Diving the Awe-Inspiring South-Eleuthera Wall with Cotton Bay Diving

Good News... from November 2006 Cotton Bay Diving is open to guests of the new resort Cotton Bay as well as the public.

That's big news because a renowned diving company is now offering diving, snorkeling and fishing excursions in South Eleuthera which is a very quiet place.

Take a look at the map below and then we'll chat with the owner and highly experienced diver Dr. Andy Leggett of Harbour Island, north of Eleuthera.

Interview with dive master Dr. Andy of Ocean Fox

What makes South Eleuthera such an interesting diving destination?

Dr. Andy: The south end of Eleuthera boasts a 2000 ft wall that in places starts at 45 ft. This makes it easily accessible for recreational divers, who tend to seek out wall-diving destinations because of the diversity and volume of marine life that can be found on walls.

Here is what an enthusiastic diver wrote: *Divers must go south to South Eleuthera and dive the Great Exuma wall. Words cannot describe this 6000 ft. deep masterpiece. When you float over the top, and it's just you and the wall, no other divers. You will understand how it feels to be in outer space!*

The South Eleuthera wall is an underwater photographer's dream. If you have an underwater camera, be sure to bring it. We offer instruction in taking photographs with digital underwater camera systems, so consider booking a session with Cedar, our photo-pro.

Interviewer: Where exactly is the famous South Eleuthera dive wall and what makes it so special that Cotton Bay Diving was created?

Dr. Andy: The wall runs somewhat parallel with the south-western coast of Eleuthera - the line between dark-blue and light-blue in the lower part of the satellite photo above - which extends from Cape Eleuthera - on the left side - to Lighthouse Point - on the right side - of South Eleuthera. A great place for Cotton Bay Diving!

The wall is 'special' because it is flourishing, in contrast to so many reefs that are showing extreme signs of environmental damage.

The wall is also special because it harbors so many ancient corals and sponges in beautiful formations. And last but not least, the wall is special because it is a 'new' dive destination for most divers. That's what makes Cotton Bay Diving particularly attractive.

I have met many people who have dived the wall, mostly back in the '70's. For the majority of dive vacationers, however, it will be a new destination.

Interviewer: What are the particularities of Cotton Bay Diving with your company Ocean Fox and what are you intending to achieve in South Eleuthera?

Dr. Andy: We have built our reputation on providing safe, unhurried, uncrowded diving experiences. This started less as a conscious effort. It's rather the result of Ocean Fox running dives trips the way we, as divers, like to dive.

I have dived with 'cattle boat' operations, and I would not choose to do so again. I have dived with operators whose equipment was prone to malfunction, and I have dived with guides whose sole intent appeared to be to swim us around the reef in as short a time as possible.

None of these have been experiences I would want to repeat. So I certainly would not want to impose such experiences on Cotton Bay Diving guests.

With our new Cotton Bay Diving Shop in South Eleuthera we intend to operate the same way as we do in Harbour Island, namely to provide the best diving experiences we can to our guests.

Interviewer: Can anyone book a diving, snorkeling or fishing trip with your company Ocean Fox Cotton Bay or is it restricted to Cotton Bay Diving guests of the new Estates & Villas resort?

Dr. Andy: The management at the new resort have bent over backwards to help us make the idea of Cotton Bay Diving at Davis Harbour a reality.

Therefore our primary focus is on Cotton Bay guests. They will always have priority. However, we are permitted to take guests from anywhere out diving, fishing, or snorkeling.

Interviewer: You have just purchased a boat for Cotton Bay Diving. Please tell me a little about that boat.

Dr. Andy: Jef Fox, who started Ocean Fox, has been running dive boats out of Harbour Island for more than 25 years. He has a wealth of knowledge about which boats are suited to the waters around Eleuthera.

The boat we have purchased for Cotton Bay Diving excursions is the same hull as the boat we have on Harbour Island, a 34 foot Crusader. This hull has proven to be a very stable dive platform, and an extremely competent and safe boat in rough waters.

We found our new boat in South Carolina where she had been run as a charter fishing boat. Whilst mechanically sound, she was cosmetically in bad shape. Therefore we left her in the hands of our friends, and master boat renovators, 'Toad' and Lisa Lurcott of Indian Habour Beach, FL. These people have - true to form - worked their magic.

As an interesting aside, the day after Toad and I delivered the boat to Harbour Island, a visiting fisherman stopped to admire it. He commented on how the boat resembled a Crusader he had delivered from the factory to a friend. Big surprise... The boat he talked about was the same one he was standing beside! He said to Toad that she looked better now than she had been looking when she was first launched in 1989...

Interviewer: A fascinating coincidence in deed! Now, tell me Andy, what renovation has old Davis Harbour - second photo above - undergone to accommodate your new Cotton Bay Diving operation?

Dr. Andy: Whilst Davis Harbour has undergone some renovations unrelated to us, such as the dredging of the channel, the marina has totally renovated one of the dockside buildings for Cotton Bay Diving to operate from. It is going to be a pleasure to run our new business from Davis Harbour.

Interviewer: Thanks Andy. I wish you all the best with Ocean Fox in South Eleuthera, an area that is just now being rediscovered as an unspoiled tourist paradise.

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