Explore Nassau
Nassau, the capital city of the Bahamas, offers an unparalleled diving experience that attracts enthusiasts from around the globe. Its allure goes beyond the postcard-perfect beaches and shimmering azure waters, bringing to life a vivid underwater world teeming with adventure. With diverse dive sites ranging from submerged cliffs and plunging walls to vibrant reefs and eerie shipwrecks, Nassau is a dream destination for divers of all skill levels. The thrilling shark dives, particularly at the Runway Wall, also known as Shark Arena, provide adrenaline-pumping encounters where divers can witness hand-fed sharks up close. The island of New Providence, where Nassau is located, boasts numerous incredible dive sites. While many favorites are found on the western side, the entire island offers a wealth of underwater exploration opportunities. Shore dives at shallow reefs like Piece of Cake and Angelfish Reef are perfect for beginners, while more advanced sites reachable by boat challenge experienced divers. Dive centers and liveaboards abound, offering trips to the best sites in the Bahamas and even further afield to the surrounding Out Islands. This idyllic Caribbean hotspot even served as the backdrop for classic movies like "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," adding a touch of cinematic magic to its underwater wonders. Whether you're just starting or seeking advanced and specialty courses, Nassau provides the ideal setting for every diver's journey.
Dive Activity
Diving in Nassau
Known as the “Underwater Hollywood” of the world, Nassau’s wreck diving sites have been used in a multitude of films over the years, thanks to their almost perfect conditions and bountiful marine life all just as abundant as they are easily accessible. In 1916, “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” was the first movie to be filmed here. The most famous cinematic features to be filmed were the James Bond movies, “Thunderball,” shot in 1965. Divers can explore the Vulcan Bomber that appears in this iconic picture, while Tears of Allah wreck from Sean Connery’s 1983 Bond movie “Never Say Never Again,” is also available for all to enjoy.
On a more normal note, Nassau’s reef diving scene is unparalleled. Easy, shallow reef sites are plentiful, where beginners and seasoned divers can be mesmerized by kaleidoscopic healthy corals teeming with tropical species.
Wall diving is just as popular, where vertical cliffs plunge into the abyss, while impressive tunnels, swim-throughs and caverns allow for excellent cave diving experiences. Tec divers will be adorned by depths at Lost Blue Cove and Trinity Caves, while Stuart’s Cove, also known as Runway Wall, boasts exceptional walls, in addition to rainbow reefs.
Shark diving is a major attraction, such as at Shark Buoy, where numbers of silky sharks assemble to feed on reef fish, allowing for exciting close encounters and observable natural behaviours.
Top Wildlife Sightings in Nassau
Expect life of varying sizes, from the Bahama sea star, snappers, sea bass, blue tang, spiny lobster, eels, angelfish, butterflyfish, octopus and the native Nassau grouper. Lots of beautiful anemonefish, starfish species, diverse crustaceans, and macro creatures can also be spotted.
An amazing variety of hard and soft corals thrive here too, including sponges, barrel coral, elkhorn, staghorn and incredible black coral structures.
Encrusted wreck sites host schooling silversides and mirrors of barracuda, while turtles and stingrays glide across reefs. The big boys include Caribbean reef sharks and silky sharks, and lucky divers might even spot tiger sharks and dolphins.
Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 600
iStock/ultramarinfoto
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Total number of species: 27
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Barracuda
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Loggerhead Turtle
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Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 200
Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel
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Total number of species: 2
AdobeStock-hakbak
Nurse Shark
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AdobeStock-Marc Henauer
Grey Reef Shark
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 80
iStock/Extreme-Photographer
Stingrays
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AdobeStock-Nikolai Sorokin
Blacktip Reef Shark
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 12
iStock/cinoby
Lionfish
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The best Months to dive in Nassau
The welcoming tropical climate provides great year-round diving, with comfortable water temperatures throughout the seasons, varying from 27–31°C/80.6–87.8°F. The best of Nassau’s diving is seen around November to May, when the dry season brings stable weather and ocean conditions.
The rainy season runs from June to October, and while diving is possible, storms may sometimes interrupt schedules, though downpours usually pass quickly and clear days still occur. Plus, bargains on accommodation and diving can be snatched during this low season.
