Entertainment News Wire May 24, 2000

(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--May 24, 2000--Three members of the Backstreet Boys -- presently recognized as the biggest pop group in the world -- made the most of recent recording session in the Bahamas by becoming certified scuba divers Nick Carter, Howie Dorough and Kevin Richardson received their PADI Open Water Scuba Certifications through Stuart Cove's Dive Bahamas resort just south of Nassau. The trio, who proved to be "underwater naturals" according to instructors, were able to explore shallow shipwrecks, colorful coral reefs and even historic underwater sets used in the filming of several James Bond films.

"It was tough getting them out of the water once they discovered how comfortable and enjoyable scuba diving can be," said Michelle Cove, co-owner of the resort and the group's instructor. "The looks on their faces after that first dive was so memorable, I don't think they'll ever forget it."

During their certification dives, the three young divers logged time on the famous "Bahama Mama" shipwreck, clowned around on the underwater airplane wreck used in the James Bond film "Thunderball" and even had an encounter with a group of Caribbean Reef sharks. "That was the highlight of the day when the sharks showed up," Cove recalls.

Stuart Cove's Dive South Ocean resort, one of the premier scuba diving resorts in the world, is well-suited for high profile visitors. The resort's dive shop doubled as part of the set for the 1996 Paul Hogan film "Flipper," staff members helped with the Ron Howard film "Cocoon," and Cove served as a stunt double for the recent James Bond film, "The World is Not Enough."

For more information, visit the Stuart Cove Web site at www.stuartcove.com.