There’s a new dive festival coming on one of the Caribbean’s top diving destinations: the island of San Salvador in The Bahamas.

The inaugural Bahamas Dive Week on San Salvador runs May 6-13, part of a new diving push for the country’s Ministry of Tourism.

The week actually includes eight days of events, with open water certified divers, local dive operators, Bahamas Dive Ambassador, Richard Smith, and 18 divers from the United States exploring the island’s sparkling undersea world, including the Riding Rock Wall, Great Cut and Area 51.

“The Bahamas is home to the world’s third largest barrier reef and we are known the world over, for our award-winning dive sites,” said John HW Pinder II. Parliamentary Secretary at The Bahamas’ Ministry of Tourism. “This week on the island of San Salvador, I am excited that these divers will be able to see up close why It’s Better in The Bahamas.”

The island was recently named the “ultimate diving destination in the Caribbean.”

“We have over 52 dive sites and all of our dive sites are all protected because they all are located within the West Coast Marine Park so our divers will not just be in regular waters but diving within the five national park systems in San Salvador,” explained Jermaine Johnson, District Manager, San Salvador Tourism Office.

The Bahamas is partnering with Caradonna Adventures; Riding Rock Resort & Marina; Guanahani Divers and Bahamasair to organize San Salvador Dive Week.