Resuming Life Under the Ocean Waves
Underwater adventure in a high-tech submarine returns to Barbados on a limited, Covid-safe schedule.
Barbados, just 21 miles long and 14 miles wide, sits at the eastern edge of the Caribbean Sea, where it meets the Atlantic Ocean. As an underwater destination, it is world-famous for its barrier reef, marine life, and wreck diving.
Keen divers already know that scuba diving in Barbados’ waters offer sights and experiences hard to find elsewhere. But not everybody has the necessary skills or ability to scuba dive, which is where Atlantis Submarines come in. Underwater diving in a high-tech submarine allows you to do it hassle-free and in the company of non-diver friends and family.
The popular underwater tours operated by Atlantis Submarines Barbados for the last 35 years returned at the end of 2020 after an eight-month hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. One of the top tourist activities to do in Barbados, Atlantis Submarine tours have reopened on a limited schedule of three dives per day, three days per week.
The regular 48-passenger maximum capacity of the submarine has been reduced to 18 to allow for required social distancing for families and groups, with masks mandatory throughout the tour.
As part of new hygiene protocols, a complete sanitization procedure is carried out between tours. Medical-grade oxygen is continuously pumped into the cabin, and HEPA filters ensure that contaminants are removed constantly from the air. The air within the cabin is also scrubbed to remove carbon dioxide.
Tours last 90 minutes, spending 45 minutes underwater to depths of 150 feet with close-up views of coral formations, tropical marine life, and spectacular wrecks. The submarine stays offshore, and the transfer vessel takes guests to and from the dive site.
Covid-19 has caused massive disruption to the Caribbean tourist economy. The good news is that, as lockdowns ease and the region starts to recover, any visitor lucky enough to be able to travel to Barbados can once again enjoy the underwater sights and experiences without any training or even getting wet. And the whole family can join in.
