Bahamas Scuba Diving

225 Dive Sites in 17 Destinations

Abaco Islands (10)
Andros Island (39)
Bimini Islands (31)
Cat Island (0)
Cay Sal Bank (0)
Coco Cay (6)
Conception Island (3)
Grand Bahama (22)
Great Exuma (0)

Harbour Island (3)
Long Island (12)
Marsh Harbour,Abaco (0)
Nassau (33)
Paradise Island (1)
San Salvador (34)
The Exumas (31)
Tongue of the Ocean (0)

Believed to be the location of the mysterious Fountain of Youth, the Bahamas 700 islands and 2,500 cays possess a small part of what makes every other tropical island in the world unique in their own way...

They are home to San Salvador where Columbus made landfall; notorious pirate haunts frequented by the likes of the legendary Blackbeard ; the perilous Devil's Backbone Reef - bane of many a wreck, and last but not least, the 'underwater remains of Atlantis' which are considered to be the force behind the eerie Bermuda Triangle. The Bahamas have islands that are awaiting exploration and some that have yet to be mapped.

The Bahaman Archipelago stretches over 750 miles of Atlantic Ocean, east of Florida and can be a rather perilous destination in summer and autumn due to hurricanes. The aftermath of names such as Andrew, Floyd, Frances, Jeanne and Wilma have been widely publicized. Its 305,500 population finds partial decent in the Taino people from Hispaniola and Cuba who are now known as the Lucayans. After Columbus made landfall, their numbers dwindled significantly due to slavery, forced labour and disease among other.

The Bahamas Barrier Reef

The Bahamas boast world's third longest barrier reef, produced by the coral organisms that made the islands themselves and some of the best tropical visibility in the world. The calcium carbonate the Islands are comprised of absorbs most of the rainfall resulting in very little sedimentation and clear 80 to 150 ft viz (200 if the wind plays along.) Marine life outnumbers the Caribbean due to a combination of geography and the natural rich influx of the Atlantic's Gulf Stream.

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The Grand Bahama is the 'Dolphin interaction capitol' of the Bahamas. UNEXSO (the Underwater Explorers Society), near Port Lucaya run a facility at Sanctuary Bay where swimming, training and scuba diving with these creatures can be experienced If you prefer a slightly edgier pelagic encounter you can try the shark dives which are conducted by sitting at 45 feet deep to watch feeders attract up to 20 Caribbean Reef Sharks at a time.

Theo's Wreck, a Norwegian freighter, two smaller wrecks and the tugboat Jose add to variety along with blue holes and even inland caverns such as Ben's Cavern.

Little Bimini, the gateway to the Bahamas lies 50 miles east coast of Miami where explorer's have crossed the globe to come and seek the Fountain of Youth Diving here has everything from coral tunnels, blue holes and sharks to the submerged 'remains' of Atlantis and many other thrilling unique experiences. The Berry Islands are known for reefs, walls and resident Pilot Whales, Manta Rays and dolphins.

A 600ft bridge now connects Paradise Island (Hogg Island) to Nassau city on New Providence Island. The Bahamas pirating reputation was by the legendary likes of Blackbeard. Wrecks here are different to most, you can dive the Vulcan Bomber, set of James Bond 007 films, military vessels, planes, and freighters. Reefs and wall diving goes down at Southwest Reef, Goulding Cay, Fish Hotel, Barracuda Shoals, Pumpkin Patch and Razorback. Shark diving with Silky Sharks is popular in this area of the Bahamans.

The Out Islands are everything else in the Bahamas but Freeport and New Providence. They include the likes of Andros, San Salvador, the Abacos, Long Island, Eleuthera and Bimini as well as the remote Ragged Island and Inaguas.

The Abacos display slightly varying reef biology than the rest of the archipelago due to cooler waters. Dive sites are generally shallow. Walker's Cay offers diving versatility of reefs, caverns and a great shark dive, while Green Turtle Cay is popular on the list of top sites in the Bahamas.

The Exumas boast 350 cays south of New Providence with walls and shallow reefs to dive to your hearts content.

Hatchet - shaped Cat Island's shallow reef Dry Heads, and numerous wrecks join its Blue Holes on the list of thrills it offers. The island's diving is concentrated along the southern wall with a cut that starts at 50 fee drops to 6,000.

Andros Island, alongside 130 mile long reef is not very well known seemingly endless numbers of Blue holes everything from snorkeling to technical diving. San Salvador, Columbus's landfall runs the show when it comes to diving the Bahamas diving, it also dominated the underwater photography scene with its walls, scalloped and great Hammerheads to name a few.

Long Island's claim to fame is its record breaking 600ft deep blue hole and the launch point to remote Conception Island. Underwater, its reefs and drop-off are a sanctuary for every conceivable underwater plant, animal and fish. The wall running alongside the uninhabited island is a vertical drop-off lined with black corals, deepwater sea fans and broad forests of plate coral. Since Conception is a desert island there is nothing in the water to mar the visibility.

Eleuthera Island - where the intrepid and courageous Eleutherian Adventurers established their settlements. At its northern edge lies The Devil's Backbone, a shallow and jagged hidden reef against which many an unsuspecting vessel ran aground. Near this reef is uninhabited Current Island. Technical divers come from miles around the world to experience the thrill of the Bahamas famous drift dive - Current Cut in Harbor Island.

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