If you have ever traveled overseas then you’re probably familiar with filling out the customs declaration form, ticking yes or no to whether you have brought any agricultural items with you. Why do Governments care about this? Even if the items seem harmless, there could be threats that are detrimental to […]
5 of the Most Invasive Marine Species Read More »
Sure, there are plenty of fictional monsters known to provide a scare or two come Halloween, but they don’t hold a candle to some of the terrifying creatures found in the sea! Do you think a vampire is scary? Wait until you see a vampire squid! The following are five facts […]
Scary Facts About Vampire Squid Read More »
If you take a look back in time, odds are you’ll come across some strange mating rituals. We’d even venture to say that some of our modern mating rituals are a bit odd. However, they pale in comparison to the downright bizarre mating rituals of some of the couples inhabiting […]
Bizarre Marine Life Mating Rituals Read More »
You’re awestruck. Your team dives 20 feet into the ravine, through a cragged arch nearly 10 feet high, and you’re in another world.
On deck the divemaster called this site “Madison Avenue.” Now you understand why. You’re swimming down a rocky thoroughfare evoking those wide, glamorous Manhattan streets. Sandy chutes intersect the corals and run into the distance like alleyways to neighborhoods beyond.
It’s an almost picture-perfect match for New York City, and then you remember this natural wonder — not its landlocked cousin — has existed for hundreds of years, maybe more. You ponder who’s actually copying whom.
The similarities don’t end with the architecture. The reef is a melting pot of sea life. Creatures crisscross the ravine, making the daily commute. A mellow blacktip reef shark glides by. Some yellow- and blue-striped grunt school beneath jutting sea shelves.
A lone, massive crab catches your eye. It scuttles across the nearest rock ledge, appearing to drink in the ocean vista. You aren’t the only tourist on Madison Avenue today.
Your team exits the ravine and comes to rest beside some sun-soaked pillar coral. But you have one more stop on the Avenue: a narrow sea cave, its mouth 35 feet below on the ocean floor.
Your pulse quickens as you descend to the cavern — you’re almost prone now, your fins kicking up little eddies from the ground. The cave’s too tight to enter, but it’s wide enough to stick your head and dive light inside. It’s like peering into a New York City storefront: fish glimmering in your headlamp’s beam, a veritable smorgasbord of the Caribbean’s ocean life. You finally kick away and swim toward the surface, a tankful of new memories in tow.
That’s what they say about Madison Avenue: If you can make it there, you’ll take it with you everywhere.
For more of Blackbeard’s Cruises’ best dive experiences, check out Lobster No Lobster and The Washing Machine’s Spin.
Visit blackbeard-cruises.com to learn more, check out current dive deals, or contact Blackbeard’s Cruises today to book your next trip.
Aboard Blackbeard Cruises: Madison Avenue Read More »
Giant Pacific Manta and Diver by David Valencia “Giant Pacific Mantas are graceful in every turn. It’s no wonder divers fly all over the world to see these gentle giants. However, mantas are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List of Threatened Species. […]
Blue Water Series: The Dive Behind the Photo – Part 2 Read More »