19 Best Dive Sites in the Bahamas in 2023

The blue hole is a fantastic dive site for beginners or experienced divers alike. There are sections which stay at 14m, while Advanced certified divers can descend to 31 meters. There is a thriving reef wall filled with a diverse array of marine species.

• Biodiverse dive site featuring IUCN Near Threatened Blacknose sharks
• Depths to accommodate all experience levels
• Easy accessibility by boat

What you will see:

This reef is absolutely overflowing with a wide range of life. Apart from the healthy corals, you will also be met by massive schools of fish, stingrays sitting on the sandy bottom, and some truly unique species as well. Keep your eyes peeled for tobacco fish, paired up gobies, and jawfish who all dart around divers.

This shallow dive site features an expansive area covered with many wrecks, dramatic reef walls, and healthy coral reefs. This is where Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas have the Shark Arena where divers get the chance to experience Caribbean Reef sharks in their feeding frenzy. Sharks have been coming to feed here for the last several decades, with operators and yearly visitors being able to clearly identify individuals. The dive site is on a sandy bottom at around 11 meters in depth making it easily accessible by any level of diver.

• Diverse dive site featuring reefs and wrecks
• Healthy coral reefs with abundant fish
• Shark feeding dives offered by Stuart’s Cove Dive Bahamas

What you will see:

Sharks. Caribbean Reef Sharks will be teeming around this site, as they by now know that the presence of divers and dive boats means they will get fed. While the food they receive is low in calories and does not disrupt their natural hunting patterns, they still get excited and congregate at this dive site for a chance to munch on a tuna head.

This pinnacle dive site features enormous coral pinnacles reaching from the bottom of the ocean 18m towards the surface. They are covered in both soft and hard coral growths along with the hundreds of species congregating on these impressive structures

• Pinnacle dive featuring diverse range of soft and hard corals
• Turtles, sharks, and rays can all be spotted swimming around
• Tunnels and caverns to intrigue more adventurous divers

What you will see:

If you are a keen macro photographer, then make sure to bring your camera and lights to this site. You will be met with an exquisite array of coral life with many fish and invertebrate species seeking refuge amongst this diverse ecosystem.

Potentially the most famous dive site in the Bahamas is located off Walker’s Cay on the northernmost Island in the Bahamas. It is an area where many sharks gather and allows divers to see them in their natural habitats. Predominantly, it is Caribbean reef sharks with an occasional catshark swimming by.

• Shark Feeding dive where you can see up to 100 sharks at once
• Easy, current free dive
• One of the most famous dive sites in the Bahamas

What you will see:

Sharks and other larger fish. Pelagic predators do accumulate in this area, so keep your eyes out for sharks, rays, jacks and more.

If you are a fan of James Bond, then you will certainly want to add this dive site to your list of dives to complete while in the Bahamas. The underwater clear, current less conditions mean that the Bahamas has been the backdrop to many Hollywood movies. James Bond in particular has had these glorious reefs and wrecks play a cameo in Sean Connery versions of the films. In the “Thunderball” from 1965 you will be able to see the Vulcan Bomber while the Tears of Allah shipwreck is featured in the 1983 Bond movie “Never Say Never Again”.

• Famous filming locations for Sean Connery’s James Bond movies
• Beautiful, and impressive fish wrecks
• Easy diving with plenty to photograph

What you will see:

On top of being in the same spot underwater where famous movie actors and iconic movies were filmed, the easy dive sites feature just 12m of water and beautiful marine life. There is abundance coral growth on the wrecks that have been in the water for many years giving photographers plenty to take photos of.

Islands in the stream, known as Bimini are located on the edge of the Gulf stream which runs between Bahamas and the East Coast of Florida. Victory reef is located south of Bimini on a 7km stretch of reef with many dive spots ranging from an easy 9 to a slightly more advanced 24m of depth. Ideal for beginner divers or more experienced divers.

• Range of depths ideal for any experience levels
• Turtles, sharks, and rays all like hanging out on these reefs
• Visibility can easily reach 30m

What you will see:

These dive sites along victory reef are the home to many green turtles, sharks, and rays along with plenty of reef fish. The soft, hard, and sponge corals cover the reef and allow divers to take their time to soak in the myriad of colors and species. The reef stretches a long distance underwater with plenty of fantastic reef structures, caverns, and swim throughs to check out. One of these is the Cathedral, which is a separate dive site on this list.

Islands in the stream, known as Bimini are located on the edge of the Gulf stream which runs between Bahamas and the East Coast of Florida. Victory reef is located south of Bimini on a 7km stretch of reef with many dive spots ranging from an easy 9 to a slightly more advanced 24m of depth. Ideal for beginner divers or more experienced divers.

• Range of depths ideal for any experience levels
• Turtles, sharks, and rays all like hanging out on these reefs
• Visibility can easily reach 30m

What you will see:

These dive sites along victory reef are the home to many green turtles, sharks, and rays along with plenty of reef fish. The soft, hard, and sponge corals cover the reef and allow divers to take their time to soak in the myriad of colors and species. The reef stretches a long distance underwater with plenty of fantastic reef structures, caverns, and swim throughs to check out. One of these is the Cathedral, which is a separate dive site on this list.

Islands in the stream, known as Bimini are located on the edge of the Gulf stream which runs between Bahamas and the East Coast of Florida. Victory reef is located south of Bimini on a 7km stretch of reef with many dive spots ranging from an easy 9 to a slightly more advanced 24m of depth. Ideal for beginner divers or more experienced divers.

• Range of depths ideal for any experience levels
• Turtles, sharks, and rays all like hanging out on these reefs
• Visibility can easily reach 30m

What you will see:

These dive sites along victory reef are the home to many green turtles, sharks, and rays along with plenty of reef fish. The soft, hard, and sponge corals cover the reef and allow divers to take their time to soak in the myriad of colors and species. The reef stretches a long distance underwater with plenty of fantastic reef structures, caverns, and swim throughs to check out. One of these is the Cathedral, which is a separate dive site on this list.

Another fantastic dive site for divers with any experience level. The reef starts at a depth of 11m and descends to 15m allowing beginner divers plenty of easy diving to see the beautiful coral. The reef however does descend rapidly into the Exuma Sound where more advanced divers can explore caverns, swim-through and other topographic anomalies.

• Swim throughs for advanced divers to check out
• Beautiful, thriving reef life
• Great chance to see sharks, groupers, and large schools of jacks

What you will see:

Along with all the typical reef creatures and coral dwellers, this dive site attracts some larger fish species. Massive coral groupers, schooling jacks, and silversides dart around this reef. If you investigate the deep blue you will also have a chance to spot a shark, or ray gliding past.

Andros which is the largest island in the Bahamas does not only have incredible ocean dive sites, but also spectacular inland blue holes. One of the best inland dives is the Crater is an oceanic blue hole off Small Hope Island. The dive is an easy dive spot and allows divers of any certification to explore its outer rim. However, once you descend deeper into the blue hole and begin to see the dark edges it is recommended only divers with advanced or above certification should continue.

• Unique crater dive featuring unique topography
• The hole opens from the ocean floor to a cave system below
• This topography has become the home to plenty of marine species

What you will see:

The unique topography of the crater has made it a part of the ocean where marine animals congregate. You will be able to see large sea turtles sleeping on the bottom of the sand, eels and rays swimming among the coral, and if you are a certified advanced diver, you will be able to see many cave dwelling critters hiding away in the dark. It is advisable to bring a dive torch with you to get the best view in all the nooks and crannies.

The wall dive you can do to explore the Ocean Wall which cuts between the shallow reef and the edge of the Tongue of the Ocean. The “TOTO” is a u-shaped flat bottom trench which is 32km wide and 240km long and separates the east of Andros Island and New Providence. It is exposed to the open ocean at its northern end and is surrounded by reefs from all over edges. This makes it a haven for many sea animals and has some of the greatest biodiversity and isolation from the open ocean.

• Opportunity to dive along the Tongue of the Ocean
• Some dive centers offer a 2 tank dive to experience the beautiful site
• Large collection of groupers, lobsters, grunts, and snappers.

What you will see:

On potentially one of the best reefs and impressive wall dives in the world, you can see many predatory fish who make use of the shallow reef’s abrupt change to 150m depth. Expect to see hunting groupers, eels, trevally’s, snapper, rays, and potentially some sharks cruising around.

This remote dive site on the south eastern tip of Cat Island is an exposed site which is better suited for advanced divers. The dive site is typically deeper than any of the other ones on this list and features spectacular underwater pinnacles that attract marine life from far away. The currents can also be strong, so make sure to check with your local dive operator and ensure you are fit and healthy for this dive.

• Pinnacles rising from the bottom of the sea floor attracting megafauna
• Strong currents bring large sharks and rays
• Dive site better suited for advanced divers

What you will see:

The strong currents in these areas will typically attract pelagic sharks in the open ocean. White tip reef sharks will typically be found around the pinnacles, where groupers and other shark species can also be spotted. Rays are another animal which like currents, so keep your eyes peeled into the deep blue to spot those graceful animals. In general, this dive site is beloved by many divers due to the sheer biodiversity that you can enjoy while diving here.

Undisputedly this dive site is one of the world’s best-known Tiger Shark dives. It is located a 34km boat drive north of the West End of Grand Bahama in a shallow patch of sandy bottom. It is on the western edge of the Little Bahamas Bank and is known for its big population of tiger sharks. Visitors travel from all over the world to see these spectacular animals in the shallow 9m clear blue waters. It is potentially the best place to get an up close and personal interaction with these impressive apex predators with clear water ideal for photographers and videographers.

• • Shallow and clear water making it ideal for photography
  • Healthy population of tiger sharks making it the best place to spot these majestic animals
  • Easy dive meaning divers of all experience levels can enjoy it

What you will see:

The Tiger Shark is a large macropredator which reaches a length of 5m. The populations of tiger shark are typically found in tropical and temperate waters around central pacific islands. They have distinct tiger’s pattern which fades as the shark matures. They are a nocturnal solitary hunter which depends on crustaceans, fish, seals, birds, sea snakes and even dolphins. They are known as the garbage eaters of the sea as they have been found to eat just about anything, they come into contact with including manmade objects that stay in their stomachs.

An artificial reef combines the beauty of the natural world and human ingenuity. This reef features an old school jeep which has now been taken over by the underwater world. It is in the central section of the Exumas Land and Sea Park.

• Artificial reef featuring a coral covered jeep
• Can have strong currents, so make sure to dive when conditions are calm
• The currents do bring in bigger fish and thriving coral

What you will see:

The jeep has now become overgrown with colorful corals which are fed by the typically strong currents rushing through this dive site. A large variety of sea animals have begun considering this artificial reef their home. Enjoy swimming among the red lionfish, blue tang, needlefish, barracuda, and pufferfish.

The Exumas are one of the most stunning island groups in the Bahamas and are comprised of 350 cays filled with breath taking beaches. It is where the Bahamas National Trust’s Land and Sea Park is located, and just a little north of it is the dive site named the Washing Machine. It is a drift dive beginning at 4.5m of water and pushes diverse through a narrow cut in the reef where they are propelled to a depth of 15m.

• Unique current movements which make you feel like you are inside a washing machine
• Beautiful and healthy coral reef
• Surrounded by some of the most beautiful islands and cays in the world.

What you will see:

Just like most coral reef dives, you will see plenty of reef fish, invertebrates, and the invasive lionfish. Keep your eyes peeled for brightly colored nudibranchs, well camouflaged leaf fish, and shy crabs and other crustaceans.

This dive site is located between Great Eleuthera Island and Current Island, and it is best to dive here on an incoming tide. As the tide changes, it forces water through a narrow passage between the two islands creating a thrilling drift dive.

• High speed drift dive
• Great way to see beautiful marine life and coral reefs
• Tidal dive so you need to check out the conditions.

What you will see:

As you jump into the ocean, you will find the drift dive push you along the narrow passageway where you will be seeing snapshots of Bahamian Reefs flashing by. The greatest part of a drift dive is that you need to exert minimal energy and still get to cover a large distance. For around 20 minutes the current stays strong, but once you pass the narrowest section between the islands it will subside at which point you can ascend to the surface and do the drift all over again.

This is one of the dive sites that is easily accessible from Long Island where plenty of dive boats go regularly. It features breath taking drop offs and wall dives with healthy and thriving coral reefs. The top of the wall is covered in coral heads at a depth of 10 meters, after which it plunges straight into the blue to a depth of almost 1500m.

• Fantastic wall dive featuring healthy corals
• Easy to access for a day dive trip from Conception Island
• Visibility typically in the 30 – 40m range

What you will see:

On top of the spectacular and impressive wall dive, you will see the steep descent covered in soft, hard, and sponge corals. The colors are beautiful, however, to get the maximum impact, grab yourself a torch to illuminate the underwater world and get the full array of colors in this alien landscape.

If you love wreck diving, then certainly include the Wreck of HMS Conqueror onto your dive bucket list. It was the first steam powered warship commissioned by the British Navy. It was an impressive steam and sail hybrid which hit corals on the south end of Conception Island in 1848. Since then, it has laid on the ocean floor accumulating coral growth and attracting fish from all over. No humans died during this tragedy.

• Historic wreck dive over 100 years old
• Easy dive site for divers of all levels
• Virtually unrecognizable due to the amount of years underwater

What you will see:

While you will be aware that you are diving on a British Navy shipwreck, the ship is hardly recognizable due to weathering of the saltwater. The rubble pile which sits on the sea floor includes canons, cannon balls, a propeller shaft, an engine, and plenty of petrified planks.

Known as the deepest and most beautiful blue hole in the world, Dean’s blue hole descends to 202 meters and is a fantastic spot for advanced divers to experience the vastness of the ocean. Snorkelers can also admire the plunging blue from the surface and watch the bubbles of divers rising from the deep.

• Deepest known ocean blue hole at 202m
• A curious ocean structure which scientists love to investigate
• A unique and fascinating dive for any dive level

What you will see:

From the air, you will see the azure water in the shallows turning into a deep dark blue at the center where the hole in the ocean descends to 202 meters. Divers love this unique spot in the world and enjoy the views from the surface almost as much as the tunnel in the ocean floor when exploring under water.

Fowl, Sandy, and Pelican Cay are a collection of three National Parks located 100 miles from the northern most island of the Bahamas. It is an extensive collection of reef structures that face the Atlantic Ocean and thrive from the vast amount of nutrients which travel along the currents.

• Quite isolated and fantastically biodiverse coral reefs
• Protected national parks with some of the healthiest reef ecosystems
• Minimal current creating an ideal dive site for divers of all experience levels

What you will see:

These cays feature some truly exquisite coral reef dives which beginners and experienced divers can both enjoy. There are plenty of nudibranchs, invertebrates, and tiny little reef fish swarming over the colorful and healthy corals. Grab your camera out and practice your macro photography skills on this beautifully diverse dive site.

On the Western Coast of San Salvador Island located in the middle of the Bahamas island chain. It is a spectacular dive site which features a wall with amazing overhangs, undercuts, and crevasses. The top of the wall is at a depth of 12m and descends to around 40m. The visibility in this dive site is often between 30 to 45m which makes it spectacular for photographers and videographers. For the best experience, swim along the wall in one direction, and then return back to the boat along one of the many dive crevasses. The French bay wall is separated into many individual dive sites including Grouper Gully, Devil’s Claw and Shark Alley which are all worth checking out.

• Fantastic dive site for night diving
• Tunnels, crevasses, and overhangs for experienced divers to explore
• Beautiful wall dive with extraordinary coral reefs and fish life

What you will see:

The topography at this dive site features abundant growths of elkhorn, staghorn, soft, and hard corals. There are many reef fish including butterfly fish, surgeon fish, clown fish, and fusiliers can be found swimming around the reef.