The Bahamas Underwater: Top Dive Sites

The Bahamas, a coral-based string of 700 islands, is sun-drenched with near-perfect weather year-round. Four million annual visitors come for its blush-colored sands, splashy resorts, and dive sites teeming with rainbow-hued fish, reefs, sea gardens, blue holes, and drop-offs featured in James Bond movies.

Photo Caption: A squirrelfish in a colorful coral garden off the Exuma Islands in the Bahamas.

nashworld

In the Wake of 007: The Exumas

Abundant with angelfish and other sea creatures, the mazelike passageways of Thunderball Cave in the Exumas were the setting for a chase scene in guess which James Bond thriller? Thunderball, with Sean Connery.

Photo Caption: Snorkeling around Thunderball Cave off the Exuma Islands in the Bahamas

thespis377

Aquatic Angels of Stocking Island

Exuma's Stocking Island is ringed with undersea caves and coral gardens in vivid colors with spectacular inhabitants, such as this gray angelfish. You'll also find some of the most gorgeous beaches in the Southern Bahamas here.

Photo Caption: A gray angelfish in a colorful coral garden off the Exuma Islands in the Bahamas

maugiart

School's Out on Grand Bahama

Rich with marine life, such as these sergent major fish, the clear seas around Grand Bahama Island are optimal for snorkeling. Underwater wonders include Ben's Cave, a mesmerizing cavern that's part of Lucayan Caves, and the coral beds at places such as Silver Point Reef and Gold Rock.

Photo Caption: Snorkeling through a school of sergeant major fish off Grand Bahama Island

Melinda Riger

Last Port of Call: Grand Bahama

Grand Bahama Island is ringed with reefs, and dive sites are plentiful, including the Wall, Treasure Reef, the Caves, and an assortment of shipwrecks.

Photo Caption: Scuba diving around a shipwreck off the coast of Grand Bahama Island

Melinda Riger

Coral Kaleidoscope: Grand Bahama

Dazzling scenery and the presence of a world-class dive operator, the Underwater Explorer Society (UNEXSO), make diving off Grand Bahama Island a superlative experience below the sea.

Photo Caption: Colorful fish seen while scuba diving off the coast of Grand Bahama Island

august_rode

Din-Din on Long Island

Snorkeling is spectacular on virtually all sides of Long Island (Southern Bahamas), but experienced divers venture deeper to visit underwater cages and feed swarms of mako, bull, and reef sharks.

mattkieffer

Lost Continent Off Bimini?

Reefs 5km (3 miles) off the shore of Bimini attract millions of colorful fish. Even snorkelers can see black-coral gardens, blue holes, and an odd configuration on the sea floor that is allegedly part of the lost continent of Atlantis.

Photo Caption: A school of fish swims around the coral reefs in Bimini, the Bahamas.

nashworld

The Andros Barrier Reef

Just a few hundred yards from shore, the barrier reef off the east coast of Andros is the world's third largest. It also claims the planet's greatest concentration of tidal freshwater blue holes, teeming with marine life.

Photo Caption: Snorkeling above a coral reef off the coast of Andros Island in the Bahamas

parascubasailor

Deep Sea Spelunking: Abaco Islands

Known for its undersea caves, seemingly endless coral reefs, and abundant plant and marine life, including these surgeonfish, Great Abaco Island is a highlight for scuba divers.

Photo Caption: Surgeonfish swimming around the coral reefs off the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas

mehphotography

Fluid Eleuthera

Eleuthera and its satellite islands, Spanish Wells (on St. George's Cay) and Harbour Island, offer superb snorkeling and diving amid coral gardens, reefs, drop-offs, and wrecks.

Photo Caption: Several schools of fish swim around a coral reef near Eleuthera in the Bahamas.

theactionitems

Nassau's Shark Wall