Divers who wish to explore Bermuda's sunken shipwrecks must present their C-Card prior to participating in any dive. Advanced certification and/or wreck specialty certification are not necessary. Depending on skill level, however, certain wrecks might not be accessible. All boats that run diving trips are required by the Bermuda government to pass a safety inspection each year.
In addition to housing hundreds of sunken ships, the Bermuda waters are also a popular diving spot for the wide range of possible visibility. Approximate visibility estimates reach up to 80 feet in the southern and eastern reefs, where the reef line is closer to shore, and up to 100 feet in the northern and western reefs. Water temperatures are the warmest in July, when they can get up to the mid-80s Fahrenheit. Winter water temperatures can get as cold as the mid-60s.
The Shipwreck Certificate Program, started and operated by the Bermuda Ministry of Tourism, provides divers with added incentive to visit several chosen wrecks. To earn a certificate, divers must visit any of the 18 remaining wrecks with a Bermuda diver operator, who can confirm that the dive has been successfully completed. Divers are presented with a certificate after each participating dive that they complete successfully; the certificate names and describes the wreck. Shipwrecks included in the Shipwreck Certificate Program include the Blanche King, the Taunton, the North Carolina, and the Ritz Zovetta, in addition to 14 others.
With approximately 400 different wrecks to explore, Bermuda's waters are a wreck-diver's dream destination. Wrecks date as far back as the 15th century, and carry with them an impressive history. The Blanche King, an American schooner launched in 1887, was traveling to Bermuda from Virginia when she sank in 1920 after hitting the coral reef. The Blanche King now sits 35 feet below the ocean surface.
The Hermes sank after experiencing engine trouble whilst on the way to the Cape Verde Islands. After discovering that engine repairs would cost more than the ship's worth, the crew of the Hermes abandoned her. Today, the Hermes is fully intact and sits under 80 feet of water in an upright position, with her mast pointing toward the ocean's surface. The variety of wrecks available to be explored extends far beyond that between these the Blanche King and the Hermes, although these two offer a beginning insight into the versatility of dives available in the waters around Bermuda.
Not surprisingly, there are a number of different companies that arrange for dives throughout the season, which runs from mid-March through to November. The M.Y. Bermuda IV Live-Aboard is a privately chartered diving yacht that can accommodate up to six guests. Guests live aboard the boat for five days, and are able to participate in PADI certified courses and up to five wreck dives per day. Blue Water Divers and Watersports is Bermuda's longest-running scuba diving operation. Certification courses are available, and approximately 22 wreck dives are offered through the company. Most diving organizations are able to provide full diving equipment for all dives, courses and certification programs.
