Island Profile: Bermuda

October 25, 11:23 PMDallas Tropical Travel ExaminerDebbra Brouillette

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Aerial view of Bermuda – Over half a million visitors (80% from the U.S.) arrive each year either by cruise ship or by air to Bermuda – only 21 miles long, with a maximum width of 1.75 miles. A birds-eye view of Bermuda shows it resembles a fishhook, consisting of a string of islands and islets, 181 in total. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Recently named "Top Island" in the Caribbean/Atlantic by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler, Bermuda has a year-round mild, sub-tropical climate with temperatures ranging from 68 to 84 degrees. Bermuda’s diverse activities offer an array of vacation options, including more golf courses per square mile and more wreck dives than anywhere else in the world. Vacationers also enjoy horseback riding, world-renowned deep sea fishing, beach activities on its smooth pink beaches, and sightseeing Bermuda’s cultural attractions.

Contrary to popular belief, Bermuda is not located in the Caribbean. It’s in the Atlantic Ocean – 1100 miles northeast of Miami, 750 miles from New York City, and about 650 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

Shipwreck capital of the Atlantic

Scuba divers who enjoy exploring shipwrecks need look no farther than Bermuda. It is considered the wreck diving capital of the Atlantic, with incredible visibility of 100 feet + on the north and west shores; averaging 80 feet on the south and east shores. Water temperatures rise to the low eighties in summer months, but cool down to a chilly 65 degrees in winter.

Shipwrecks, dating from the 1500’s, ranging from Spanish galleons to Confederate steamers and 20th century cargo ships, make up the impressive array of sites nicknamed Shipwreck Alley. Thirty-six await exploration by divers. The most popular wreck dives include the Constellation (1943, featured in the movie The Deep), Hermes (1983), Iristo (1937) and Minnie Breslauer (1872). Thousands of dollars in emeralds, gold ingots, Spanish doubloons and more have been pillaged from Bermuda’s watery depths. Twelve undiscovered treasure wrecks remain buried in the ocean floor.

The waters surrounding Bermuda also include than 600 square miles of colorful reefs, the northernmost in the Western Hemisphere. Natural formations feature swim-through reefs, giant arches and helical formations. According to the Board of Tourism, Bermuda has one of the healthiest reefs in the Atlantic and Caribbean.

Golf courses galore

Seven of the island’s eight golf courses are of championship caliber. Dramatic ocean vistas, firm fairways and an unpredictable wind factor make the island’s courses both beautiful and challenging. The eight courses include Belmont Golf Club, Tucker’s Point Golf Club, Mid Ocean Golf Club, Riddell’s Bay Golf& Country Club, The Fairmont Southampton Golf Club, Ocean View Golf Course, Port Royal Golf Course, and St. George’s Golf Course. The island also has a Bermuda Golf Academy.

Pristine pink-tinged beaches

Bermuda is known for its pink sand beaches, which exist in only a few places worldwide. The tropical coral reefs surrounding the south side of Bermuda are home to millions of microscopic sea creatures called foraminifera. As their chalky, bright pink shells break off due to waves or passing fish, the colored particles wash ashore along with bits of coral, white shells and sand, resulting in blushing pink sands. The southern shore features the most beaches and the most photographed ones, while dozens of secluded coves and bays along a one-and-a-half mile stretch of public beachfront offer protected swimming, snorkeling, and trails to explore.   

Cultural attractions

The Heritage Passport is a pass that allows the visitor unlimited admission to eight attractions over a four-day period. Sites include the Bermuda Maritime Museum, the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo, Fort St. Catherine, and Verdmont Historic House Museum, among others. The Art and Architecture Walk starts at the Bermuda National Gallery with a museum curator, then continues into the town of Hamilton. Guests receive a map of art in public places and local galleries and can meet with the gallery owners/artists on their own. Take a historic journey in time via a cultural nature walk on the Gumba Trail. The trail describes the background of the Caribbean Junkanoo dancers and their connection to the Gombeys of Bermuda, along with commentary on the island’s plant life and uses.

Where to stay; where to dine

Tourism is the second largest industry in Bermuda’s economy. The island has over 2,650 rooms, ranging from full-service resorts to more intimate cottage colonies and guesthouses. Bermuda’s more than 150 restaurants range from simple and inexpensive to elegant and specialty dining,

Getting around Bermuda

Tourists get around the island on rented motor-scooters or bicycles, or hire a taxi, take a bus, or catch a ferry. There are no rental cars in Bermuda. Due to a strong environmental commitment, only one car is permitted per household. (Click here to see larger version of map: Wikipedia Map of Bermuda (Eric Gaba – Wikimedia Commons user: Sting)

Flying into Bermuda

Bermuda is served by American Airlines, Continental, Delta, jetBlue Airways, US Airways, USA 3000, Air Canada, Zoom, and British Airways. Non-stop service is available from Atlanta, Boston, Miami, Newark, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C, Halifax, London and Toronto. Connecting service is available from all other major cities.

For more information about Bermuda, contact the Bermuda Board of Tourism.

(All photos with the exception of the aerial photo at top - Courtesy of Bermuda Board of Tourism - also the information source for this profile of Bermuda.)

Read article naming Bermuda as Top Island Caribbean/Atlantic: Conde Nast Traveler's 2009 Readers' Choice awards announced

Read article about Bermuda's Reefs Resort, named Top Atlantic Resort: Resort Profile: The Reefs Resort in Bermuda

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