Fast Facts

ATMs -- You'll find an ATM at the Royal Bank of Canada, in Alice Town (tel. 242/347-3031; www.rbcroyalbank.com). The bank is open Monday through Thursday from 9:30am to 3pm, Friday from 9:30am to 4:30pm.

Clothing -- If you're going to Bimini in winter, take along a windbreaker for those occasional chilly nights.

Customs & Immigration -- The office of Customs and Immigration is in Alice Town (tel. 242/347-3100 for Customs). It consists of one Immigration officer and one Customs official. If you're flying from the U.S., you must carry a valid passport and fill out a Bahamian Immigration Card.

Drugs -- The rumrunners of the Prohibition era have now given way to those smuggling illegal drugs into the U.S. from The Bahamas. Because of its proximity to the mainland, Bimini, as is no secret to anyone, is now a major drop-off point for drugs, many originating from Colombia. If not intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard, these drugs find their way to Florida and eventually to the rest of the United States.

Both buying and selling illegal drugs, such as cocaine and marijuana, is an extremely risky business in The Bahamas. You may be approached by dealers on Bimini, some of whom are actually undercover agents. If caught with illegal drugs, you face immediate imprisonment.

Emergencies -- To call the police or report a fire, dial tel. 919.

Medical Care -- Nurses, a doctor, and a dentist are on the island, as is the North Bimini Medical Clinic (tel. 242/347-2210). However, for serious medical emergencies, patients are usually airlifted to either Miami or Nassau. Helicopters can land in the well-lit baseball field on North Bimini.