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Snorkelling and diving in The Bahamas: where to go and what to expect
Where to snorkel and dive in The Bahamas: the Andros wall, Exuma's marine park, Bimini's hammerheads and Grand Bahama's shark dives, plus seasons and rules.
Bimini tours: big-game fishing, the Bimini Road, wild dolphins and the Sapona wreck
Fifty miles from Miami, Bimini packs a lot of water into two small islands: the Gulf Stream for big-game fishing, shallow banks for snorkelling, a resident dolphin pod and, in winter, great hammerheads. This page covers the tours that make the most of it.
Fishing
Bimini's reputation was built on fishing. The Gulf Stream runs close offshore and sportfishing charters leave the marinas of Alice Town and the north end for marlin, tuna, wahoo and mahi. On the banks, bonefishing guides pole the flats east of the islands. Half-day and full-day charters are available year round, with seasonal peaks for different species.
Snorkelling, diving and dolphins
The Bimini Road, a line of large rectangular limestone blocks in shallow water, is an easy snorkel and the subject of enduring legends; geologists consider it natural beachrock. The SS Sapona, a concrete ship grounded in 1926, sits in shallow water south of the islands and is snorkelled and dived. Boat trips head out to meet the wild dolphins that frequent the banks, and dive operators run reef dives year round and great hammerhead dives from roughly December to March.
On land
Alice Town's King's Highway runs the length of North Bimini past bars, guesthouses and the places Ernest Hemingway drank and fished in the 1930s; a small museum covers the island's history. South Bimini has a nature trail, the site associated with the fountain of youth legend, and quieter beaches. Golf carts and bicycles are the way around.
What we can arrange
Offshore sportfishing charter
Half or full days in the Gulf Stream for marlin, tuna, wahoo and mahi.
Bimini Road and Sapona snorkel
Two of the easiest and best known snorkels in the country.
About this placeWild dolphin trip
Boat excursions to the pod that lives on the banks.
Hammerhead dive
Winter dives with great hammerheads for certified divers.
Alice Town history walk
Hemingway haunts and the island museum.
Ready to plan it?
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Common questions
Can I visit Bimini for a day from Florida?
By air it is possible, and ferries have offered day trips in some seasons. Most visitors stay at least a night.
What is the Bimini Road?
A half-mile line of rectangular limestone blocks in shallow water off North Bimini, popular with snorkellers. Geological studies describe it as natural beachrock.
When are the hammerheads in Bimini?
Great hammerheads are seen on specialist dives from about December to March.
Guides
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Chartering a boat in The Bahamas: crewed, bareboat or a day with a captain
How boat charters work in The Bahamas: crewed yachts, bareboat sailing and captained day boats, where each works best, what is included and what operators ask.