Explore Cat Island

The Bahamian waters around Cat Island are renowned for shallow reefs, beautiful corals and tons of tropical fish all great for beginners. There are also numerous deeper reefs, walls and shipwrecks for advanced divers to explore. But that’s not the only thing attracting divers to the pristine waters here. Like Tiger Beach and most of the Bahamas, Cat Island is a shark enthusiast's paradise. Thresher sharks and oceanic white tips migrate to the island in March, when divers have the  opportunity to kneel in the silky sands or drift in the open blue, while enjoying intimate close encounters with these graceful pelagics.

Though these are undoubtedly the highlights, other majestic shark species can be seen here too, including caribbean reef sharks, nurse, great hammerhead sharks, silky, dusky, tiger,  blue sharks and even whale sharks occasionally. When gliding in the blue with the oceanic whitetips, it’s completely unpredictable. You never know what will show up. Schools of tuna, dorado, and even blue and white marlin can be spotted in the blue. While shark encounters are the main attraction, the reefs and walls host a wealth of rich corals, sponges, eels, turtles, grouper, crustaceans, octopus, stingrays, and vibrant fish species.

With such diversity, scuba diving at Cat Island is suited to all skill levels. Beginners can enjoy easy reef dives while undertaking entry-level dive courses, while advanced divers can be challenged by energetic shark diving, walls and wrecks.

Though there aren’t a huge number of operators on the island, there are a good few to choose from, including dive centers and dive resorts. Liveaboards mainly depart from Nassau, Grand Bahama and Florida, though they often visit Cat Island’s best sites. oceanic whitetip shark diving season runs from March through June.

Ideally, the best time for scuba diving is from November to May, when the dry season delivers the best weather and ocean conditions. June to October is the rainy/hurricane season, though sunny days do occur and bargains on accommodation and diving can be snatched up. The shark diving season runs from March through June.