Best Dive Sites in the Bahamas


With staggering wall dives, tunnels, sunken ships, caverns, miles of coral reef, crystal-clear waters, and close encounters with reef sharks, scuba diving in the Bahamas is an absolute thrill.

Vacationers travel to these islands and their all-inclusive resorts to experience the rich marine environment and an almost endless range of scuba diving possibilities. The Bahamas provide vacationers with a well-developed scuba dive infrastructure that makes the islands among the world’s top destinations for scuba diving. With over seven hundred islands, there’s so much to explore in the Bahamas, whether you’re looking to do some advanced wreck diving or simply take basic scuba diving lessons.

The Bahamas are situated where the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean (on the Western side) meet. The islands experience a subtropical climate, which makes diving in the Bahamas a unique experience.

Whether you’re diving off Grand Bahama Island, exploring the pristine reefs of the Abacos, enjoying the warm waters of Bimini, or trying out the waters off New Providence, the dive conditions in the Bahamas are impressive throughout the year. And, each diving destination has its own set of unique challenges.

There's an added bonus to scuba diving in the Bahamas. If you're wiped out afterwards, you can always relax in the sand of a tropical beach. It really doesn't get much better than that.

These are the Best Dive Sites in The Bahamas:

Tiger Beach, Grand Bahama

The Grand Bahama Island is not only one of the scuba diving destinations in the Bahamas - it's one of the best in the world.

Located toward the northwestern tip of the Bahamian chain, this island gives Bahamas divers an opportunity to see dolphins and explore shallow wrecks.

One of the best dive sites for shark diving on the Bahamas is at Tiger beach on Grand Bahama. Vacationers often come here to explore what’s referred to as “a cafeteria for tiger sharks.”

Dozens of tiger sharks and other Caribbean reef sharks come to this beach to dine with dive masters. Visitors can take a 25-mile boat journey (about an hour) off Grand Bahama to get to the Tiger Beach. It sounds scary, but it's really thrilling. You won't be disappointed.

Runway Wall, Nassau

New Providence is also among the world’s top diving destinations. New Providence is at times referred to as Nassau and is known for its dramatic walls, blue holes, healthy coral reefs, historical wrecks, caves, and thrilling shark dives.

No Nassau diving experience is complete without a swimming session with Caribbean reef sharks in the clear waters before having a shark feeding dive experience. You can’t miss out on this incredible shark encounter at the Runway Wall. There's No need to worry about your certification level since the dive site is only 12 meters (forty feet) of water.

Current Cut, North Eleuthera Island

Current cut is situated between the Current Island and North Eleuthera Island and is often referred to as the Bahamas’ Best Drift. Vacationers make their way here to explore the rich marine environment and Bahamian reefs while being washed by river-like currents created as a result of tidal changes.

The narrow gap between the two islands has a maximum depth of 18 meters (60 feet) and gives divers and snorkelers alike the chance to be washed away without using any energy. Some of the marine life divers are likely to see include squadrons of barracuda, eagle rays, sharks, and more.

The Washing Machine, Exuma Cays

With 350 cays, the Exumas is of the most beautiful groups of islands in the Bahamas. A major attraction in the Bahamas, the National Trust’s Land and Sea Park is a preserve that attracts divers to its spectacular reefs and sea gardens. Outside this natural preserve, north of the Exuma Cays lies the Washing Machine, a dive site that allows divers to be washed down an insistent current before they are picked up and propelled through a narrow cut in the reef.

That explains why the drift dive is referred to as the “Washing Machine.” Come here and ride through this fun drift dive, gliding peacefully over a beautiful and colorful reef before ascending to safety. The current releases you at around 15 meters (50 feet).

Over the Wall, Andros

Diving in the Bahamas can’t be complete without spending some time exploring the inland blue holes and enjoying the abundance of ocean that’s found on Andros. If you’re a tech and night diving enthusiast, one of the dive sites you must visit is Over the Wall on Andros Island.

Of course, less advanced divers can still have a fantastic and exciting day dive. But those looking to experience a real magic dive in the dark of night should go for it here. The waters have a high concentration of plankton, which provides divers with a spectacular nightly spectacle that one can’t forget. The island drops out to about 1,820 meters (5971 feet) to the tongue of the sea. It’s recommended to switch off your scuba dive lights as soon as you’re at 20 meters (65 feet).

Victory Reef, Bimini

The Gulf Stream serves as a highway for hammerhead sharks, especially from October to mid-March. You’ll find these beautiful sea creatures in the underwater environment between the North and South Bimini islands during this period as this is their pit stop.

The fact that Bimini islands are situated on the edge of the Gulf Stream means divers can have a fantastic experience kneeling on the sandy bottom and watch shark feeders lure the hammerheads. Victory Reef is a dive site south of Bimini, and its appropriate for divers of different experience levels. The reef line has several dive spots ranging from 9 meters (30 feet) to 24 meters (80 feet).

Find The Best Dive Sites in The Bahamas

Your adventure can begin as soon as you want it to. Diving is an inclusion at Sandals resorts, and experiences await for every diver, from beginner to expert.

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Kylie Morrow

About Kylie Morrow

Born on the tropical island that is Saint Lucia affords a never-ending source of inspiration. In the past 13 years, Kylie loved to work with various newspapers, magazines and blogs in the Caribbean.