The Abacos Islands are the northernmost group in the Bahamas stretching roughly 130 miles from Walker's Cay to Great Abaco. Most of the diving activity takes place around Marsh Harbour, Walker's Cay, and Treasure Cay.

The history of this special island group explains its New England-style villages. Many of the residents are descendants of the British Loyalists who left New York, New England and the Carolinas following the Revolutionary War. Some became fishermen, some became wreckers and others learned boat building.

Bahamasair from Nassau to Marsh Harbour. Charter to Walker's Cay from Ft. Lauderdale (see Walker's Cay below).

Pelican Cay National Park, a 2,000-acre national underwater preserve offers endless mazes of coral tunnels, walls, pinnacles and remains of modern and ancient wrecks.

The park is shallow and ranges in depth from breaking the surface to about 30 ft. The marine life is spectacular, with eagle rays, jacks, angels, critters, huge groupers, and colorful sponges to be seen. Pelican Park offers the underwater photographer and video enthusiast an abundance of beautiful sub-seascapes.

Fowl Cays National Park, an underwater preserve, features more than 20 sites. Coral sea mounts and pinnacles provide great snorkeling in the shallows and fine scuba sites with large grouper, nurse shark and tropical fish. Currents are very light. Depths are from the surface at low tide to 60 ft. Underwater terrain is rocky with many caverns. During summer numerous copper sweepers and silversides crowd the shadows.

Shark Rodeo, off Walker's Cay, whirls with adventure as more than 100 sharks circle a frozen barrelful of fishheads affectionately known as the "chumsicle." The sharks take turns feeding in groups of a half-dozen at once while their buddies investigate the surroundings. This attraction is put on by Walker's Cay Undersea Adventures for intrepid divers. The site is a short boat ride from shore.

USS Adirondack, a Federal-era battleship resting in 30 ft of water, offers both snorkelers and scuba divers a look at the remains of the superstructure and some interesting antique cannons. A host of colorful reef fish inhabit the area around it. Boat access.

Deborah K, a 165-ft light cargo ship, was used as a mail boat by the Bahamian government until Independence Day, 1998 when she was stripped of hazards to the environment and scuttled off Fowl Cay. She sits upright facing east at 100 ft. Residents include a huge grouper, horse-eyed jacks, angelfish and yellowtails. Top of the mast reaches up to 35 feet. Cargo holds are open. Good visibility. Boat access. Experienced divers only.

Spiral Cavern, off Walker's Cay, features walls of fish in caverns and around monster-size coral heads with a maximum depth of 45 ft. Boat access. Experienced divers.

Additional favorite sites, all less than a 10-minute boat ride, are The Tower, a 60-ft-tall coral pinnacle, Grouper Alley, home to several Nassau grouper, Shark Alley, a valley of non-aggressive nurse and reef sharks, Tutts Reef and Cathedral, a bright cavern densely packed with tropical fish and turtles.

The best shore snorkeling sites lie off Guana Cay, where the reef sits less than 50 ft from the beach at the Guana Beach Resort and Hopetown Harbour Lodge, which has a section of beautiful barrier reef just 30 ft from their lovely two-mile-long beach. Excellent shallow reefs exist less than a mile off Green Turtle Cay and Spanish Cay.

Abaco Beach Resort Dive Centre. Located in Marsh Harbour, this upbeat shop offers resort courses and all levels of training, reef trips and equipment rentals. Nitrox. The shop's 36-ft custom dive boat carries a maximum of 20 divers. PADI, YMCA, ANDI, NASDA, CMAS and BSAC training in English, French or Spanish. Rates are $45 for a one-tank dive, $70 for two tanks. Equipment rental. Most dives are about 100 ft. Visits the Tower, Shark Alley, Tutts Reef, Cathedral and the Deborah K. Equipment storage at the dive shop. % 800-838-4189 or 242-367-4646. Website: dive@greatabaco.com.

Dive Abaco, at the town marina in Marsh Harbour, offers easy diving inside the Barrier Reef at the Tunnels, where trained grouper and snapper pose for photos or the Towers at 60 ft and the Caves at 45 ft, both with spectacular coral formations and marine life. The owner of the dive shop is also the boat captain and dive master. Dive Abaco uses a 30-ft custom dive boat with a full-width dive platform, open transom and easy-access ladder. Oxygen is on board. This is a nice operation. Hotel/dive packages are available with Abaco Towns by the Sea, the Conch Inn resort, Island Breezes, Lofty Fig Villas and Pelican Beach Villas. Write to: PO Box AB 20555, Marsh Harbour, Abaco, Bahamas. % 800-247-5338 or 242-367-2787, fax 242-367-4779. E-mail: dive.abaco@internetfl.com. Website: www.internetfl.com/abaco.

Brendal's Dive Shop, on Green Turtle Cay at the Green Turtle Club and Marina, caters to novices as well as experienced divers. Tours explore Pelican Park and the Coral Catacombs, both teeming with moray eels, turtles, rays, schools of grunts and porpoises. Resort courses are offered and equipment rentals are available. Dive packages with lodging at the Green Turtle and Bluff House are available. Write to: Brendal Stevens, Green Turtle Cay, Green Turtle Club and Marina, Bahamas. % (US) 800-780-9941 or 242-365-4411.

Divers Down at the Treasure Cay Marina offers two-tank dives to the reefs and wrecks. Snorkelers welcome. Resort and certification courses. Gear rentals. Retail store sells snorkel gear. % 800-327-1584 or 242-365-8465, fax 242-365-8508. E-mail: jic@oii.net.

Walker's Cay Undersea Adventures has a staff of six with four instructors, two boats that carry 16 to 25 passengers and a retail shop selling gear and accessories. Rentals. Dive groups can arranges for special tours and cookouts. Packages with Walker's Cay Hotel and Marina on property. % 800-327-8150 or 954-462-3400, fax 954-462-4100. On island 242-353-1252.

Rates subject to change

The Abaco Inn on Elbow Cay features 15 guests rooms and suites, each with a private patio and hammock. On-site Clubhouse Lounge serves beachfront tropical meals. Short walk to Hope Town and the Elbow Cay Lighthouse. Winter rates for a double are from $135. From $195 for s suite. Summer from $100. % 800-468-8799 or 242-366-0133, fax 242-366-0113. E-mail: abacoinn@batelnet.bs. Website: www.oii.net/AbacoInn. Participant in the Jean-Michel Cousteau Out Island Snorkeling Adventures program.

Hope Town Harbour Lodge features a nice, shallow coral reef 30 feet off the beach. The Lodge offers 20 remodeled rooms. AC and ceiling fans. Overlooks Hope Town Harbour. To reach this resort take a ferry from Marsh Harbour. Rates for a double are from $130. Butterfly House from $1,250 weekly. % 800-316-7844 or 242-366-0095, fax 242-366-0286. E-mail: harbourlodge@batelnet.bs. Participant in the Snorkeling Adventures program.

Great Abaco

To reach Great Abaco, fly into Marsh Harbour Airport and take a taxi to the resort.

Abaco Beach Resort & Boat Harbour features spacious, air-conditioned rooms, TV, phones, mini-fridges, and patios. Two-bedroom, two-bath villas are also available. Rates are from $145 for a deluxe oceanfront room between September 2 and December 21. From $185 between December 22 and September1. Villas (104 persons) are from $300 during the low season, from $400 in the high season. % 800-468-4799 or 242-367-2158, fax 242-367-2819.

Conch Inn Hotel & Marina offers nine recently renovated, air-conditioned rooms, each with a single and double bed overlooking Marsh Harbour. Pool, cable TV, mini market. Good restaurant. Full-service marina offers sailboat charters and rentals. The Moorings is on-premises. % 800-688-4752 or 242-367-4000, fax 242-367-4004. Write to PO Box AB-20469, Marsh Harbour, Abaco, Bahamas. Packages with Dive Abaco.

The Lofty Fig has six nice rooms, each with air-conditioning, a queen-size bed, sofa, small dinette, kitchen and porch. Pool, bicycle, scooter, car and boat rentals. Close to restaurants, bars, and dive shop. Packages with Dive Abaco. % 800-688-4752 or 242-367-2681. Write to PO Box AB 20437.

Pelican Beach Villas, on Pelican Shores on Marsh Harbour, features beachfront villas that sleep six, with kitchen, refrigerator, microwave. Near to restaurants, shops and activities. Safe dockage for small boats. Mermaid Reef, a shallow snorkeling area, is nearby. Weekly rates for a double are from $1,045. For a triple from $1,145. $50 each extra person. % 800-642-4752 or 242-367-3600. Write to Pelican Beach Villas, Marsh Harbour, Abaco, Bahamas.

To reach Guana Cay, fly into Marsh Harbour, taxi to the Conch Inn Marina where the Guana Cay ferry picks up at 11 am and 3:30 pm. Or take the AIT ferry at Triple J Marina at 12 noon and 4 pm. Boat ride takes 20 minutes.

Guana Beach Resort & Marina offers eight rooms and seven suites with kitchens. Newly renovated bar and restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Terrific snorkeling off their seven-mile beach. A 50-ft swim brings you over a lovely reef with healthy seafans and corals. Friendly service. Winter (December 16 to May 31)rates are from $140 for a room, from $210 for a two-bedroom suite. % 800-227-3366 or 242-365-5133, fax 242-365-5134. E-mail: guanabeach@guanabeach.com.

Guana Seaside Village, a new, romantic, beachfront resort, has eight lovely rooms, one suite with kitchenette and a long sandy beach with great snorkeling just 50 ft offshore. Beachside restaurant. Winter (December 15 to April 15) rates are from $145 per day for a double. Suites are $160 for up to four. Summer per day rates are from $130 for a beachfront room, $145 for the suite. % 800-242-0942 or 242-365-5146. E-mail: guanaseaside@oii.net. Website: www.oii.net/GreatGuana.

To reach this island, fly into Treasure Cay airport. Taxi to the ferry dock and ferry to Bluff House's or the Green Turtle Inn's docks.

Rates subject to change.

Bluff House Club & Marina is a plush resort with a very attentive staff. Each of the 28 air-conditioned rooms and suites have refrigerators, coffee makers and hair dryers. Restaurant and Beach Club. Room rates in winter are from $110, $135 for a split level, $140 for a studio, $215 for a suite. Villas are from $385 per day. % 800-688-4752 or 242-365-4247, fax 242-365-4248. E-mail: BluffHouse@oii.net. Website: www.oii.net/BluffHouse.

Green Turtle Club & Marina features 34 enormous air-conditioned rooms and cottages on a small island surrounded by white sand beaches. Rooms and villas each have a private patio or deck, paddle fans, and refrigerator. Pool, snorkeling, boat rentals, 35-slip marina. Brendal's Dive shop on premises. Fabulous restaurant. Winter rates (January 2 to April 14) are $165 per room, $185 for a suite, $269 for a one-bedroom villa, $379 for a two-bedroom villa (one-six persons) % 800-688-4752 or 242-365-4271, fax 242-365-4272. E-mail: greenturtle@batelnet.bs. Website: www.greenturtle club.com.

Reach this one-resort island by flying into Spanish Cay. The hotel will pick you up. Or taxi to the government dock at Cooperstown. The Spanish Cay ferry will bring you to Spanish Cay. For private pilots, the island also has a 5,000-ft runway with customs service on Saturday and Sunday. On-island transportation is via bicycle or golf cart.

Rates subject to change.

Spanish Cay Resort & Marina has five newly renovated suites, seven one- and two-bedroom apartments and a 70-slip marina. There is no longer a dive shop and no scuba diving services are available, but snorkelers will find a nice reef about 50 yards off the beach. Boat rentals available from the marina. This lovely resort appeals to an older crowd. Year-round rates are from $150 for suites, from $225 for apartments.

To reach Treasure Cay, fly into Treasure Cay International Airport, then take a taxi to the resort. The island has an 18-hole golf course, 150-slip marina, restaurants and shops.

Rates subject to change.

Banyan Beach Club arranges diving and offshore snorkeling with nearby Divers Down. Snorkelers will find beautiful corals upon entering the water to the left of the resort property. The resort offers two- and three-bedroom condos. Each unit has an all-electric kitchen, cable TV, air-conditioning, phone. Golf carts are rented for transportation. Rates for the two-bedroom year-round are $200 for one night,$540 for three nights, $1,050 for seven nights. Beachfront units are $225, $600, and $1,250. Three-bedroom condos start at $675 for three nights.

Treasure Cay Hotel Resort & Marina has a fabulous 3.5-mile beach, a modern 150-slip marina and an 18-hole golf course. Diver Down Dive Shop is on premises. Winter rates (December 18 to April 27): Standard rooms start at $130 for a double, suites from $175. Villas from $385 per day. Summer rates (April 28-December 17): From $95 for a standard room, $155 for deluxe, $130 for a suite, $315 for villas. Meal plans are $44 per day, per person.

Walker's Cay Undersea Adventures. Located at the northern end of the Abacos, this resort and dive center, the only one on the island, offers guests private air charters to and from Ft. Lauderdale. Walker's Cay Undersea Adventures dive shop is well equipped and offers a resort course, which includes a short introductory scuba lesson in a pool followed by a closely supervised shallow dive. Open water dives for a PADI certification are available. Access to most of the dives, which are at the upper end of Barrier Reef, is by boat. Choose from a scattering of lovely villas and cottages for your stay.