Bahamas Out Island Press Releases

BIMINI, The Bahamas – Aug. 17, 2010 – Celebrated artist and conservationist Guy Harvey along with his Guy Harvey Outpost organization announced today plans to team with renown dive authority Neal Watson to offer "top of class" dive centers at Guy Harvey Outpost resort properties. Their first dive center will open in mid October at the newly renovated and rebranded Bimini Big Game Club, a Guy Harvey Resort & Marina.

In announcing Neal Watson's Dive Bimini, a Guy Harvey Outpost Dive Center, the pair noted their excitement in joining forces to bring Neal Watson's legendary diving reputation and world record accomplishments together with Guy Harvey's internationally recognized work in marine research, underwater photography and marine life art.

Known fondly as The Dive God within the scuba diving community, Watson is considered one of the world's foremost "Shark Encounter" divers and a member of the DEMA Hall of Fame. Watson started diving in the Bahamas in the mid 1960's, setting the Scuba depth record in 1968. He opened a Bimini dive operation in 1975, where he lived and worked until the mid 1980s before expanding throughout the Bahamas and Caribbean under the Neal Watson Undersea Adventures brand.

"In a manner of speaking, I'm going back to the future. Neal Watson's Dive Bimini, a Guy Harvey Outpost Dive Center will offer our guests access and insights into Bimini's veritable treasure trove of dive sites and experiences, most of which I had the good fortune to discover", Watson notes with his customary humility. "Working with Guy and his many colleagues is going to seriously raise the bar on Bahamas diving for the benefit of every customer who dives with us."

"Diving is my window to exploring a vast underwater world, rich with beauty, mystery and not without some danger" commented Guy Harvey. "Spending much of my life diving, I can think of no better person to ensure that my colleagues and friends and our Outpost guests will not only have a safe dive experience, but with Neal's personality and knowledge of Bimini, one that will surely be filled with memories of a lifetime."

Dive Bimini will open mid-October upon arrival of its 60-foot dive boat. Notes Mark Ellert, President of Guy Harvey Outpost, "two-decks, a glass bottom and certified for 100 passengers ­ nothing in Bimini will come close to offering the comfort and safety that Dive Bimini guests will enjoy, never mind the chance that Neal or Guy might be on board diving with you." He adds, "Everything is new ­the tanks, rental gear, even the Bauer compressor. We want our customer to have a top of class experience ­ that's the Guy Harvey Outpost DNA."

Neal Watson's Dive Bimini, a Guy Harvey Outpost Dive Center is currently taking reservations and is expected to be operational in October of this year. In addition to equipment rentals and air fills, the center will offer instruction for PADI SCUBA certifications as well as open water referrals and specialty classes.

The legendary Bimini Big Game Club officially re-opened this summer as a Guy Harvey Outpost Resort & Marina following completion of a $3,500,000 renovation that included all guest rooms, the new Bimini Big Game Bar & Grill, and the Outfitter Shop, a retail experience featuring sportswear, fishing supplies and gifts.

For more information on the dive center and the Big Game Club, please go to www.BigGameClubBimini.com.