Destinations / Bermuda

Located 650 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, Bermuda isn't technically part of the Caribbean. But thanks to the warm waters flowing up from the Caribbean on the Gulf Stream, Bermuda claims the northernmost coral reefs. This, along its West Indian flair and its British colonial heritage imbue an island flavor to Atlantic-bound escape.

Travelers who have yet to visit likely only know of Bermuda main island, 22-square-mile St. George's. But Bermuda is actually comprised of 181 small islands and cays divided into parishes (counties).

LOCATION :

Bermuda is made up of 181 small islands in the Atlantic Ocean. St. George's, the 22-square-mile main island, is 650 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

LANGUAGE :

English

CURRENCY :

Bermuda dollar (BD$) and U.S. dollar

TIPPING :

When the gratuity is not included in the bill, 15 percent is the generally accepted amount for most services.

ELECTRICITY :

110V/60 cycles.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Investigating the Bermuda Maritime Museum, which is housed in a 19th-century fortress at the Royal Naval Dockyard.
• Sun worshipping on Elbow Beach in Paget Parish
• Shopping for Bermuda's hallmark shorts in downtown Hamilton

OVERVIEW
Located 650 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, Bermuda isn't technically part of the Caribbean. But thanks to the warm waters flowing up from the Caribbean on the Gulf Stream, Bermuda claims the northernmost coral reefs. This, along its West Indian flair and its British colonial heritage imbue an island flavor to Atlantic-bound escape. Travelers who have yet to visit likely only know of Bermuda main island, 22-square-mile St. George's. But Bermuda is actually comprised of 181 small islands and cays divided into parishes (counties).

The capital city, Hamilton, was once known as the "show window of the British Empire" and was home to literary figures Mark Twain and Eugene O'Neill who both chose it for its beauty. Incorporated in 1793, Hamilton encompasses just 182 acres, so most visitors explore it on foot. Good thing, too, because visitors aren't allowed to rent cars in Bermuda. Mopeds, bicycles and the "shoe-leather express" are the preferred method of transportation.

While the city does have some worthwhile attractions -- Fort Hamilton, the Bermuda Historical Society Museum, the Bermuda National Gallery and 12 churches - it's far more notable for its shopping, dining and drinking. Front Street's restaurants run the range of prices, and there are many English-style watering holes for a traditional pub crawl. It's also packed with elegant stores offering high-quality goods from the U.K.

Other British imports include afternoon tea, a conservative bent that has kept the islands clean and proper, and golf.

Bermuda is also notable for its pink beaches, its tradition in the arts and - of course - those funky Bermuda shorts. The island offers some excellent scuba diving on hundreds of wreck downed on its massive reefs, but its limited diving season has kept it from becoming a true bubble-blowing mecca.

GEOGRAPHY

Topography: The archipelago lies along the southeastern edge of a dormant volcano that is now mostly submerged. The islands are generally hilly, with a maximum elevation of 259.4 feet at Town Hill in Smith's Parish. There are no rivers or freshwater lakes on Bermuda, and rainfall is the sole source of drinking water.

Climate: Bermuda enjoys a mild climate most of the year thanks to the Gulf Stream, but it gets substantially cooler in the winter than do Caribbean islands. From mid-December to late March expect temperatures anywhere from the low 60s to low 70s F. Temperatures rarely rise above 85º F in the summer and there's nearly always a cool breeze, especially at night. There's no particular rainy season. Water temperatures peak in the mid-80s F during the summer but hover in the low 70s in the winter.

HISTORY
Europeans first spotted Bermuda in 1503. Spanish sea captain Juan de Bermúdez, for whom the islands were later named, identified the island group but failed to lay claim. In 1609 English Admiral Sir George Somers, after wrecking his ship on Bermuda's reef, claimed the island for Britain. In 1612 the Virginia Company organized 60 settlers to establish a permanent colony on the islands. In 1684 Bermuda became a British crown colony. Hamilton, because of its central location and its large, protected harbor, replaced St. George as the island's capital in 1815 and has remained so ever since.

By 1900, Bermuda was well on its way to becoming a fashionable winter escape for the moneyed class, who flocked aboard steamers crossing regularly from New York to Hamilton.

During WWII Bermuda's location made it strategically significant to Allied operations and the British signed a 99-year lease handing over substantial portions of Bermuda's territory to the U.S. military, which constructed an air base on St David's Island where the international airport is now located.

The island's parliamentarians united in 1968 to produce a constitution that provided Bermuda full internal self government, while leaving security, defense and diplomatic affairs to Britain.

WEBSITE :

www.bermudatourism.com

CAPITAL :

Hamilton

TOURIST INFORMATION :

800-BERMUDA

POLITICAL STATUS :

Bermuda is a parliamentary British overseas territory with internal self-government.

AREA SIZE :

22 square miles

TAXES :

All room rates are subject to a 7.25-percent tax. The Bermuda Departure Tax of $25 is included with the airfare when the ticket is purchased.

AREA CODE :

441

TIME :

Atlantic Standard (EST plus 1 hour) Daylight Savings is observed from the First Sunday in April through the last Sunday in October

DOCUMENTS :

For US and Canadian visitors, a passport is preferred. However, you can use one of the following: Original Birth Certificate with a raised seal issued by a competent municipal authority, or certified copy - either one, along with photo ID (NOTE: Neither Bermuda nor US Immigration Authorities accept a notarized copy of a birth certificate, hospital birth record, baptismal certificate, or similar non-government document as proof of citizenship.); US Alien Registration Card (Green Card); US Naturalization Certificate; or a Canadian Certificate of Citizenship. Citizens of other countries require a passport, and possibly a visa. A return or onward ticket is also required.

POPULATION :

65,000

AVERAGE WATER TEMPERATURE :

Average is about 75 degrees falling to 65 in winter and rising to 86 in summer

AVERAGE VISIBILITY :

Average visibility on the Northern and Western Reefs is about 100ft in the summer. The Southern and Eastern reefs are closer to shore and the visibility averages 80ft.

TYPES OF DIVING :

There are all types of diving in Bermuda including shore, boat and live aboard operators. There are also many resorts that cater to divers. There are plenty of reefs and five centuries of wrecks on Bermuda's ocean floor.

BEST TIME TO DIVE :

The dive season in Bermuda is usually from Mid-March through November although there are many dive operators that operate year-round.

WHAT TO WEAR :

Depending on the depth of your dive you can go with a skin or a 1.6 to 3mm shorty in the summer. During the peripheral months of the season (April,May June, October and November) a three-quarter 5-6.5mm suit is recommended and a full 5-6.5mm suit for the winter months. Since the water temperature can fall to 65 you may want to also bring gloves,boots and a hood, especially for deeper dives.