It's No Myth - Stuart Cove's is THE Place Discovery Channel Chooses for Shark Seek

2005 Represents the 10th straight year that Stuart Cove's staff and facilities have been involved in the popular SHARK WEEK promotion on the Discovery Channel.

Jamie Hyneman, Stuart Cove, and Adam Savage

Next week, the annual Discovery Channel SHARK WEEK kicks off with yet another production that involves Stuart Cove's Dive Bahamas . Sunday evening July 17 at 9 pm EST, the Mythbusters JAWS Special premieres. Filmed on location earlier this year, the Mythbusters program features co-hosts Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage taking on common "shark myths."

Stuart and his team are very familiar with Discovery Channel, having worked in previous years on nearly a dozen SHARK WEEK projects and documentaries. The warm waters and ample shark population enhances the environment allowing producers to get the shots they need - every time. In the past, Stuart has worked with well-known figures including Nigel Marvin, Heidi Klum, Gabrielle Reece, Estella Warren, Brian McNight, Adrian Pasdar, and Casper Van Dien on SHARK WEEK programming.

The "Mythbusters" program will provide an entertaining and informative  2-hour  program that includes the crew testing different "myths." Jamie and Adam outfitted "Buster" the show's "Crash Test Dummy" to test the common myth that punching a shark in the nose will make it go away. Did the test prove the "myth"? We're not saying, but we can tell you that the dummy eventually lost his "arm".

Jamie Hyneman prepares "Buster" for his first shark encounter.

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Questions and Answers On Shooting Shark Week 2005

Stuart Cove and Claudia Pellarini Let You In Behind The Scenes

Claudia: In one of the experiments, the sharks definitely identified the same highly reflective nature of the silver color on the buoys and on my fins, and kept going for them. I have noticed subsequent to this every shark dive I do with those fins I always have sharks eyeballing my fins….it has to do with silver looking like the shiny scales of a fish.

What did you learn from this most-recent production?

Stuart: One thing we've learned from many years of interacting with the sharks in their natural environment is that you never learn everything. There's always something new to discover. We tried several experiments with the Mythbusters team and it's true - there's always something new to see.

Nassau, Bahamas --Join Stuart Cove’s and Scuba Diving Magazine for their Annual Great Bahamas Shark Shootout, hosted by Scuba Diving’s Stephen Frink and Stuart Cove’s Resident Photo Pro Claudia Pellarini.  The Shark Shootout is a week-long event scheduled for November 5-12, 2005 that focuses on one subject matter – sharks.  Beginning and advanced photographers alike will rendezvous in the Shark Diving Capital of the World - Nassau, Bahamas - to create a portfolio of images that will amaze you.  

We also had 9 other contest entries that had the correct answer!  Your gift certificates will be arriving by email shortly!

Stuart Cove's Latest Film Project "After The Sunset" Opens November 12th!

Enter Our Contest To Identify Stuart In The Movie And Receive A Chance To Win A Dive Package!

Stuart Cove’s is known in the film industry as “Underwater Hollywood”.  Similarly, divers have been choosing to visit Stuart Cove’s for years because they receive the same caring services from the Dive Bahamas staff as the stars do.   Stuart Cove’s currently has several great packages for fall travel starting at $328 per person for 3 nights and 2 days of diving based on double occupancy.  In addition, Nassau is easier than ever to visit with new low priced flights offered by Spirit, Jet Blue, Song, and Hooters airlines.  For more details on booking your vacation to Stuart Cove’s or to enter our “Where’s Stuart” contest visit www.dive-bahamas.com.

“Ray Of Hope” Adds To Bahamian Reefs

Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahama’s Team Sinks a 200-ft Freighter
As Nassau’s 16th Wreck Location!

According to David Eads “this one was not that difficult, all we had to do was wait for a good day, then we tied the bow of the “Ray of Hope” to the “Bahama Mama” and set out two stern anchors so she wouldn’t drift”.

Alex Paul who headed up the cutting team added, “The government gave us plenty of access ahead of time to the vessel. That allowed my team to get on board while she was still tied up at the docks to cut through the bulkheads and tanks. With the extra time I was sure there were no air pockets that would have caused her to roll”.

The “Ray of Hope” is now the 16th wreck location on the southwestern side of New Providence Island and joins over 40 other named spots for recreational divers and snorkelers to explore the underwater world. Stuart Cove’s is the leading full service dive operation on the island and can provide divers complete packages that include accommodations, ground transfers, and the underwater adventures of a lifetime. To begin planning your first dive on the "Ray of Hope" visit www.stuartcove.com or call 800-879-9832.

The Steel Forest Takes Root

Stuart Cove sinks 2 shipwrecks in 2 weeks to launch Nassau’s newest dive site!

Cove works closely with the Bahamian government to secure the wrecks. "Over the years we have learned each other's needs. Ours is obviously to promote tourism and adding new wrecks does that," Cove said. "Other ministries of the government are involved with salvage and confiscated vessels. It was a natural marriage. Our company invests $10,000 to $20,000 per wreck to salvage it and prepare it for relocation and sinking as a dive site. The government donates the tugs and title to the vessels. It's a win-win, private sector - public sector relationship."

The idea for the "trio" of wrecks that will form an underwater "forest" of diving opportunity was first discussed earlier this summer. With the help of officials representing the government and the diving industry, Cove and his team accepted the challenge.

The first wreck was the "Manana", a 150-foot island cargo ship which went down two weeks earlier. Says Cove, "It's a really cool design, a tall wheelhouse up front, and in the rear it was one of those island ferry types where you drove semi trailers onto. So it has a low flat bottom and sidewalls with a drop down ramp at the rear. This gave her a nice flat bottom and she went down sitting upright and 50 feet away from the "Fenwick Stirrup", the original vessel, sunk in 1997.

The most recent wreck sunk was the "Captain Fox", an 80-foot fishing trawler which was placed on the bottom August 20, 2002. "The challenge on this wreck was cleaning her up and towing her around without her sinking," Cove observed. "The wreck was not in good shape to start with. We waited for a "postcard weather day" and the tugs got her around perfectly. She went down upright just in front of the "Fenwick Stirrup".

There are now 15 different wrecks that divers can visit while diving with Stuart Cove's Dive Bahamas. Fall is a great time to travel and Stuart Cove's is offering some great packages. Rooms at the South Ocean Golf & Beach Resort start at $78 per night this fall. Divers can upgrade to the Wyndham Nassau Resort (formerly the Nassau Marriott) where rooms start at $108 per night, or choose to stay downtown at the luxurious British Colonial Hilton where rooms start at $129 per night.

For reservations or more information call Stuart Cove's at 800-879-9832 or visit www.stuartcove.com

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LIVE! With Regis & Kelly at the Atlantis Resort

Later, we found out that for Ethan, the best part was finally meeting Regis & Kelly. "I'm excited about Regis & Kelly. I love Regis & Kelly. When I was younger, I used to pretend to be sick so I could watch Regis & Kathy Lee."

The third segment we shot was when the producer Michael Gelman and Michelle Lui, the director of aquariums at Atlantis went diving in "The Digs" tank at the resort.  The dive and filming went fine. But here's where the blooper from this shoot happened... the segment was supposed to have "teasers" in conjunction with the interview. However, the producer forgot to do the "teasers" before they got out. Later, when putting the piece together for air the next day, they realized the mistake, and "dubbed" the sound over - by sticking their heads in the toilet bowl of their room and speaking into it for the echo while recording.

Three days of playing and shooting with the crew went by very fast. This is always a fun crew to shoot with, and it shows when you see the program as well. We can't wait for their next visit - maybe then we will get Regis to try a SUB!

Cliftons Wreck Sunk

This marks the 4th wreck sunk in 18 months!

At this point the Port Authority contacted Stuart Cove. The two have an outstanding relationship and a gentlemans agreement that if the Port Authority obtains title and rights to a vessel that Stuart Cove's will fund the cleanup and provide the labor for the vessel to be sunk as an artificial reef for divers.

When the call came in, Stuart and his crew had to act quickly. The vessel was taking on water and everyone was nervous that it would sink at the dock.  Stuart and his team came in and shored up the vessel long enough that it could be prepped and cleaned for sinking. When that work was finished, the Port Authority donated the tug boats to bring the ship around to the dive site Stuart had selected.

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