Bermuda has long had an indelible connection to the sea. Its reefs helped create an island nation when an English sailing vessel shipwrecked upon its shores in 1609. Its pink sand beaches have welcomed the sun-splashed masses that come to enjoy its turquoise waters. And its windy bays have attracted the giants of sailing—in fact, the 35th America’s Cup, which has foodies and fashionistas flocking to this island jewel in anticipation of the world’s most glamorous regatta in 2017. And while Bermuda’s well-preserved colonial history and abundant natural beauty continue to lure travelers, it’s the ocean that breathes life into this mid-Atlantic treasure.

Treasures still to be found

Thanks to Bermuda’s surrounding coral reef—a thriving underwater system that’s been designated a protected marine area since the 1600s—the island is home to over 400 shipwrecks sunk in its waters, making it the wreck diving capital of the Atlantic. The biggest of the bunch is the Cristobal Colon, a Spanish luxury liner that was 499-feet long and three decks high that crashed into a coral reef in 1936 during a cruise between New York and Central America. Today, its wreckage is scattered across 100,000 square feet of the ocean floor at a depth of 55 feet and is a haven for reef fish including grouper, damselfish and barracuda.

Another popular dive site is the wreck of the Constellation, a four-masted wooden schooner that was the inspiration for Peter Benchley’s book The Deep. Bound for Venezuela with a cargo of building materials, medicine and 700 cases of Scotch whiskey, the ship sank off the northwestern coast of Bermuda in July 1943 and now lies in 30 feet of water where novice divers can view petrified remnants of its bounty.

Off Bermuda’s south shore, underwater explorers can also dive the wreck of the Mary Celestia, a side-paddlewheel steamer chartered by the Confederate Army during the American Civil War.

The ship sank in 1864 but made news as recently as 2011, when five bottles of 148-year-old wine were discovered in her bow in addition to an intact bottle of perfume from the elite 19th century London perfume house, Piesse & Lubin. Once removed from the wreck, divers brought the bottle to Bermuda Perfumery Master Perfumer, Isabelle Ramsay-Brackstone, who hand-delivered the bottle to the laboratories of Drom Fragrances in New Jersey to have it analyzed. When the ingredients were determined—an elegant combination of grapefruit and bergamot with notes of neroli, orange flower and rosewood—the perfume was recreated and bottled under the Lili Bermuda brand. Indeed a true underwater treasure, the perfume is now packaged in a Bermuda cedar box and sold at the Bermuda Perfumery in the City of Hamilton or at its historic St. George’s store.

“This story is fascinating in so many domains: For shipwreck divers, historians as well as perfumers,” said Ramsay-Brackstone. “I hope by sharing the story of this ancient perfume we grow the love of modern-day fragrance making.”

Sing out loud

Island lore holds that Bermuda has more churches per square mile than anywhere else in the world. True or not, the island is awash in holy structures, all of which are home to devout congregations and some of the most joyful choir music in the Atlantic. Step into one and you’ll be embraced by islanders dressed in their Sunday best, all of whom have come for the same reason: To greet their neighbors and to be thankful for their God above. This, of course, means singing and singing loudly, no matter their denomination.

“Bermuda has such a large Christian community,” says Terry Henry, music director for Southampton’s Mount Zion AME Church and conductor of its celebrated Male Voice Choir. “It’s just one of the reasons why Bermuda is such a unique place to visit.” In addition to singing traditional gospel hymns every fourth Sunday at Mount Zion Church, the Male Voice Choir also performs a series of outdoor concerts every Thursday evening in July, when locals and visitors alike can listen at the clock tower in the Royal Naval Dockyard; at the rubber tree near Warwick Parish post office; at Albuoys Point in the City of Hamilton; and at King’s Square in St. Georges.

Another popular choir is a children’s group called Their Majesties Choristers, which performs the last Sunday of every month at St. Peter’s Church in St. Georges, a UNESCO World Heritage site with labyrinth cobblestone alleyways and well-preserved British colonial architecture. “It’s an honor to perform at St. Peters,” says Choristers choirmaster Martin Pastor. “It’s like stepping back 400 years in time.” With exposed cedar beams and flickering candelabras the church is the oldest Anglican house of worship in continuous use in the western hemisphere—indeed, a perfect home for the boys and girls choir, which is modeled after the choristers who perform for the British Royal Family right down to their ankle length red choir robes and joyful juvenile voices.

Sail the seas

Boasting steady ocean breezes and flat protected waters, the island is a sailors’ dream filled with hidden bays, secluded islets and calm coves. It’s also a place where one will never lose sight of land since Bermuda is an archipelago comprised of about 180 small islands in the turquoise mid-Atlantic. Because of these near perfect conditions, spending time on the water is an essential activity for most islanders - in fact, it’s not uncommon to see large flotillas on any given weekend, when rum-fuelled locals attack the afternoon at sea while their boats rest happily at anchor.

Fortunately for visitors, an equally authentic experience can be had by chartering a sailboat, most of which offer a combination of sailing and snorkeling on a half- or full-day cruise, but can also be customized for a once-in-a-lifetime waterborne luxury experience.

At the beginning end of the scale, on the Ana Luna - a 45-foot catamaran that sails from Grotto Bay Beach Resort on Bermuda’s east end - guests can cruise the tranquil waters of Castle Harbour or set sail for the windy south shore. Large groups interested in exploring uninhibited islands in Bermuda’s calm Paradise Lakes can also board the Shekynah, a 51-foot monohull with room for 25 passengers. Alternatively, guests can also sail to a shallow wreck site like the HMS Vixen, a British steamer that’s now home to hundreds of Bermuda chub.

Most boats offer light bites and soft drinks plus beer and wine while aboard, but for a truly luxurious experience - one that includes high-end cocktails, premium champagne and gourmet food for the duration of the charter - look no further than a pair of blue water catamarans that operate near the City of Hamilton.

On the 41-foot catamaran Chelonia, Captain Paul Terceira and his wife Monique create bespoke sailing experiences like snorkeling on barrier reef shipwrecks, sunset cocktail cruises, biodiversity tours and private sit down dinners for up to eight guests. These are unforgettable sailing experiences that include use of the boat’s underwater scooters, glass-bottomed kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. Large groups looking to celebrate a special event like a birthday, wedding or anniversary should consider the 77-foot Zara, an ultra-luxury fly bridge catamaran with capacity for up to 70 passengers.

Rosewood Tucker's Point is a serenely sophisticated tropical escape just 90 minutes from most major U.S. East Coast cities.