There are many great things about diving the Bahamas, but the world-class shark diving is probably the best thing about this year-round Caribbean destination. Divers flock to the Bahamas to dive with tiger sharks at Tiger Beach, oceanic whitetip sharks off Cat Island and great hammerhead sharks in Bimini. Various other shark species can also be regularly seen in these areas.
Scuba Dive Level
All Levels
Visibility
80 to 100 feet (24 to 30 meters)
Average Water Temperature
80
Shark Encounters
Stunning Reefs & Corals
There are many great things about diving the Bahamas, but the world-class shark divingis probably the best thing about this year-round Caribbean destination.
Divers flock to the Bahamas diving scene to dive with tiger sharks at Tiger Beach, oceanic whitetip sharks off Cat Island and great hammerhead sharks in Bimini. Various other shark species can also be regularly seen in these areas.
In 2011, their government banned all commercial shark fishing, allowing sharks in the Bahamas to roam freely. Apart from shark diving, the diverse range of diving in the Bahamas includes blue holes and caves, historical wrecks and lush reefs, and dynamic walls.
The Bahamas also offers unmatched visibility and a wide range of diving opportunities for divers of any level, which, all in all, make the Bahamas a strong contender for those seeking the best diving in the Caribbean.
Home to colorful reefs and great visibility, the Bahamas diving hosts a stimulating underwater environment with easily accessed and diverse sites. There are over 700 islands in the Bahamas, meaning that there is truly a paradise for everyone.
Thrill-seekers can experience unique underwater adventures in the Bahamas, such as shark feeding dives, while parents can find plenty of family fun. There also is a Hollywood novelty to be found in the Bahamas as it has hosted many major motion picture film crews above and below the water's surface - bring your best underwater video camera. Divers enjoy incredible dive site diversity, exploring blue holes, walls, caves, wrecks, and healthy reefs in warm, clean waters.
A rich and diverse marine life can be found in the waters of the Bahamas. The reefs are populated with eels, parrotfish, angelfish, grunts, barracudas, Nassau grouper, turtles, nurse sharks and porcupine fish. Shark diving in the Bahamas is popular. The shark species that divers can encounter here include bull sharks, Caribbean reef sharks, oceanic whitetip, hammerhead sharks, lemon sharks, and of course, tiger sharks.
Other marine life to encounter while scuba diving the Bahamas' waters include sponges, conch, lobsters, hogfish, snappers, bonefish, and many other fish. Several species of whales and dolphins, including humpback, sperm, minke, and pilot whales, bottlenose dolphins, and the Atlantic spotted dolphins are found in the seas around the islands.
Read more about the shark diving diversity in the Bahamas.
Tiger Beach is a popular area in the Bahamas for divers to take underwater photos and videos of various sharks such as Tiger sharks, Lemon sharks and sometimes great hammerheads. Divers will sit on the sandy bottom at 20-50ft depth with a dive guide, and sharks will often appear minutes after the dive starts.
Check out our detailed guide to diving Tiger Beach.
Besides the Tiger Beach in Grand Bahamas, there are plenty of other exciting dive sites and dive areas to explore. Here are some of the best dive spots in the Bahamas.
1. The Blue Hole/The Crater in Andros - If you dived the Blue Hole in Belize, you might want to also jump in the blue hole that is also known as the Crater in the Bahamas. It has unique topography and even a cave system below. Compared to the Blue Hole in Belize, it is richer in marine life and you can spot some rays, turtles and eels. So if you haven't tried cave diving yet, that may just be the best place to start.
2. James Bond Wrecks in New Providence - Bahamas diving features the unique experience of exploring the wrecks made famous by James Bond himself. You will be able to dive the Vulcan Bomber from the movie "Thunderball" from 1965 or the Tears of Allah that was used in the movie "Never say Never Again" from1983. Besides reliving the movies, the sites have beautiful marine life, are relatively easy to dive and the wrecks are covered with gorgeous coral.
3. Current Cut in Eleuthera - If you love drift diving, you must not miss this dive spot. Between the islands, the tidal change forces wather through a narrow passage making it a proper adventure dive. Lots of Caribbean Reef fish pass by and you can even see sharks and rays. The current is quite strong, which makes it more suitable for advanced divers.
4. Runaway Wall/Stuart's Cove Dive Bahamas in Nassau - The capital of the Bahamas itself provides plenty of great dive sites, but the Runaway Wall or also known as the Stuart's Cove Dive Bahamas has a shark arena where you can get thrilling encounters with sharks. Having a reputation for some of the best shark diving in the world, this dive site will not disappoint.
5. Victory Reef in Bimini Island - This lively coral reef is home to a large variety of marine life. Scuba divers can spot turtles, Caribbean reef fish, sharks and rays. Besides marine life, it has some great swim-throughs and reef structures.
6. Conception Island Wall in Long Island - This exceptional Bahamas scuba dive site boasts plummeting walls, swim-throughs, and caves. Here you can find some amazing drop-offs, superb visibility and a mix of soft and hard corals and sponges.
7. Columbus Point in Cat Island - This remote dive site is truly breathtaking and has some great marine life to display. Its pinnacles attract lot's of marine life, especially groupers. The stronger currents and depth of the dive site is also bring plenty of pelagic sharks to the area.
The largest airports in the Bahamas are at the capital Nassau (NAS), on New Providence, and Freeport (FPO), on Grand Bahama. Smaller airports are scattered amongst the other islands. Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) in Nassau is the largest international gateway into the country. Grand Bahama International Airport (FPO) receives international flights, and Exuma International Airport (GGT) on George Town also receives a few international flights.
Scuba diving in the Bahamas is user-friendly. There are a lot of land-based dive operators in the Bahamas, but liveaboard dive travel is the most popular choice for those who want to explore the scuba diversity of the vast range of islands.
The diving season in the Bahamas is year-round. The best time to dive would depend on what you're hoping to see since many of the marine animals are seasonal, i.e. whales, certain sharks like hammerheads and bull sharks.
The Bahamas offer something for everyone. Between dive days, there are many activities and attractions, including dolphin encounters, cultural and historical tours, golf, tennis, cycling, kayaking, snorkeling, canoeing, jet-skiing, kite surfing, parasailing, fishing, ecotourism, spas, shopping, and more. In the capital of Bahamas, Nassau, you can join Bahamian food tours to get a taste of the local cuisine and visit a local rum distillery for a proper Caribbean vibe. Of course, with some of the most dazzling beaches in the world available, many visitors to the Bahamas choose to simply enjoy the sunshine.
