reef, where you can enjoy one of the best natural reef shark encounters in the world, as well as Grouper Valley, which is renowned for its beautiful coral formations and schools of groupers and pelagic fish, and Barracuda Heads reef which hosts a great number of barracuda, the rare black coral and a plethora of other marine life. You will also find several sunken wrecks around the island, such as the MV Comberbach, a 110-foot British steel freighter sunk in 1986 to form an artificial reef off Cape Santa Maria. It lies upright in 100 foot of water and hosts schools of tropical fish and other interesting marine life, as well as beautiful corals and sponges. Nearby lies the wreck of a sailboat so both sites can easily be visited on the same day.

All these dive sites in Long Island are certainly worth visiting, but the biggest attraction has to be the impressive Dean's Blue Hole. Plunging 202 meters (660 feet) to the ocean floor, this is the deepest recorded blue hole (sinkhole) in the world with an entrance below the sea level. The calm blue-green waters, which look stunning from the air, are populated by an array of marine life, including snapper, jacks, tarpon and tropical fish, as well as rays, turtles, seahorses and other beautiful sea creatures. Walls drop vertically all around the hole, and tunnels and caves can also be explored here. This majestic underwater world is truly breathtaking.

Not only is the beautiful Long Island a fantastic scuba dive destination in its own right, but it is also an ideal departure point for trips to popular dive sites such as the remote Rum Cay, where you will find pristine reefs and large drop-offs, and the uninhabited Conception Island, where there are some fantastic walls which drop vertically to more than 6,000 feet. Conception Island is a National park and an important sanctuary for migratory birds, nesting sea birds and endangered green turtles so you will see plenty of wildlife, both above and below the water. Whichever site you explore, a scuba diving holiday in Long Island will be an unforgettable experience.