Explore Tongue of Ocean

Diving in the Tongue of the Ocean, located off the eastern shore of Andros, offers an extraordinary underwater adventure that is both diverse and thrilling. This region is bordered by the third-largest barrier reef in the world, providing a stunning backdrop for divers of all skill levels. Beginners can enjoy easy, relaxing dives among countless shallow reefs teeming with vibrant marine life.

For those seeking a deeper thrill, the famous Wall dive presents an awe-inspiring descent into over 3.2 kilometers/2 miles of deep blue water, making it one of the most breathtaking dive sites in the Caribbean. Adventure-seeking divers will find their match at the Great Blue Hole, the second deepest blue hole in the Bahamas, offering an exciting exploration opportunity. The area is also rich with intriguing wrecks and cave dives, each site revealing unique underwater treasures.

Typically accessed by dive boat, these sites provide a varied experience that can include everything from leisurely reef dives to exhilarating wall and cave explorations. The Tongue of the Ocean stands out not only for its breathtaking dive environments but also for its seasonal marine encounters that continue to enchant divers year-round.

Dive Activity

Diving in Tongue of Ocean

The Tongue of the Ocean in the Bahamas offers diverse dive experiences that captivate adventurers and marine enthusiasts alike. Notable wreck dives, such as the "Theo's Wreck," a former freighter, attract divers with its vibrant marine life and intriguing history. Popular shore dives include "Stuart Cove's Shark Adventure," where divers can witness the thrilling choreographed feeding of Caribbean reef sharks. For those seeking unique underwater experiences, night dives in the Tongue of the Ocean reveal a different marine world, showcasing nocturnal creatures and bioluminescent displays. Dive travelers can choose between shore and liveaboard options, providing flexibility for both novice and experienced divers to explore the underwater wonders at their pace.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Tongue of Ocean

The Tongue of the Ocean, located in the Bahamas, is a marine haven teeming with diverse aquatic life, making it a prime destination for divers. Common inhabitants include vibrant reef fish such as angelfish, parrotfish, and butterflyfish, which add color and life to the coral gardens. These species are readily seen year-round, offering a dazzling display for those exploring the underwater landscapes.

Seasonally, divers may encounter larger marine creatures. Shark sightings, including reef and nurse sharks, are relatively common, especially during the winter months. Rays, such as the majestic spotted eagle ray, often glide gracefully through the waters, with their presence peaking during the warmer seasons. The area is also a nesting site for sea turtles, which can be spotted during the summer months, adding to the rich tapestry of marine life that the Tongue of the Ocean has to offer.

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: 200

Moray Eel

26 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
2
M
2
J
3
J
2
A
0
S
6
O
5
N
3
D
2

Loggerhead Turtle

22 Sightings
J
1
F
6
M
4
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
4
O
6
N
0
D
1

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

Total number of species: 27

Barracuda

16 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
5
A
0
M
0
J
1
J
2
A
2
S
3
O
0
N
1
D
2

Green Turtle

8 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
3
A
0
S
3
O
0
N
0
D
0

Common Dolphin

4 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
1
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
1

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

Total number of species: 600

Wrasse

3 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
2
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
1

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

Total number of species: 300

Octopus

3 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
1
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

Great Hammerhead Shark

2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
2
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 25

Eagle Ray

2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
1
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
0

Hawksbill Turtle

2 Sightings
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0
F
0
M
2
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 12

Lionfish

30 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
6
A
3
M
3
J
2
J
2
A
0
S
4
O
4
N
2
D
2

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

Total number of species: 80

Stingrays

29 Sightings
J
4
F
0
M
4
A
0
M
3
J
3
J
2
A
4
S
4
O
3
N
0
D
2

Grey Reef Shark

28 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
6
A
0
M
0
J
3
J
5
A
6
S
4
O
0
N
0
D
1

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

Total number of species: 90

Angelfish

26 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
5
A
3
M
0
J
1
J
2
A
2
S
5
O
2
N
2
D
1

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

Total number of species: 100

Parrotfish

20 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
7
A
1
M
1
J
1
J
0
A
0
S
4
O
2
N
1
D
1

Blacktip Reef Shark

19 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
3
A
0
M
3
J
6
J
2
A
0
S
0
O
5
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 250

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

Total number of species: 2

Nurse Shark

14 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
4
J
3
J
2
A
0
S
0
O
2
N
0
D
2

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

Total number of species: 130

Butterfly Fish

13 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
5
A
1
M
1
J
1
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
2
D
1

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

Total number of species: 3000

Nudibranch

11 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
2
M
4
J
2
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
2
D
0

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

Total number of species: 250

Scorpionfish

10 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
1
A
2
M
3
J
1
J
0
A
0
S
2
O
1
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 60

Squirrelfish

9 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
3
A
0
M
1
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
2
N
1
D
2

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

Total number of species: 30

Stonefish

9 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
1
M
3
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
3
N
2
D
0

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

Total number of species: 28

Clownfish

7 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
1
A
1
M
1
J
1
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
2
D
1

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

Total number of species: 40

Triggerfish

7 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
1
A
0
M
1
J
2
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
1

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

Total number of species: 90

Goatfish

7 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
4
A
1
M
1
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
0

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

Total number of species: 130

Pufferfish

6 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
1
J
2
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
1

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

Total number of species: 40

Jackfish

5 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
1
J
1
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
2
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 110

Snapper

5 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
4
A
0
M
0
J
1
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 85

Surgeonfish

5 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
3
A
0
M
1
J
1
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 8

Bannerfish

5 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
1
A
1
M
1
J
1
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
0

Caribbean Reef Shark

5 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
2
O
2
N
0
D
1

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

4 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
1
M
1
J
1
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
0

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

Total number of species: 350

Damselfish

4 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
2
A
0
M
0
J
1
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 7000

Crab

4 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
2
A
0
M
1
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 60

Soldierfish

4 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
1
J
1
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
2

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

Total number of species: 20

Porcupinefish

4 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
3
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
0

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

Total number of species: 3

Trumpetfish

4 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
2
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
1
D
0

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

Total number of species: 15

Tuna

3 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
1
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
2
D
0

Silvertip Shark

2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
2
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 3400

Shrimp

2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
2
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 55

Lobster

2 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 50

Sea Wasp

2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
2
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 7

Crocodile

2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
1
O
0
N
1
D
0

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

Total number of species: 80

Emperor

2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
1
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
0

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

Total number of species: 300

Squid

2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
2
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The best Months to dive in Tongue of Ocean

The Tongue of the Ocean offers exceptional diving conditions year-round. Water temperatures range from 24°C–29°C/75°F–84°F, providing comfortable diving throughout the year. Visibility is typically excellent, often exceeding 30 meters/98 feet, thanks to the clear waters and minimal sedimentation.

Diving is possible all year, but the best conditions are usually from November to May when the weather is more stable, and winds are lighter. The hurricane season, from June to November, can bring stronger winds and currents, making some dive sites less accessible. However, even during this period, diving remains feasible with suitable planning and local guidance.

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