Explore the best places to dive in Bahamas. 40 dive sites with real reviews and ratings from divers.
Cockburn Town, San Salvador
Black Forest is a wall dive off the western coast of San Salvador, named for the dense colonies of black coral that decorate its deeper sections. Divers descend onto the reef plateau and follow the wall vertically as it drops past recreational limits. Black coral trees become more abundant below 25 meters, and the wall is also festooned with large barrel sponges, deep-water gorgonians, and tube sponges. The island's exposed oceanic location delivers consistently exceptional visibility — typically 30 to 40 meters — and brings frequent pelagic encounters: Caribbean reef sharks, eagle rays, large groupers, and the occasional silky shark. The wall extends along much of the western coast, with multiple well-known dive sites strung along it. Currents are usually mild but the deep profile demands good gas management and advanced training. San Salvador is one of the more remote Bahamian dive destinations, with limited resort access and excellent water quality.
New Bight, Cat Island
The Cat Island Wall is a vertical reef drop along the southwest coast of Cat Island where the coral plateau ends abruptly and falls thousands of meters into deep ocean. Divers cruise the wall top in 20 to 30 meters with rich hard-coral cover, large barrel sponges, and gorgonians decorating the lip. The island's location at the edge of deep oceanic waters makes it a magnet for pelagic life: large groupers, schools of horse-eye jacks, eagle rays, and Caribbean reef sharks are common, and the area is best known for seasonal aggregations of oceanic whitetip sharks from April through June. These open-ocean sharks come in close to the wall during the spring season, drawing photographers and shark divers from around the world. Visibility is consistently excellent thanks to the deep oceanic exposure. Currents can be moderate and the depth profile demands advanced training and good buoyancy. Cat Island remains one of the more remote Bahamian dive destinations, with limited resort access and minimal diver pressure, which has preserved both reef health and the relative tameness of pelagic encounters. The wall extends along much of the southwestern shore, with multiple named sites strung along it that are typically run as a multi-day itinerary.
Nassau, New Providence
Two Hollywood props rest side by side in clear Nassau water: a replica RAF Vulcan bomber built for Thunderball (1965), settled at 15m, and the Tears of Allah, a 27m tugboat from Never Say Never Again (1983), at 12m. A sandy channel links the wrecks, both furred with hard and soft coral, barrel sponges and Christmas tree worms. Visibility runs 24-30m and current stays weak, so the depth and pace suit beginners, though swim-throughs and photo angles keep intermediates interested too. Expect barracuda, jacks, groupers, moray eels, stingrays and the occasional Caribbean reef or blacktip shark cruising the props. Finish on the adjacent coral reef for a scenic safety stop before the short boat ride back to Nassau.
Nassau, New Providence
The Shark Arena is Stuart Cove's flagship shark feed dive on the south side of New Providence, set on a sand-and-coral arena in roughly 10 to 12 meters of water. Divers settle into a semicircle on the sand while a chain-mail-clad feeder distributes bait from a tube, drawing dozens of Caribbean reef sharks into close orbit. The site has operated since the late 1980s and is among the most documented shark dives in the Caribbean, with sharks individually recognized and named by Stuart Cove's staff. Counts of 20 to 40 sharks during a single feed are common. Beyond sharks, the arena is patrolled by groupers, large jacks, and barracuda hoping for scraps, and the occasional bull or lemon shark joins the fray. The shallow profile and predictable flow make this an excellent site for photography and video. The dive sits adjacent to the famous 'Bahamas Wall' that drops into the Tongue of the Ocean.
Nassau, New Providence
Shark Wall, also known simply as 'The Wall' on Stuart Cove's roster, is a vertical drop on the southern edge of New Providence where the reef plummets into the Tongue of the Ocean — a 1,800-meter-deep oceanic trench that runs between New Providence and Andros. Divers cruise along the wall top at around 18 to 20 meters with the abyss yawning to one side and rich coral cover to the other. Black corals, large barrel sponges, and gorgonians decorate the wall, while Caribbean reef sharks patrol just off the edge — the site name comes from the consistent pelagic shark presence rather than a feed. Eagle rays, large groupers, and turtles make regular appearances, and large schools of horse-eye jacks gather on the wall top. Currents can pick up depending on tide and direction. Visibility is typically 25 to 30 meters thanks to the deep oceanic exposure. A classic Bahamian wall dive.
Nassau, New Providence
Tears of Allah is a ~30m steel freighter deliberately sunk west of Clifton Pier, New Providence, as a set piece for the 1983 Bond film Never Say Never Again. Nearly upright on sand with a slight port list, the deck sits near 9m and the hull base at 12-14m — shallow enough for a relaxed, no-deco profile. Visibility runs 20-30m with nil-to-weak current. Sponges and coral now cover the structure; expect lobster, moray eels, schooling snapper and grouper, plus occasional reef sharks, rays, or turtles. A torpedo hole blown through the starboard hull for filming is the signature photo op. Boat-only access, usually paired with the nearby Vulcan bomber wreck — an easy, low-stress dive for beginners and a quick second dive on any Bahamas wreck itinerary.
Freeport, Grand Bahama
Theo's Wreck is a 70-meter (230-foot) cement hauler intentionally sunk in 1982 by UNEXSO as an artificial reef just off Freeport, Grand Bahama. The ship rests on her port side in roughly 30 meters of water at the edge of a deep wall that drops into the Northwest Providence Channel, making this one of the most iconic wreck dives in the Bahamas. Divers descend along the mast and superstructure where the hull has become encrusted with hard and soft corals, sponges, and hydroids. Resident green moray eels live inside the engine room, and large groupers, snapper schools, eagle rays, and Caribbean reef sharks are commonly encountered around the wreck. Penetration is possible through the cargo holds and bridge for advanced divers, while the upper sections of the wreck are accessible to intermediate divers staying outside. Visibility is typically excellent thanks to the open Atlantic exposure, and currents are usually mild. The proximity of the wall adds dramatic backdrop with frequent pelagic sightings during the swim back up.
Andros Town, Andros
The Tongue of the Ocean Wall is the eastern edge of Andros, where the Andros Barrier Reef — the third-largest barrier reef system in the world — drops vertically into a deep oceanic trench more than 1,800 meters deep. Divers cruise along the wall top in 20 to 30 meters with the abyss yawning to one side. Black corals, large barrel sponges, elephant ear sponges, and gorgonians decorate the wall, and visibility is typically exceptional thanks to the deep oceanic exposure. Pelagic action is consistent: Caribbean reef sharks patrol the wall edge, eagle rays glide along the contour, and large schools of horse-eye jacks gather in the blue. Turtles and groupers are routine. The wall extends for over 100 miles along Andros's eastern shore and is fronted by Small Hope Bay Lodge and other operators based in Andros Town. Wall conditions vary with tide and current; advanced training is recommended for the deeper drops.
Stocking Island, Exuma Cays
Angelfish Blue Hole is a circular vertical blue hole near Stocking Island in the Exumas, a karst sinkhole connected to the surrounding ocean. The rim sits in roughly 12 to 15 meters of water on a sandy plateau, with the hole dropping to about 30 meters and beyond into restricted depths. The site takes its name from the resident schools of French and queen angelfish that drift through the upper rim. Hard corals, gorgonians, and sea fans line the lip, and the surrounding sand hosts southern stingrays and the occasional nurse shark. Tidal exchange creates moderate currents in and out of the hole and timing the dive to a slack period is recommended. Visibility varies with tide phase but is generally good. The blue hole is one of several karst features that make the Exumas a geologically rich destination, alongside the more famous Mystery Cave and Thunderball Grotto. The rim provides a comfortable cruise for intermediate divers and the dramatic vertical drop adds visual impact to photographs and video. Operators in Great Exuma include the site as a regular stop on multi-tank itineraries, often pairing it with shallow patch reefs and the iconic swimming pigs experience in the central Exuma chain.
Bimini, Bimini
The Bimini Barge is a 50-meter steel barge intentionally sunk off the northwest coast of Bimini as an artificial reef, sitting upright in roughly 25 to 30 meters of water. The flat deck and open hold are easy to navigate, and the structure has accumulated decades of marine growth — sponges, hard corals, and gorgonians cover the railings and deck plates. Resident life includes large grouper that have made the wreck their home, schools of horse-eye jacks circling above the deck, scrawled filefish, and barracuda patrolling the perimeter. Caribbean reef sharks are commonly seen along the surrounding sand, and the occasional bull shark or great hammerhead passes through during the winter season. The depth and current profile make it appropriate for intermediate divers with comfort at deeper recreational depths. Visibility is typically very good thanks to Bimini's proximity to the Gulf Stream. Penetration is possible for advanced divers given the open holds and limited internal hazards. The barge is a regular stop on Bimini multi-day liveaboard rotations and pairs well with shallower reef sites for the second tank of the day. Photographers enjoy the contrast between the encrusted geometry and the surrounding blue water.
North Bimini, Bimini
Bimini Road, also known as the Bimini Wall, is a linear underwater rock formation off the northwest coast of North Bimini, sitting in roughly 5 to 6 meters of water. The formation consists of large rectangular limestone blocks arranged in a J-shaped line approximately 800 meters long, discovered by divers in 1968. While mainstream geology regards the blocks as a natural beach-rock formation, the structure has long fueled speculation about a sunken civilization, fanning visitor interest. From a diving standpoint the appeal is the unique geometry, the very shallow depth ideal for snorkeling and free diving, and the resident reef fish that shelter between the slabs: schools of grunts, snappers, sergeant majors, and barracuda. Nurse sharks rest under the larger stones and southern stingrays cruise the surrounding sand. The site is a must-visit cultural curiosity in addition to being a relaxed shallow dive. Conditions are generally calm but currents can run between the blocks on the tide change. Visibility varies from very good to murky depending on weather but is usually adequate for photography. Most operators include Bimini Road as a snorkel or shallow-dive stop on combined-itinerary days that also feature deeper reefs and the famous shark dives nearby.
Andros Town, Andros
Captain Bill's Blue Hole is one of Andros's well-known offshore blue holes, sitting on a reef plateau and dropping past recreational depth limits into a vertical karst shaft. The rim sits in roughly 15 meters of water and the upper chamber is decorated with hard corals, sponges, and gorgonians along the lip, with shafts of light illuminating the dropping shaft. The site supports populations of small reef fish — schools of grunts, sergeant majors, and angelfish — along with the occasional resting nurse shark in the upper recesses and Caribbean reef sharks patrolling the surrounding reef. Andros is home to the highest concentration of blue holes anywhere in the world, both inland (freshwater) and offshore (saltwater), and Captain Bill's is one of the more accessible offshore examples for recreational divers. Visibility is typically very good and currents are usually mild. Advanced training is required for deeper exploration of the shaft.
Current Island, Eleuthera
Current Cut is a narrow channel between Current Island and the main island of Eleuthera, where tidal exchange between the open Atlantic and the Bight of Eleuthera produces some of the strongest currents in the Bahamas — flow rates can exceed seven knots at peak tide. Divers ride the current as a high-speed drift through the channel, covering hundreds of meters in just a few minutes while passing through a wonderland of coral heads, gorgonians, and sponges in 12 to 18 meters of water. The rapid transport brings frequent encounters with eagle rays, schools of horse-eye jacks, barracuda, and Caribbean reef sharks that take advantage of the nutrient-rich flow. Conditions absolutely require precise tidal timing and advanced training; the current cannot be fought. Visibility is typically very good. One of the most exhilarating drift dives in the Caribbean, frequently cited in best-of lists. The dive is over fast — typical bottom time is 10 to 15 minutes due to the speed of transit — and proper boat positioning at both ends of the channel is critical for safe pickups. Operators based at Current Island and Eleuthera run the dive on the strict slack-and-flow schedule dictated by the tide tables.
Clarence Town, Long Island
Dean's Blue Hole is a marine sinkhole on Long Island near Clarence Town and is the second-deepest known blue hole in the world, plunging 202 meters straight down from a shallow sandy beach entry. The hole is set within a small protected bay that allows shore entry into completely sheltered water, with the rim sitting in just a few meters of depth before the bottom drops sharply away. For recreational divers the site offers a dramatic and easy descent: kick out from the beach, fin over the lip, and watch the wall sheer into darkness. The upper walls in 10 to 25 meters host small tropical fish, sergeant majors, and the occasional barracuda or stingray. Below that, depth and overhead-environment-style conditions take over. The site is a global freediving mecca and has hosted multiple world-record attempts, including those by William Trubridge and Alexey Molchanov. Visibility is generally good and conditions are calm thanks to the protected setting.
Harbour Island, Eleuthera
Devil's Backbone is a notorious shallow reef stretching along the northern coast of Eleuthera between Spanish Wells and Harbour Island, named for the long history of shipwrecks the formation has caused. The reef rises to within meters of the surface and forms a maze of coral heads, sand channels, and shallow walls in 6 to 12 meters of water. Multiple historic wrecks lie scattered across the reef, including the remains of the steamship Carnarvon and the train wreck of an antique steam locomotive carried over the reef as cargo and lost. The shallow profile, schools of grunts and snapper, and the wreck debris combine into a dive that mixes natural reef and maritime history. Surge can be present on the seaward side and currents can run between the heads, but conditions are generally manageable. A unique site for divers interested in shipwrecks and reef geology. Operators base out of Harbour Island and Spanish Wells and run the reef on calm-weather days when swell allows safe approach to the seaward break. The combination of multiple wrecks across a single reef line makes the dive a slow-moving treasure hunt for the historically minded, and the resident reef life delivers consistent fish action for general-interest divers.
Warderick Wells, Exuma Cays
The Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park is a 456-square-kilometer marine protected area established in 1958 — the first marine park of its kind in the world — encompassing a chain of small cays, channels, and reef plateaus in the central Exumas. The park includes a designated no-take replenishment zone that has produced some of the healthiest reef ecosystems in the Caribbean, with Nassau grouper, schoolmasters, Caribbean reef sharks, large barracuda, and sea turtles all noticeably more abundant than in unprotected waters. Dive sites within the park range from shallow patch reefs to small wall sections to current-swept channels between cays. Visibility is consistently excellent thanks to the clear oligotrophic Bahamian waters and minimal anthropogenic disturbance. The park is managed by the Bahamas National Trust and is accessible only by boat, with operators based in Staniel Cay and elsewhere in the Exumas providing guided dives. Permits and park fees apply, and visitors must follow strict no-take rules across the protected zone. The park has served as a global model for marine reserve design and is widely cited in fisheries and conservation literature as one of the earliest examples of effective ecosystem-scale protection in the Caribbean basin.
Bimini, Bimini
Hammerhead Junction is a winter shark-encounter site on the western side of Bimini where great hammerhead sharks aggregate in shallow sand-bottomed water from roughly December through March each year. Operated by local dive shops including Neal Watson's Bimini Scuba Center, the dive takes place in 10 to 18 meters of water on an open sand plain where divers kneel in a line behind a baitbox. Great hammerheads approach within meters, with their distinctive cephalofoil providing one of the most iconic encounters in shark diving. Bull sharks and nurse sharks frequently join the scene, and stingrays and grouper patrol the area. The site has become world-famous in shark conservation and photography circles since the 2010s. The shallow profile makes for long bottom times. Conditions vary with weather, and the season is short — winter trips need to be booked well ahead. Sharks are wild and unpredictable; advanced training and shark-diving experience are recommended.
Matthew Town, Inagua
Hogfish Reef sits on the rarely-dived southern Bahamian island of Great Inagua, operated by the small dive scene based out of Matthew Town. The reef occupies a shelf in 18 to 25 meters of water along the western coast of the island and is characterized by exceptionally healthy coral cover thanks to the remoteness of the area and minimal diver pressure. The reef hosts large numbers of resident hogfish — the site's namesake — alongside Nassau grouper (still abundant here, in contrast with most Caribbean locations), schools of horse-eye jacks, queen and French angelfish, and large green moray eels. Caribbean reef sharks patrol the wall edge where the shelf drops into deeper water. The remoteness of Inagua means logistics are challenging but rewards include pristine reef, very low diver traffic, and consistent pelagic encounters. Visibility is typically excellent. Inagua is best known above water for its enormous flamingo population at the Inagua National Park, but the underwater ecosystem benefits from the same isolation and protection. Currents are usually mild but tide changes can pick up flow along the shelf edge. Divers visiting the island typically stay several days and dive a rotating roster of reefs and walls along the western coast.
Nassau, New Providence
The Lost Blue Hole is a circular vertical sinkhole sitting in roughly 12 meters of water on a sandy plateau several kilometers off the eastern coast of New Providence. The hole drops to over 60 meters and is bordered by a coral-encrusted rim where the bulk of the action occurs. The rim's first 15 meters are alive with schools of horse-eye jacks, snapper, grunts, and the occasional school of permit. Caribbean reef sharks patrol around the entrance, and eagle rays and turtles are commonly seen in the blue. In summer, juvenile schooling sharks sometimes congregate inside the upper rim. Recreational divers stay along the lip and the upper walls, while the deeper reaches drop into low light and require advanced training. Visibility is usually excellent and currents are mild, making the rim accessible to intermediate divers comfortable with depth and free water descents. The hole was rediscovered and named in the 1980s after operators searched the offshore plateau, and it has become one of the standard offerings for Nassau dive shops looking to combine shallow reef life with the geological drama of a sinkhole. Photographers value the contrast between rim coral and the dark vertical drop into the unknown.
Nassau, New Providence
Lyford Cay Drop-off is a vertical wall on the western side of New Providence that begins around 18 meters and falls vertically into deep blue water. The wall is decorated with black corals, large barrel sponges, deep-water gorgonians, and tube sponges, with frequent crevices and small caves carved into the limestone. The exposure to the open Atlantic produces consistently excellent visibility and brings regular pelagic action: Caribbean reef sharks, eagle rays, large schools of horse-eye jacks, and the occasional silky shark. Reef residents include large grouper, queen angelfish, French angelfish, scrawled filefish, and graysby. The wall extends along the western shore for kilometers, with multiple dive sites strung along it. Conditions are generally manageable but currents can pick up on the change of tide. A favorite intermediate dive on the western New Providence circuit. The dive site sits offshore from the prestigious Lyford Cay community and gives access to one of the cleanest sections of the Bahamas Bank wall, often favored by photographers for its consistent visibility and the dramatic vertical compositions the deep wall allows. Operators based on the western and southern sides of New Providence include the site in their wall-focused itineraries.
Freeport, Grand Bahama
Mount Olympus is a Grand Bahama reef site operated by UNEXSO, named for the towering coral pinnacles and ridges that rise from the sandy bottom like a mountain range in miniature. Topping out around 12 meters and bottoming around 18, the formation is ideal for relaxed dives with plenty of structure to circle. The hard coral cover includes brain, star, and pillar corals, with gorgonians and sea fans providing movement to the scene. Reef life is classic Bahamian: yellowtail snapper, blue tang, stoplight parrotfish, queen angelfish, spotted drum hiding under ledges, and the occasional southern stingray on the surrounding sand. Caribbean reef sharks are sometimes encountered patrolling the reef edge, and eagle rays glide overhead in the blue when conditions align. Visibility is consistently strong and currents are generally light, making this a reliable second-tank choice on any UNEXSO day-boat. The site is particularly well suited for training dives, refresher courses, and underwater photography thanks to its shallow profile, easy navigation, and rich color saturation. Photographers favor the large pinnacle for vertical compositions with sun rays. The dive is also a favorite for night dives where octopus, slipper lobster, and basket stars emerge from the structure.
Stocking Island, Exuma Cays
Mystery Cave is a partially submerged cave system on Stocking Island near Great Exuma, running through limestone and tied into a network of fissures and chambers. Entry is through a vertical chimney from the seafloor in roughly 12 meters of water, descending into wider rooms decorated with stalactites and stalagmites — geological features that indicate the cave was dry during lower-sea-level Pleistocene periods. The cave's interior offers strong cathedral-like beams of light through openings to the surface, and the overhead environment is rich with shrimp, lobster, and the occasional resting nurse shark in the lower chambers. Strong tidal currents flow in and out of the cave; dives must be timed to slack tide. The site is generally restricted to advanced and cavern-trained divers given the overhead environment, sediment, and depth. A unique geological dive in the Exumas. Visibility can vary dramatically with the tide cycle, with murk on the flow and gin-clear conditions on slack. Photographers chase the light shafts and the skeletal coral structures along the entry chamber walls. The site is operated under tight protocols by Exumas-based dive shops, often as a special-request itinerary rather than a standard offering.
Andros Town, Andros
Over the Wall is one of the signature deep-wall dives offered by Small Hope Bay Lodge off Andros Town, descending past the Andros Barrier Reef edge into the Tongue of the Ocean. After a brief swim across the reef plateau, divers drop over the lip and follow the vertical wall down to recreational limits, with the trench plunging thousands of meters below. The wall is decorated with black coral, deep-water gorgonians, and enormous barrel sponges, and the reefscape feels primeval. Pelagic encounters include eagle rays, large groupers, schooling jacks, Caribbean reef sharks, and the occasional silky shark or oceanic blacktip. The exposure to deep open ocean produces consistently excellent visibility and a sense of vertical immensity rare elsewhere in the Caribbean. Advanced training, good gas management, and current awareness are essential. A classic Bahamian wall dive for experienced divers. The Andros Barrier Reef is the third-largest barrier reef in the world, stretching over 200 kilometers along the eastern shore, and Over the Wall is one of the dive sites that best showcases its dramatic edge. Small Hope Bay Lodge has operated the area since 1960 and pioneered Andros's modern dive scene.
Freeport, Grand Bahama
Pygmy Caves is a UNEXSO reef site off Freeport, Grand Bahama featuring a network of small swim-throughs, ledges, and overhangs carved into the limestone substrate at 12 to 18 meters of water. The 'caves' are short and well-lit, accessible to divers without overhead-environment training, and serve as shelter for a rich cast of reef life: schools of glassy sweepers, blackbar soldierfish, French and queen angelfish, large green moray eels, scorpionfish camouflaged on the rock, and the occasional resting nurse shark or southern stingray on the surrounding sand. The swim-throughs offer dramatic light effects as divers move from outside light to shadow and back, making the site a favorite for underwater photographers. Visibility is typically excellent and currents are mild. A reliable second-dive site with more structure than the typical Bahamian patch reef. The site is one of the staples of UNEXSO's daily rotation and is frequently visited by divers staying in Freeport for a range of skill levels, with newer divers cruising the outside of the structure and more experienced divers winding through the swim-throughs and ledges. Macro life is abundant for photographers patient enough to slow down.
Nassau, New Providence
The Runway is a long, linear coral ridge along the southern shore of New Providence that runs more or less straight for several hundred meters in 18 to 30 meters of water, paralleling the edge of the Tongue of the Ocean. The narrow ridge, which gives the site its airstrip-like name, is heavily encrusted with sponges, sea fans, and hard corals and provides a strong magnet for reef life. Resident grouper, snapper, and jack schools patrol the structure, while Caribbean reef sharks and eagle rays frequently pass along the deep side. The wall edge of the Tongue of the Ocean is visible from the ridge, and the dive can be combined with a wall flyover. Currents are usually moderate, providing comfortable drift conditions along the ridge axis. Visibility is typically excellent thanks to oceanic exposure. A dependable site for intermediate divers visiting Nassau-based operations. Stuart Cove's and other south-shore operators include The Runway as a regular wall-adjacent option, often paired with a deeper wall plunge such as Shark Wall to give divers a contrast between concentrated reef structure and vertical drop. The dive site is also known under variant names depending on the operator, but the linear coral feature is unmistakable underwater.
South Bimini, Bimini
The Sapona is a half-submerged concrete-hulled steamship that ran aground south of Bimini during the 1926 Miami hurricane and has been a fixture of the local seascape ever since. The wreck sits in just 3 to 5 meters of water with portions of the hull and superstructure rising above the surface, making it equally accessible to snorkelers, free divers, and scuba divers. The shallow interior is open and easily navigated, with light streaming through holes in the hull creating dramatic photographic opportunities. Resident marine life includes large schools of grunts, snappers, and sergeant majors, with barracuda hovering near the surface and the occasional moray eel and southern stingray inside the holds. The vessel was previously used as a Prohibition-era liquor warehouse and as US Navy bombing practice during World War II — the cosmetic scars from the bombing remain visible. Built in 1911 in North Carolina as part of an experimental concrete-hull program during a wartime steel shortage, the ship is now a unique combination of maritime, Prohibition, and military history. The wreck is the most iconic landmark off South Bimini and a regular stop for local boat tours. A unique above-and-below-water dive that suits any level of experience.
Freeport, Grand Bahama
Sea Hunt Reef is a UNEXSO-operated patch reef off Freeport, Grand Bahama, named for the early scuba television series 'Sea Hunt' that was filmed in part in the Bahamas. The site sits in 14 to 18 meters of water and consists of a series of coral heads rising from a sandy plain, decorated with brain corals, gorgonians, sea fans, and barrel sponges. The reef supports a classic Bahamian assemblage of yellowtail snapper, French and queen angelfish, blue tang, stoplight parrotfish, scrawled filefish, and the occasional Nassau grouper. Southern stingrays cruise the sand patches between heads, and Caribbean reef sharks occasionally patrol the surrounding waters. The shallow profile and easy navigation make this an excellent training and refresher dive, with calm conditions and consistently strong visibility year-round. UNEXSO, founded in 1965, is one of the longest-operating dive centers in the Caribbean, and the Sea Hunt Reef is one of the historic sites in their roster, bridging the early days of recreational scuba and the modern tourism economy. The dive is often paired on the day-boat with a deeper wreck or wall site to provide a balanced two-tank itinerary.
Freeport, Grand Bahama
Shark Junction is UNEXSO's signature shark feed dive in Grand Bahama, taking place on a shallow sand and patch-reef arena in roughly 12 to 14 meters of water. Divers kneel in a semicircle on the sand while a chain-mail-clad feeder distributes pieces of fish from a baitbox, drawing in a pack of Caribbean reef sharks that circle within arm's reach. Twelve to twenty sharks is a typical count, with individual animals recognized by UNEXSO staff over years of repeated visits. The shallow profile allows for extended bottom time and excellent natural light for photography. Beyond sharks, the site hosts the usual reef cast of grouper, snapper, and trumpetfish, and bull sharks or larger lemon sharks occasionally show up uninvited. The dive is structured and controlled by experienced operators and is one of the longest-running shark interaction programs in the Caribbean, dating back to the 1990s. Briefings are thorough, with strict protocols on positioning, hand placement, and movement during the feed. Visibility is typically excellent thanks to the open Atlantic exposure and the dive ends with a relaxed cruise back along the reef line, where remaining sharks trail off into the blue and a final pass over coral heads completes the experience.
Walker's Cay, Abaco
Spanish Cannons is a shallow reef site near Walker's Cay in the northern Abacos where Spanish-era cannons and ballast piles from a centuries-old wreck rest among coral heads in 12 to 18 meters of water. The cannons are heavily encrusted with coral and sponge growth and are integrated into the living reef, creating a striking blend of natural and historical structure. Marine life around the site includes schools of grunts, yellowtail snapper, French and queen angelfish, large groupers, and Nassau grouper aggregations during winter spawning. The shallow depth and easy navigation make it accessible to beginning divers, while the historical context rewards multiple visits. Walker's Cay sits at the northernmost edge of the Abacos and offers exposure to deep oceanic waters with frequent pelagic encounters along nearby walls. Visibility is typically excellent. The Walker's Cay area was historically a major sport-fishing destination and saw centuries of Spanish, British, and American maritime traffic, leaving a scattering of historic wrecks across the surrounding reefs that operators have catalogued and include on multi-day Abaco itineraries.
Freeport, Grand Bahama
Spit City is a shallow coral reef dive site off Freeport, Grand Bahama, named for the way the corals appear to spit upward from the sandy bottom in clusters of patch reef. Sitting in roughly 14 to 18 meters of water, this site is operated by UNEXSO and is popular for both training dives and relaxed second dives. The terrain is a mosaic of coral heads, gorgonians, and sand channels, providing habitat for French and queen angelfish, midnight parrotfish, schoolmasters, and large green moray eels tucked under ledges. Stingrays and southern stingrays cruise the sand patches, while spotted eagle rays often pass overhead in the blue. Nurse sharks resting beneath coral overhangs are a common find. Visibility is typically very good and current is mild, making this an excellent site for photographers and beginning divers looking to experience classic Bahamian reef without depth pressure. The shallow profile allows for long bottom times.
South Andros, Andros
Stargate Blue Hole is one of the most famous inland blue holes on South Andros, set in dense pineyard forest a short walk from the road and accessible via a rope-assisted scramble down to the water surface. The hole has a freshwater lens in the upper section that gives way to saltwater below, with the halocline visible as a shimmering mirror layer at around 14 meters. The system penetrates horizontally beneath the Andros surface for over 4 kilometers in mapped passages and reaches depths over 100 meters in the deeper shafts, making it a world-class technical and cave-diving destination. Recreational divers stay in the upper basin and explore the dramatic halocline layer and the cathedral-like main entry chamber. Stalactites, fossil formations, and root systems hanging from the ceiling create a striking aesthetic. Cave training is required for any penetration; the site is operated under strict protocols. Stargate has hosted multiple international scientific expeditions exploring the geology and unique chemistry of mixed-water blue holes, and the site is widely featured in cave-diving photography and documentary work. The water is exceptionally clear in both layers, with the halocline producing surreal visual effects as divers move through it.
Nassau, New Providence
Stingray Reef is a shallow patch reef on the south side of New Providence operated by Stuart Cove's, named for the resident population of southern stingrays that frequents the sand patches between coral heads. Sitting in 10 to 14 meters of water, the site is a classic relaxed Bahamian reef dive with brain coral mounds, sea fans, and small swim-throughs. Reef life includes French and queen angelfish, schoolmasters, yellowtail snapper, scrawled filefish, and Nassau grouper hovering near the larger coral heads. Spotted eagle rays often pass overhead, and Caribbean reef sharks occasionally cruise the perimeter. The shallow depth and easy navigation make this an excellent site for training, refresher dives, and guided tours for beginning divers. Visibility is typically high, currents are mild to weak, and the warm clear water delivers consistently strong photo opportunities. The site is frequently paired with the Shark Arena on the same day-boat itinerary, providing a balanced day of high-octane shark action and relaxed reef cruising. Macro photographers find blennies, gobies, and cleaner shrimp tucked into the coral. The site is also a popular night dive with octopus and basket stars emerging.
Cockburn Town, San Salvador
Telephone Pole is a wall dive off the western coast of San Salvador, named for a vertical pole of coral that rises from the depths along the wall edge as a navigational feature. The wall begins at around 18 meters and drops vertically into the deep blue. The pole itself is encrusted with sponges, gorgonians, and small hard-coral colonies, and serves as a hangout for schools of creole wrasse, blackbar soldierfish, and yellowtail snapper. Larger residents include grouper and barracuda; eagle rays and Caribbean reef sharks are frequent visitors along the wall. The site benefits from the same exceptional visibility as the rest of the San Salvador western shore thanks to deep-ocean exposure. Currents are typically mild. The depth profile and the open blue of the wall demand advanced training and solid buoyancy control. A favorite stop on multi-day San Salvador wall trips. Photographers love framing the pole against the deep blue with divers in scale, and the surrounding wall offers numerous swim-by features for video work. Operators based at the small Riding Rock Resort and at liveaboards transiting from Long Island visit the site as part of a wall-focused itinerary that highlights the most dramatic vertical drops in the southern Bahamas.
Staniel Cay, Exuma Cays
Thunderball Grotto is a hollow limestone cay near Staniel Cay in the Exumas, made famous by the underwater action sequences filmed inside it for the 1965 James Bond film 'Thunderball' and later 'Never Say Never Again' and 'Splash'. The grotto's main chamber is open at the top through skylight holes that beam shafts of sunlight into the clear shallow water, creating a cathedral effect. Snorkelers and free divers swim in through one of several underwater entrances at the surface and drift through the chamber, surrounded by schools of yellowtail snapper, sergeant majors, and angelfish that have been habituated to visitors. The site is best entered at slack tide, as currents through the entrances can be strong on the change. Snorkeling is the dominant activity but scuba divers also visit. The site is one of the most photographed snorkeling spots in the Bahamas. Visibility inside the chamber is typically excellent, and the combination of cathedral light, schooling fish, and the cinematic provenance makes it a must-do during any Exumas trip. Operators based at Staniel Cay run continuous tours, and Thunderball is frequently combined with the famous swimming pigs at nearby Big Major Cay for a full Exumas day.
West End, Grand Bahama
Tiger Beach is a globally famous shark dive site on a shallow sand bank off West End, Grand Bahama. The site sits in roughly 6 to 8 meters of crystal-clear water on a wide white-sand plain — a setting more like a desert than a reef. Operators including Jim Abernethy's Scuba Adventures and Stuart Cove's run multi-day liveaboard trips here specifically to encounter large female tiger sharks, who frequent the bank in numbers from late autumn through early spring. Lemon sharks, Caribbean reef sharks, and occasionally great hammerheads also appear. Divers settle into the sand and observe the sharks at close range, often within touching distance of multiple animals at once. The shallow profile means long bottom times, exceptional natural light, and spectacular photographic conditions. Tiger Beach is the dive featured in countless shark documentaries since the early 2000s and is considered a bucket-list dive for experienced shark enthusiasts. Tiger sharks are wild and unpredictable; experience is essential.
Marsh Harbour, Abaco
The Towers is a reef site off Marsh Harbour in the Abacos featuring two prominent coral pinnacles that rise from a sandy plateau in roughly 18 to 24 meters of water to within 8 meters of the surface. The towers are heavily encrusted with hard corals, gorgonians, sea fans, and large barrel sponges, providing structure that attracts concentrated reef life: schools of grunts and snappers, large groupers, queen triggerfish, scrawled filefish, French and queen angelfish, and the occasional spotted moray. Caribbean reef sharks patrol the surrounding sand, and southern stingrays cruise the channels between the pinnacles. The vertical profile of the towers makes for great photographic compositions and allows divers to circle each pinnacle multiple times during a single dive. Visibility is typically very good and currents are generally mild. A favorite intermediate site in the Abacos. The Abacos archipelago is one of the more sheltered Bahamian dive destinations thanks to a series of barrier cays running parallel to the main island, and operators based at Marsh Harbour and Hope Town include The Towers in rotation alongside other patch reef and reef-edge sites for a varied multi-dive day.
Bimini, Bimini
Tuna Alley is a famous reef and channel dive on the western side of Bimini, named for the migrating tuna that historically passed through the area. The site features a coral-lined corridor between sand patches and ridges in 15 to 30 meters of water, with a mix of dense hard-coral mounds, gorgonians, and large barrel sponges. Currents can be moderate, providing a comfortable drift experience that brings pelagic action in close. Caribbean reef sharks, large jacks, and the occasional schooling barracuda patrol the corridor, while resident grouper, snapper, and triggerfish populate the reef structure. The site is part of the Bimini Marine Reserve and benefits from protections that have kept fish populations strong. Visibility is typically very good thanks to Bimini's proximity to the Gulf Stream, and the action-oriented nature of the dive makes it a long-standing favorite for intermediate divers comfortable with currents and pelagic encounters. Operators such as Neal Watson's Bimini Scuba Center include Tuna Alley as a staple in their rotation, often paired with shark-feed sites or with the more colorful patch reefs shoreward. Photography rewards wide-angle setups for capturing the corridor's depth and the schooling fish moving through it.
Man-O-War Cay, Abaco
The USS Adirondack is a Civil War-era US Navy gunboat that ran aground on a reef off Man-O-War Cay in the Abacos in August 1862 and broke apart. The wreckage now lies scattered across a shallow reef in 4 to 6 meters of water, with cannons, ballast stones, anchor chain, and structural iron still visible and well preserved by the shallow protected location. Snorkelers and beginning divers can easily explore the site, with marine life including schools of yellowtail snapper, grunts, sergeant majors, and the occasional southern stingray. Historical artifacts from the wreck are protected; only photography is permitted. The very shallow depth makes this a rare opportunity to dive a 19th-century US Navy warship in a relaxed setting. Visibility is typically excellent. Conditions are calm in the lee of the cay. The Adirondack was a screw sloop-of-war commissioned only months before her loss, on her first deployment patrolling the Bahamas Channel as part of the Union blockade against Confederate shipping. The cannons remain encrusted with coral and sponge growth, integrating the wreck into the surrounding live reef ecosystem and producing one of the most photographically distinctive shallow wreck dives in the northern Bahamas.
Bimini, Bimini
Victories Reef is a Bimini reef site featuring a series of large coral heads in 14 to 20 meters of water along the western shore. The reef structure supports a concentrated population of grouper, schools of grunts and yellowtail snapper, barracuda, and resident green moray eels. The site sits within the Bimini Marine Reserve and benefits from the protections that have allowed reef life to remain robust. Caribbean reef sharks frequent the wall edge nearby, and during winter the shallow areas occasionally host great hammerheads moving to the deeper Hammerhead Junction site. Currents along the reef edge are usually moderate, providing drift-friendly conditions. Visibility is typically excellent thanks to Bimini's exposure to the Gulf Stream. The site is a reliable mid-depth option for intermediate divers visiting Bimini-based operations. Operators such as Neal Watson's Bimini Scuba Center include Victories on rotation between deeper wall and shark-feed sites and shallower patch reefs, providing a balanced multi-tank day. The combination of healthy reef structure, consistent fish life, and the potential for pelagic surprises keeps the site interesting across repeat visits.
Nassau, New Providence
The Vulcan Bomber is the wooden mock-up of a British Vulcan strategic bomber built as a movie prop for the 1965 James Bond film 'Thunderball' and abandoned on the seabed off New Providence after filming. Sitting in roughly 10 meters of water, the structure has slowly collapsed over decades of hurricanes but remains an instantly recognizable skeleton of frame and ribs that has become a small artificial reef. Hard corals and sponges encrust the wooden bones, and the structure shelters schools of grunts, sergeant majors, and yellowtail snapper. Nurse sharks are often found resting under the larger pieces of debris, and southern stingrays cruise the sand around the wreck. The shallow depth makes this a relaxed second dive and a unique piece of cinematic history that few other dive sites can claim. Visibility is typically very good and currents are mild, making the site appropriate for divers of all levels.
