Deep blue discoveries

An air-conditioned ride on the Atlantis submarine provides a great view of underwater Barbados without mussing your 'do or getting sand in your suit. Guide Michael Walcott calls the excursion the next best thing to scuba diving. It turns the Caribbean into a giant aquarium.

In the small sub, barracuda become a tad less intimidating than they might be if you were mingling with their dinner. "The barracuda usually hunt fish with reflective sides," Walcott says. "Those 'silversides' get in trouble because of that, because they are reflective."

Walcott knows plenty about the wonders of the deep: "Corals do not grow on sand. They're animals, in case you're wondering. They possess nervous systems, reproductive systems and skeletons."

"They can defend themselves quite well," he continues. " Many of these corals are armed with stinging organisms ... similar to what you'd find on a jelly fish. So, imagine the sting you can get from these corals."

Walcott can even deconstruct your daydreaming, as you peer out into the surreal watery world: "Blue is theoretically lost at about 800 feet. Because of that, it is the most dominant color throughout the spectrum. That is why you get this deep blue haze here. That is why you get the deep blue sea."

Take a Shockwave tour of the deep blue:

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