RED LIONFISH-Pterois volitans (Linnaeus)

Common names: Lionfish, lion fish, zebrafish, firefish, turkeyfish, red lionfish, butterfly cod, ornate butterfly-cod, peacock lionfish, red firefish, scorpion volitans

Since 2002 the Red Lionfish have been invading Bahamian waters. To date the amount and extent of the existence of this species is still not exactly known. Department of Fisheries has now allowed the capture and elimination of this species.

The Red lionfish is indigenous to the waters of the Pacific. It is still not quite known how this species came to be in our waters. Avid photographers enjoy capturing these creatures in shots as well as video. It is understandable as they are beautiful to look at. Some locals have taken to capturing them for home fish tanks and the like. I, on the other hand find them quite tasty. My wife and I joined a how to prepare lionfish seminar held over here at the Bahamas National Trust and found them to be delicious. The meat is a white filet and cooks like grouper. Look for later articles and videos on how to prepare this delicacy.

So have locals taken it to far to add them to the dinner menu. I my opinion, its not far enough. The lionfish enjoys no threat of natural prey in our waters and are attacking the juveniles of many of our local treasures. Numbers of groupers, parrot fish, and many more have been on a vast decline for the greater part of this decade. The lionfish are attacking unabated leaving us with no choice but to take action. Smudder lionfish, deep fried lionfish, and lionfish ceviche, are among some of the best ideas I have so far. Eat up!

During our open water session, students learn useful water habits and skills before embarking on the PADI Open Water Diver Course.  During our very first session we had students that were excited about the adventure but did not have solid swimming or water treading techniques.  Our sessions take a novice from the utter basics in water safety rules such as no eating immediately prior to entering the water to the course completion.

Having the best foundation early on creates a good starting point on which to build.  By having good skills, divers enjoy their dives a lot more and do not waste valuable dive time with a litany of issues that come with poor skills.  Have you ever been on a dive tour and seen a whole group of divers held up trying to help one individual who got into the water, then panicked from a torn fin strap?  Obviously, experienced divers should have patience with these types of novice divers, but think of how smoothly the dive could have been if that diver who held up the group had good water skills and dive habits.   Had the panicked diver taken the time to check their gear before this trip and in addition had been comfortable enough in the water to not panic if their fin strap did tear and just could quickly swap fins out, the whole incident could have been avoided.  Hence, preparation is a very important dive skill to have.   All these basics are what students learn during this entry level session.

What awaits our return students?   Deeper dives.  They can go on to do more advanced dives as they work on their advanced certification.  Also, a favorite is the underwater clean up and fish/reef surveys that the advanced divers are allowed to participate in.

Parents and divers that have been inactive should consider getting into a dive club in their local area, such as this one.  It is a good way to keep skills fresh.  Dive clubs also allow for a close interaction with others.   They also promote friendships around a great hobby.  Let’s get wet!

Visit The Bahamas’ most pristine marine sanctuary. This reef system is home to some of the most exotic varieties of sea life. Brittle stars, sea urchins, lobsters, sea stars, parrot fish, snappers, and seageant majors abundantly inhabit theses reefs. Depth here ranges from about 10-20ft. Beginner divers, snorkelers, and certified reef enthusiasts are welcome.

The Shipyard, this fabulous dive bottoms out at about 95 feet of sea water. This site features 3 inter-island freighters built in the Far East then imported into The Bahamas about 30 years ago; all sunk within just a few years of each other. One, “The Anellis”, was lost during the great a great storm after striking the reef off of Cabbage Beach. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured during the accident, and minimal damage was done to the reef. The steel hull of this wreck is about 200 feet long and came to rest at a perfect diving depth. The other tow were confiscated by the Royal Bahamian Defense Force for smuggling and intentionally sunk as an artificial reef.

Bahamas scuba diving can be one of the most exhilarating experiences for anyone in love with this sport. This place is full of very beautiful reefs and great resorts. Different islands have different diving possibilities. Since this destination is easily accessible from Florida, it becomes all the more easily to get there on weekend trips. You get to see dramatic seascape and huge fishes. The weather, while warm in summer can be very cool in winter and lead to colder waters.

Wherever you may go for scuba diving, you must keep a few things in mind. There are some basic safety rules to have a safe and fun filled dive, and ensure you have a fun filled holiday without any untoward incident. First, always take lessons from a qualified teacher. Since Bahamas scuba diving can be a dangerous sport and in an unknown place can even be deadly, you must use a guide in your first few sojourns into the water. A great way to do that is to go to a certification agency that is experienced in providing lessons. You can check out the trustworthy ones on web. Another important point is to get a thorough medical check up from your doctor. In addition, it is imperative that you know at least the basics of swimming before attempting to dive.

Even if you know how to swim, you should not try to go for dangerous environments. Often it is seen that first time scuba divers get excited and try to look for spots that are remote and unexplored. However, unless you are qualified to go for extreme scuba diving, avoid the temptation to look for caves or shipwrecked sites. These may sound utterly romantic or thrilling, but may lead to life threatening cases. You may easily get lost in the new area or run out of air. A good rule of the thumb is to have a partner along while trying this sport.

Also, remember to check all your equipment before making the dive. Bahamas can be especially dangerous because of the sudden winds and rains there. So, before going for Bahamas scuba diving, find out the local weather conditions. You should be aware of the conditions of water as well as weather as heavy rains or lightening can make matters worse. Also, drink enough water and wear a waterproof sunscreen. Wear good quality sunglasses and always follow the instructions of the person who is leading you.

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by D. Karlson

Divers the world over make their way to the beautiful Bahamas to see this awesome site. This spectacular adventure is only a 40 minute boat ride away from our docks. After short briefing, get geared up and you are then ready to hit the water. Schools of barracudas, a few nurse sharks, and reef sharks await you below. The hole itself starts in 35ft of water-its diameter measures 150ft, you can look into this marvel of nature and see that it plunges into the depths.