Atlantis Submarine’s night dive a spectacle to remember

by Marlon Madden

Atlantis Submarines Barbados continues to be a hot ticket on the ‘to do’ list for many locals and visitors, with the submarine night dive becoming a favourite for many.

The unique underwater adventure offers two dives per day – a submarine day dive and a submarine night dive. Launched in Barbados on February 15, 1987, the Atlantis Submarines Barbados celebrated its 35th anniversary this year. While the night dives commenced the same time of the opening, this was put on a lengthy pause from 1987 to 2010.

Since its reintroduction, the evening excursion has gained momentum, being ranked by many as one of the most unforgettable and fantastic experiences in Barbados. Atlantis Submarines Barbados can now boast of being the only location that offers the night excursion.

This experience is perfectly complemented by the professionalism and friendliness of the staff members, who continue to put smiles on the faces of the guests. When the COVID-19 pandemic started to affect the island in 2020, the Atlantis Submarines Barbados, like other tourist attractions across the island, was forced
to temporarily close its doors.

However, once restrictions were lifted and attractions allowed to operate once again, the business reopened on a limited schedule with dives taking place three to four days per week and at limited capacity. However, as demand grew over the past several months, the number of tours also increased and then the night tours were again introduced earlier this year.

Marketing Officer at the Atlantis Submarines Barbados Wayne Scott told Today’s BUSINESS the night dives are an important aspect of the operation.

“The night dives were introduced to increase demand by diversifying the product offering. Grand Cayman was the only other Atlantis Submarines site offering night dives, but they officially closed at the beginning of the pandemic. This has now allowed Atlantis Submarines Barbados to market itself as the only location worldwide that offers submarine tours at night, making it ultra unique,” declared Scott.

This thought was supported by one patron, who would only give his name as Joseph. He told Today’s BUSINESS “the experience was so fantastic I have been on the night tour twice”.  “It is a unique experience, especially getting the opportunity to see the fish swimming alongside the submarine and getting an opportunity to see the shipwreck. It is going to always
be on my ‘to do list’,” he said.

Recently, I took up on offer to experience the night dive with some of my colleagues, much to our delight. Although I have been on the tour during the day several times before, it is nothing compared to the night time.

As the guests gathered by the dock just before sunset in preparation to board the vessel that would take us out to sea to board the waiting submarine, it was evident that excitement started to fill the air as people chat among themselves about the possibilities and what they were expecting to see, while others took selfies.

Before sailing out to the submarine, our co-pilot and narrator John-Bernard Yearwood gave us the usual safety briefing, with his added flair of course. Once we arrived at the submarine, went down the hatch and settled in our seats, a very knowledgeable Yearwood kept us educated and entertained throughout the approximately one-hour interactive undersea tour.

The night dive, which uses high-powered LED spot lights, provides a different but spectacular view of the coral reef and life under the sea, to that of the day dive. Once the lights were switched on and we began to see fish the ‘oohhs and aahhs’ started. The colours of the reef are more pronounced than they are during the day.

There is also the panorama view of the undersea reefs and other marine life, as well as the Lord Willoughby shipwreck, which is said to have been sunken off the Silver Bank reef (a section of the fresh water bay) close to 50 years ago.

For most of us, however, the highlight of that adventure was the spotting of a hawksbill sea turtle at port side that was swimming with the vessel for a few seconds. The bioluminescence, a bright florescent glow from algae once the light was switched off, also presented a wow moment.

At the end of our tour, which took us some 140 feet below the surface, all guests were presented with an Atlantis Submarines dive certificate, certifying that we had completed the voyage beneath the sparkling waters of the Caribbean and were therefore bestowed the title “Atlantis Submariner”.

One visitor to the island who was on that tour told Today’s BUSINESS it was her first time and she “totally enjoyed it”. “Yes, I had fun. I have been to the island before but I have never gone on the night dive. I am glad I did,” she said.

A visitor from the UK, who said she was doing the tour for the second time, said it was certainly one of her “to do” activities once in Barbados.

“This is an unforgettable experience and I love it,” she added. Atlantis Submarines Barbados is closed for the period June 8 to 21, 2022 for its annual recertification.

marlommadden@barbadostoday.bb