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The Bahamas

Divesites
42
Centers
8
Wildlife
35
© iStock/RomoloTavani

Explore The Bahamas

Diving in The Bahamas offers an unparalleled experience, immersing adventurers in a vibrant underwater world. With over 700 islands and some of the clearest waters in the Caribbean, divers are enchanted by the stunning visibility and diverse marine life. From vibrant coral reefs teeming with colorful fish to dramatic walls that plunge into the ocean depths, the underwater landscapes are breathtaking. Wreck dives reveal intriguing stories of sunken ships, while shore dives provide easy access to rich marine ecosystems right from the beach.

The Bahamas is renowned for its spectrum of diving styles, catering to all preferences and skill levels. Whether you prefer the convenience of shore diving, the thrill of boat excursions, or the extended explorations of liveaboard trips, The Bahamas delivers. Seasonal highlights include encounters with hammerhead and tiger sharks, particularly around the islands of Bimini and Grand Bahama. The archipelago's unique geography allows divers to explore blue holes and underwater caves, offering unforgettable experiences. With 340 days of sunshine annually, this diving paradise is accessible almost year-round, ensuring a memorable adventure beneath the waves.

Adding to the allure, The Bahamas' diverse marine life includes dolphins, rays, turtles, and an array of reef fish, making every dive a vibrant spectacle. Each island offers distinct diving opportunities, from the bustling sites near Nassau to the secluded and serene spots around Andros. The combination of rich biodiversity, varied dive environments, and the welcoming Bahamian culture makes diving in The Bahamas a truly special experience that captivates the heart and soul of every diver.

Power Plug Type
A, B
Payment Method
VISA, MC, AMEX, DIS
Tipping
10–15% / Service Staff / Tipping is expected in restaurants and hotels unless a service charge is already added.
Currency
BSD
Dial Code
+1-242
Electricity
120V / 60Hz
Time
UTC−5

Places to explore

Dive Centers

Dive Sites

Top Wildlife Sightings in the Bahamas

One of the main highlights of Bahamian diving is the opportunity to experience some of the most intimate shark diving the world has to offer. Sharks are very protected, and diving with them is strictly controlled, meaning they are kept safe and healthy. As mentioned, Tiger Beach, Grand Bahama is a must for getting close to sharks.

Similarly, Bimini is another spot for shark lovers. It has three islands: North, South, and East Bimini, where there are daily tours. Great hammerheads come close to divers here, along with the occasional nurse and bull shark. The best time to dive here is from December to April, when appearances are more frequent.

New Providence, home to the capital, Nassau, has many dive sites mostly to the southwest of the island. Caribbean reef sharks are plentiful, and divers can see them all year round.

Also, ocean it whitetip sharks come to feast on migrating tuna at Cat Island. These usually solitary creatures congregate to feed mostly in April and May, when divers are more likely to see them in higher numbers.

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: 27

Barracuda

653 Sightings
J
44
F
27
M
76
A
34
M
53
J
59
J
94
A
55
S
51
O
56
N
52
D
52

Tiger Shark

543 Sightings
J
50
F
60
M
124
A
49
M
49
J
45
J
10
A
0
S
6
O
20
N
56
D
74

Great Hammerhead Shark

325 Sightings
J
59
F
63
M
56
A
28
M
0
J
0
J
2
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
47
D
70

Green Turtle

249 Sightings
J
14
F
9
M
12
A
35
M
15
J
21
J
36
A
31
S
20
O
10
N
28
D
18

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 200

Moray Eel

229 Sightings
J
12
F
9
M
26
A
21
M
11
J
23
J
30
A
16
S
23
O
15
N
24
D
19

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 600

Wrasse

199 Sightings
J
16
F
8
M
29
A
16
M
16
J
4
J
18
A
37
S
13
O
11
N
23
D
8

Bull Shark

175 Sightings
J
29
F
51
M
41
A
11
M
1
J
0
J
1
A
1
S
1
O
1
N
11
D
27

Loggerhead Turtle

166 Sightings
J
17
F
9
M
18
A
18
M
5
J
9
J
7
A
14
S
25
O
27
N
10
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 25

Eagle Ray

77 Sightings
J
7
F
7
M
8
A
5
M
10
J
7
J
4
A
8
S
7
O
6
N
1
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 2

Nurse Shark

1.4k Sightings
J
110
F
120
M
144
A
103
M
115
J
120
J
129
A
85
S
86
O
62
N
146
D
141

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 80

Stingrays

1.2k Sightings
J
113
F
72
M
140
A
66
M
62
J
102
J
130
A
104
S
102
O
95
N
121
D
122

Grey Reef Shark

1.2k Sightings
J
71
F
78
M
141
A
88
M
136
J
122
J
129
A
93
S
76
O
63
N
80
D
109

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 12

Lionfish

859 Sightings
J
68
F
36
M
98
A
54
M
35
J
83
J
119
A
89
S
60
O
53
N
93
D
71

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Angelfish

824 Sightings
J
52
F
43
M
88
A
49
M
60
J
79
J
103
A
97
S
72
O
47
N
78
D
56

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 100

Parrotfish

808 Sightings
J
50
F
34
M
96
A
46
M
36
J
85
J
111
A
104
S
64
O
53
N
61
D
68

Blacktip Reef Shark

806 Sightings
J
51
F
51
M
105
A
55
M
77
J
65
J
71
A
41
S
65
O
80
N
88
D
57

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 250

Grouper/Basslets

784 Sightings
J
54
F
37
M
86
A
58
M
83
J
88
J
104
A
76
S
51
O
52
N
34
D
61

Caribbean Reef Shark

503 Sightings
J
54
F
41
M
70
A
33
M
21
J
15
J
42
A
27
S
58
O
30
N
61
D
51

Lemon Shark

474 Sightings
J
25
F
57
M
116
A
42
M
50
J
47
J
19
A
3
S
9
O
21
N
35
D
50

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

Butterfly Fish

464 Sightings
J
27
F
25
M
59
A
23
M
48
J
44
J
54
A
47
S
29
O
17
N
59
D
32

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 110

Snapper

283 Sightings
J
18
F
9
M
25
A
10
M
25
J
31
J
46
A
46
S
31
O
18
N
17
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

Squirrelfish

238 Sightings
J
5
F
9
M
37
A
11
M
12
J
19
J
15
A
59
S
14
O
13
N
30
D
14

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

Triggerfish

227 Sightings
J
12
F
5
M
28
A
13
M
8
J
17
J
50
A
25
S
14
O
11
N
25
D
19

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 350

Damselfish

214 Sightings
J
11
F
6
M
17
A
8
M
18
J
34
J
25
A
28
S
17
O
11
N
26
D
13

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

Spiny Lobster

197 Sightings
J
8
F
11
M
15
A
13
M
7
J
31
J
34
A
15
S
7
O
8
N
31
D
17

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 55

Lobster

196 Sightings
J
11
F
20
M
35
A
16
M
14
J
21
J
19
A
5
S
9
O
5
N
14
D
27

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

Jackfish

193 Sightings
J
15
F
5
M
23
A
16
M
5
J
19
J
22
A
16
S
17
O
17
N
27
D
11

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

191 Sightings
J
15
F
2
M
10
A
23
M
8
J
19
J
22
A
26
S
13
O
25
N
21
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 85

Surgeonfish

169 Sightings
J
9
F
8
M
13
A
6
M
8
J
18
J
36
A
17
S
16
O
12
N
22
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

Pufferfish

168 Sightings
J
18
F
8
M
22
A
7
M
5
J
23
J
25
A
16
S
13
O
7
N
15
D
9

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3

Trumpetfish

164 Sightings
J
14
F
8
M
19
A
10
M
18
J
23
J
18
A
10
S
10
O
9
N
9
D
16

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 7000

Crab

142 Sightings
J
12
F
1
M
13
A
15
M
2
J
18
J
10
A
24
S
15
O
4
N
13
D
15

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Goatfish

108 Sightings
J
8
F
5
M
26
A
10
M
8
J
5
J
6
A
8
S
8
O
11
N
12
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

Soldierfish

92 Sightings
J
6
F
5
M
13
A
7
M
3
J
8
J
9
A
14
S
3
O
8
N
12
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3400

Shrimp

70 Sightings
J
7
F
0
M
7
A
1
M
0
J
1
J
8
A
13
S
6
O
7
N
12
D
8