Active Pursuits

The more than 700 islands in the Bahamian archipelago (fewer than 30 of which are inhabited) are surrounded by warm, clear waters -- ideal for fishing, sailing, and scuba diving. (Detailed recommendations and the costs of these activities are previewed under the individual destinations listings.) The country's perfect weather and its many cooperative local entrepreneurs allow easy access to more than 30 sports throughout the islands. For sports-related information about any of the activities listed below, call tel. 800/32-SPORT.

Fishing

The shallow waters between the hundreds of cays and islands of The Bahamas are some of the most fertile fishing grounds in the world. Even waters where marine traffic is relatively congested have yielded impressive catches in the past, although overfishing has depleted schools of fish, especially big-game fish. Grouper, billfish, wahoo, tuna, and dozens of other species thrive in Bahamian waters, and dozens of charter boats are available for deep-sea fishing.

Frontiers International (tel. 800/245-1950 or 724/935-1577; www.frontierstrvl.com) features fly- and spin-fishing tours of The Bahamas and is a specialist in saltwater-fishing destinations. In addition, reef fishing, either from small boats or from shorelines, is popular everywhere, with grouper, snapper, and barracuda being the most commonly caught species.

Specialists and serious amateurs of the sport often head for any of the following destinations.

The island of Bimini is known as the "Big-Game Fishing Capital of the World." Here anglers can hunt for the increasingly elusive swordfish, sailfish, and marlin. For tournament listings, see the "Calendar of Events," earlier in this chapter. Bimini maintains its own Hall of Fame, where proud anglers have their catches honored. World records for the size of catches don't seem to last long here; they are usually quickly surpassed.

Walker's Cay in the Abacos and Chub Cay in the Berry Islands are famous for both deep-sea and shore fishing. Some anglers return to these cays year after year. Grouper, jacks, and snapper are plentiful. Even spearfishing without scuba gear is common and popular.

Andros boasts the world's best bonefishing. Bonefish (also known as "gray fox") are medium-size fish that feed in shallow, well-lit waters. Known as some of the most tenacious fish in the world, they struggle ferociously against anglers who pride themselves on using light lines from shallow-draft boats. Andros Island Bonefishing Club in North Andros (tel. 242/368-5167; www.androsbonefishing.com) specializes in fishing adventures off some of the most remote and sparsely populated coastlines in the country.

A Warning to Poachers -- It is illegal to take sponges or turtles from Bahamian waters. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Local Government also keeps a close eye on crayfish (spiny lobster) and prohibits the export of conch meat. Stone crab cannot be caught within 3km (2 miles) off Bimini or Grand Bahama.

Sailing

The Bahamas is one of the top yachting destinations in the Atlantic. Its more than 700 islands and well-developed marinas provide a spectacular and practical backdrop for sailing enthusiasts. For a listing of frequent regattas, see the "Calendar of Events," earlier in this chapter. The mini archipelago of the Abacos is called "The Sailing Capital of the World." You might think it deserves the title until you've sailed the Exumas, which we think are even better.

Don't be dismayed if you don't own a yacht. All sizes and types of crafts, from dinghies to blue-water cruisers, are available for charter, and crew and captain are optional for experienced sailors. If your dreams involve experiencing the seagoing life for an afternoon or less, many hotels offer sightseeing cruises aboard catamarans or glass-bottomed boats, often with the opportunity to snorkel or swim in the wide-open sea.

The Abacos have many marinas. The best arrangements for boating can be made at Abaco Bahamas Charters (tel. 800/626-5690 or 242/366-0151; www.abacocharters.com) and at the Moorings (tel. 888/952-8420 or 727/535-1446; www.moorings.com). In the Exumas it's difficult to rent boats because most yachters arrive with their own.

Scuba Diving

The unusual marine topography of The Bahamas offers an astonishing variety of options for divers. Throughout the more than 700 islands are innumerable reefs, drop-offs, coral gardens, caves, and shipwrecks. In many locations, you may feel that you are the first human ever to explore the site. Since fewer than 30 of the Bahamian islands are inhabited, you can usually dive in pristine and uncrowded splendor.

Andros Island boasts the third-largest barrier reef in the world. Chub Cay, in the Berry Islands, and Riding Rock, San Salvador, also offer premium spots to take a plunge in an underwater world teeming with aquatic life. The intricate layout of the Exumas includes virtually every type of underwater dive site, very few of which have ever been explored. The Abacos, famous for its yachting, and the extensive reefs off the coast of Freeport are also fabulous dive sites.

Freeport, incidentally, is home to the country's most famous and complete diving operation, UNEXSO (tel. 800/992-DIVE or 242/373-1244; www.unexso.com). It offers a 5.2m-deep (17-ft.) swimming pool where divers can work toward certification, and the popular "Dolphin Experience," in which visitors are allowed to pet, swim, snorkel, and dive with these remarkable animals.

You can easily learn to dive for the first time in The Bahamas. Lots of Bahamian hotels offer resort courses for novices, usually enabling a beginner to dive with a guide after several hours of instruction. You'll probably start out in the swimming pool for your initial instruction and then go out with a guide from the beach. A license (called a certification card, or "C" card) proving the successful completion of a designated program of scuba study is legally required for solo divers. Many resort hotels and dive shops offer the necessary 5-day training course. Participants who successfully complete the courses are awarded certifications by diving organizations such as PADI or NAUI.

For useful information, check out the website of the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) at www.padi.com. You'll find a description of the best dive sites and a list of PADI-certified dive operators. Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine also has a helpful website at www.scubadiving.com. Both sites list dive-package specials and display gorgeous color photos of some of the most beautiful dive spots in the world.

Sea Kayaking

If you want to explore the pristine Exumas National Land and Sea Park, a spectacular natural area consisting of 365 mostly uninhabited cays that may be more impressive than anything in the Caribbean, Ecosummer Expeditions is your best bet. They'll take you on sea-kayaking itineraries that allow lots of time to enjoy the area's white-sand beaches and numerous reefs. You can also snorkel along the way. A 9-day trip leaving from Nassau costs $1,695. For more information, contact Ecosummer at P.O. Box 177, Clearwater, BC, Canada V0E 1NO (tel. 800/465-8884 or 250/674-0102; www.ecosummer.com).

Another sea-kayaking outfit is Ibis Tours (tel. 914/409-5961; www.ibistours.com).

Bike & Scooter Rentals

Most biking or scooter riding is done either on New Providence Island (Nassau) or on Grand Bahama Island; both have relatively flat terrain. Biking is best on Grand Bahama Island because it's bigger, with better roads and more places to go. Getting around New Providence Island is relatively easy once you're out of the congestion of Nassau and Cable Beach. In Nassau many hotels will rent you a bike or motor scooter.

On Grand Bahama Island, you can rent bikes at most big hotels. You can also rent motor scooters starting at about $45 (£24) per day. The tourist office at Freeport/Lucaya will outline on a map the best biking routes.

In the Out Islands, roads are usually too bumpy and potholed for much serious biking or scooter riding. Bike-rental places are almost nonexistent unless your hotel has some vehicles.

Golf

The richest pickings are on Grand Bahama Island. The Reef Course is the first new golf course to open in The Bahamas since 1969. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., it features water along 13 of its 18 holes. The oldest course on Grand Bahama Island is the Lucayan Golf Course, a wooded course with elevated greens and numerous water hazards designed for precision golf.

Quality golf in The Bahamas, however, is not restricted to Grand Bahama Island. The Cable Beach Golf Course is the oldest golf course in the country. The widely publicized Ocean Club Golf Club has unusual obstacles -- a lion's den and a windmill -- which have challenged the skill of both Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus. It also boasts the world's largest sand trap.

A spectacular Greg Norman-designed course opened in Great Exuma, part of the massive new Four Seasons resort.

Golf is also available at a course in the Abacos at the Treasure Cay Golf Club. The design is challenging, with many panoramic water views and water obstacles.

Hiking

The Bahamas isn't the greatest destination for serious hikers. The best hiking is on Grand Bahama Island, especially in Lucayan National Park, which spreads across 16 hectares (40 acres) and is some 32km (20 miles) from Lucaya. A large map at the entrance to the park outlines the trails. The park is laced with trails and elevated walkways. The highlight of the park is what may be the largest underground cave system in the world, some 11km (6 3/4 miles) long. Spiral steps let you descend into an eerie underground world.

Also on Grand Bahama Island, the Rand Memorial Nature Centre is the second-best place for hiking. It offers some 40 wooded hectares (99 acres) that you can explore on your own or with a tour guide. A .75km (1/2-mile) stretch of winding trails acquaints you with the flora and fauna that call Grand Bahama home, everything from a native boa constrictor to the Cuban emerald hummingbird, whose favorite food is the nectar of the hibiscus.

Horseback Riding

The best riding possibilities are at Pinetree Stables on Grand Bahama Island (tel. 242/373-3600 or 305/433-4809; www.pinetree-stables.com). Its escorted eco-tour trail rides are especially interesting. Rides are offered two times a day Tuesday through Sunday; be sure to book rides a few days in advance.

Virtually the only place on New Providence Island (Nassau) that offers horseback riding is Windsor Equestrian Centre & Happy Trails Stables, Coral Harbour (tel. 242/362-1820; www.windsorequestriancentre.com), which features both morning and afternoon trail rides and requires a reservation. These tours include transportation to and from your hotel. The trail rides are guided through the woods and along the beach.

Horseback riding is hardly a passion on the other islands.

Tennis

Most tennis courts are part of large resorts and are usually free for the use of registered guests during the day. Charges are imposed to light the courts at night. Nonguests are welcome but are charged a player's fee; they should call in advance to reserve. Larger resorts usually offer on-site pro shops and professional instructors. Court surfaces range from clay or asphalt to such technologically advanced substances as Flexipave and Har-Tru.

New Providence, with more than 80 tennis courts, wins points for offering the greatest number of choices. At least 21 of these lie on Paradise Island. Also noteworthy are the many well-lit courts at the Radisson Cable Beach Hotel. After New Providence, Grand Bahama has the largest number of courts available for play -- almost 40 in all. Within the Out Islands, tennis courts are available on Eleuthera, the Abacos, the Berry Islands, and the Exumas.