...Highlights: tiger sharks, hammerheads, shark action, dolphins, turtles, great macro life/marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics...
...Diving environment: wrecks, wall diving, healthy reefs, beginner and advanced divers, very popular...
The Bahamas are the ideal Caribbean diving destination that merge international elegance with a relaxed tropical vacation vibe. Conveniently positioned 56 miles (90 km) off the coast of Florida, the 2,500 cays and 700 islands (of which 30 are uninhabited) form the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. These island jewels in aquamarine and sapphire waters create the topography for many spectacular sites. Reefs, walls and sandy bottoms all teeming with life will be your playground during your liveaboard cruise.
Liveaboard tours, most frequently to The Exumas, Nassau and Grand Bahama are the perfect way to explore the many dive sites in comfort and style. Nassau is not only easy to get to with direct flights but is also the most popular Bahamas dive location featuring spectacular walls, vibrant reefs, exciting shark dives and a gorgeous blue hole. There are also many wrecks that have featured in a variety of Hollywood movies. The main Exumas sites are located in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. Their motto ‘Take only photographs, leave only footprints’ highlights efforts to protect their precious natural resources for all to enjoy it. The area is managed by the Bahamas National Trust and falls under its protection, enabling the marine life to flourish and divers to safely explore the pristine reefs.
The blue, jewel-tone Caribbean seas are filled with life. Many divers come to the Bahamas for encounters with sharks in large numbers, including at the legendary Tiger Beach of Grand Bahama. During your liveaboard diving trip you will encounter many species of turtles year round. Other highlights include eagle rays, seahorses and sightings of pods of wild dolphins. These are most likely at Grand Bahama which also boasts wrecks, caverns and caves adding to the diversity of underwater adventures it offers. You can even come face to face with great hammerhead sharks and bull sharks in Bimini!
All divers' wishes are met in the Bahamas: spectacular walls, the intact wrecks of Eleuthera, coral encrusted reefs, pinnacles and blue holes including the free-diving mecca of Dean's Blue Hole in Long Island. Belize may have the most famous blue hole, but the Bahamas has a huge number of them that are equally as good!
Further details on each of the best destinations for diving Bahamas:
The Bahamas are best experienced from the comfort of your liveaboard charter. Boat diving cruises are the top choice for those who want to maximize their scuba opportunities and take in the enchanting top side scenery. The Bahamas form a chain of inner and outer island and cay sites that you will dive directly from your sturdy liveaboard, enabling a comfortable entry and elegant exit.
Since the Bahamas are a popular diving spot with a very low number of liveaboard operators, availability can be an issue. We recommend you book 12 months in advance to avoid disappointment.
To find a cruise that's right for you and for more information on all the travel information you might need to visit, see our Bahamas liveaboards section.
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There are some fluctuations in the weather, however for the most part these have a minimal effect and scuba diving the Bahamas is possible year round. November brings with it colder fronts occasionally, and the water temperature can drop to 77°F (25°C). For 'winter', the temperatures are still at a level to dive comfortably.
The warmest water temperatures (85°F / 30°C) occur during the rainy summer months from June to September. This is also when the seas are the calmest and visibility the best. However with such incredible conditions, the visibility is still spectacular even during the winter months. August is considered to be the month that experiences most storms, although these are also infrequent.
Although a year round destination for divers, there are some seasonal factors that could affect the species you encounter. The Bahamas liveaboards visit Tiger Beach to see tiger sharks around the May to July period, while March to June is the best time for spotting oceanic whitetips. April tends to the be the best critter time of the year and therefore favored by macro enthusiasts. May is an active period for fish and coral spawning, although grouper spawning takes place at the full moon between late January and earl February.
One of the most curious annual events in the Bahamas is the 'March of the Spiny Lobster'. The world famous phenomenon takes place in late October/early November on the Bahamas Banks (near Abacos, Grand Bahama and Andros), when heavy rains trigger the lobsters to leave their hideouts in the thousands and macrh in single file in to deeper and more settled water. The single file march provides protection as each lobster,covers the vulnerable rear section of the lobster in front.
For more on the climate and weather, visit the The Islands Of The Bahamas website.
Review our map below showing the location of the country in the world. Here, you will find information on how to get to the Bahamas.
19 - >130ft (6 - >40m)
50 - 98ft (15 - 30m)
Mild to moderate
Generally calm with some swell or chop during storms
78 - 84°F (25 - 29°C) in summer and 72 - 80°F (22 - 27°C) during winter
Beginners to advanced
~1,000
6-14 days
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Bahamas liveaboards