BAHAMAS.COM/DIVING WALKERS It’s Bigger In The Bahamas Frequently Asked Questions CAY Since 1994, Scuba Diving Magazine has sur- 1. Why is diving in The Islands of The Bahamas better? While the word Bahamas came from a Spanish term for “shallow banks,” veyed thousands of their readers each year to we also offer the world’s third largest barrier reef. It runs parallel to Andros Island and you can snorkel on one side and “drop off” on the Little Bahama Bank determine their exclusive Top 100 Readers’ other. We also have 360 blue holes of which 160 are found on Andros. SPANISH CAY With virtually no runoff, nearly all rainfall is absorbed by porous limestone islands. Sedimentation is minimal creating some of the Choice Awards and Gold List. Year-after-year clearest tropical waters in the world. Divers can expect visibility GREEN TURTLE CAY beyond 150 ft. year-round with the very best visibility often found (in the Caribbean/Atlantic region) The Islands immediately after a winter or eastern front has moved through. 1 During these periods, the sea can become flat calm and visibility PALM BEACH TREASURE CAY GUANA CAY Of The Bahamas not only secured the # 1 ranked can exceed beyond 200 feet. WEST END 6 2 spot for Big Animals, but also received top 2. Do I have to be certified to dive in The Bahamas? 3 Atlantic Ocean No. All BDA operators offer learn to dive courses for non-divers. awards in many other dive categories. When Certified divers will enjoy more dive sites, but there is great diving HOPE TOWN for divers and non-divers alike. 18 FREEPORT MARSH HARBOUR & ELBOW CAY recents awards were tallied and presented, 3. What types of dives do The Bahamas offer? 17 GRAND BAHAMA Dolphin Encounters, Wreck Diving, Shallow Reefs, Wall Dives, Blue 16 The Bahamas once again walked away with the Holes, Caverns, Live-aboard Diving & Splendid World-class Drop-Offs. 4 Sharks Encounters – offered in a control environment where feeders #1 spot for Diving with Big Animals and Wreck are typically fit with a chain mail suit, allowing for close-up feeding. Northwest Providence Channel There are various types of encounters, ranging from hand-feeding 5 to pole spear to chum-ball feeds. Check with each dive operator MOORES Diving as well as many other top awards such as for current style and type of shark encounters offered. ISLAND • Caves, Grottos 4. Can I go snorkeling off the beach? Yes. FT. LAUDERDALE • Canyons 5. What is the average temperature range in The Bahamas? ABACO The Islands Of The Between 75 - 85 degrees Fahrenheit • Visibility 6. Do Bahamian dive operators offer Nitrox dives? • Photography Yes, dive operators offer Nitrox dives. voted 7. Can I go spearfishing in The Bahamas 9 • Free Diving Yes, free dive only and non-mechanized equipment such as a BAHAMAS for #1 Hawaiian sling. The use of power spear guns at anytime is against BIMINI GREAT HARBOUR • Beginner Diving the law. CAY BIG ANIMALS 10 ISLANDS 8. Can divers get their own tanks filled in The Bahamas? MIAMI Yes. Elbow Bank 13 9. Are there any operators geared for handicapped persons? 11 CAT CAY HARBOUR ISLAND Yes... Many operations offer accommodations for special needs divers, please check with each operation for specific accommoda- OCEAN CAY BERRY DUNMORE TOWN tions available. RIDING ROCKS ISLANDS 10. Are marriages performed underwater? Northeast Providence Channel Yes. SOUTH RIDING ROCK ELEUTHERA 11. Do I need a visa to enter The Bahamas? USA and Canadian citizens (and many other countries) do not ORANGE CAY require a visa for typical dive vacations. GOVERNORS Visit our website at Bahamas.com for detailed information NICHOLLS regarding your specific country. NASSAU HARBOUR TOWN 20 12. Do I need a wetsuit? No, but during the months of November-February a 3 Millimeters 25 27 neoprene full length wet suit is suggested but not required. 21 13. Where is the nearest recompression chamber located? 24 26 30 There is a full-service recompression chamber in Nassau. De- NEW pending on your dive location, recompression chambers in Miami, Ft Lauderdale or West Palm Beach, Florida may be closer. Dive Map And Visitors Guide Visitors And Map Dive 20 0 2 PROVIDENCE HIGHBOURNE 14. What is the average water temperature in The Bahamas? BAHAMAS FRESH CREEK CAY Month Temp. Range Month Temp. Range ARTHUR’S January 72° - 75° July 80° - 82° 8 NORMAN’S CAY TOWN February 72° - 75° August 81° - 83° March 73° - 77° September 80° - 82° HAWKSBILL April 74° - 75° October 78° - 80° ANDROS CAY CAT May 75° - 77° November 77° - 79° The Islands Of The Of Islands The ISLAND LITTLE ISLAND June 78° - 80° December 75° - 78° WADERICK WELLS SAN SALVADOR For Information On Our Instant Air CAY Credit Visit Bahamas.Com/Diving. G Tongue Of The Ocean 15 re 7 a EXUMA STANIEL CAY 22 CAYS t KEMPS 23 B BAY 14 a COCKBURN TOWN h SAN SALVADOR a m CONCEPTION a 30 ISLAND Exuma Sound B 28 a n GREAT k EXUMA GEORGETOWN RUM CAY 19 12 LONG ISLAND SAMANA CAY JUMENTOS CLARENCE CAYS TOWN Where To Go Diving -- Bahamian-Based Dive Operators FLAMINGO CAY COLONEL HILL PLANA ABACOS 11. Neal Watson’s Bimini Scuba Center LONG ISLAND CAY 1. Brendal’s Dive Center & Water Sports Reservations: 242-365-4411 Reservations: 800-737-1007 or 242-347-3500 19. Stella Maris Resort Club • Reservations: 800-426-0466 CROOKED E: [email protected] - Web: www.biminisands.com E: [email protected] - Web: www.brendal.com E: [email protected] - Web: www.stellamarisresort.com Crooked IslandISLAND Passage MAYAGUANA ISLAND 2. Dive Abaco! • Reservations: 800.247.5338 CAT ISLAND NASSAU/PARADISE ISLAND SEAL CAY E: [email protected] - Web: www.DiveAbaco.com 12. Hawk’s Nest Resort & Marina • Reservations: 242-342-7050 20. Bahama Divers Ltd. 3. Dive Guana • Reservations: 242-365-5178 E: [email protected] - Web: www.hawks-nest.com Reservations: 866-662-7728 • 242-393-5644 NURSE CAY E: [email protected] - Web: www.diveguana.com E: [email protected] - Web: www.bahamadivers.com RAGGED 4. Dive Time Abaco • Reservations: 2423656235 ELEUTHERA/ HARBOUR ISLAND 21. Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas • Reservations: 800-879-9832 ABRAHAM’S E: [email protected] - Web: divetimeabaco.com 13. Valentine’s Dive Center • Reservations: 242-333-2080 E: [email protected] - Web: www.stuartcove.com ISLANDS ACKLINS BAY E: [email protected] ISLAND 5. Froggies Out Island Adventure, Ltd.• Reservations: Web: www.valentinesdive.com SAN SALVADOR 242-366-0431 - E: [email protected] Web: www.froggiesabaco.com 22. Riding Rock Resort • Reservations: 800-272-1492 EXUMA ISLANDS E: [email protected] - Web: www.ridingrock.com CAY VERDE Mayaguana Passage 6. Treasure Divers, Treasure Cay Resort • Reservations: 14. Dive Exuma • Reservations: 242-336-2893 242-365-8571 - E: [email protected] 23. Seafari Bahamas at Club Med • Reservations: 242-331-2195 E: [email protected] - Web: www.dive-exuma.com E: [email protected] - Web: www.seafari-int.com ANDROS ISLAND 15. Staniel Cay Dive • Reservations: 242-225-9668 DIVE LIVEABOARDS 7. Small Hope Bay Lodge • Reservations: 242-368-2014 E: [email protected] Columbus Bank HOGSTY REEF E: [email protected] - Web: www.SmallHope.com Web: www.stanielcay.com 24. Aqua Cat Cruises • Reservations: 888-327-9600 E: [email protected] - Web: www.aquacatcruises.com LITTLE INAGUA 8. Tiamo Resorts, South Andros • Reservations: 242-368-2330 GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND E: [email protected] - Web: www.tiamoresorts.com 25. Blackbeard’s Cruises • Reservations: 800-327-9600 16. Sunn Odyssey Divers • Reservations: 242-373-4014 E: [email protected] - Web: www.blackbeard-cruises.com BIMINI ISLANDS E: [email protected] Map Key 9. Bimini Undersea - Reservations: 786 462 4641 Web: www.sunnodysseydivers.com OTHER OPERATORS: E: [email protected] - Web: www.biminiundersea.com 17. Deep Water Cay Divers • Reservations: 888-420-6203 Grand Bahama Scuba • Grand Bahama Island 242-373-9791 BDA Members E: [email protected] - Web: www.deepwatercay.com E: [email protected]. # GREAT INAGUA 10. Dive Bimini • Reservations: 800-867-4764 ISLAND E: [email protected] 18. UNEXSO • Reservations: 800-992-3483 Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach • Reservations 242-373-4000 NOTE: This map is not to scale and is intended for use Web: www.biggameclubbimini.com E: [email protected] - Web: www.unexso.com E: [email protected] Email us at [email protected] • Phone:1.305.778.5177 The publisher wishes to thank the following for their photo contributions... as a reference only, not for navigation Steve Frink, Stuart Coves Dive, Green Turtle Club, Treasure Cay, Small Hope Bay, Unexso & And all the owners and mangers that helped make this map possible, with a special Produced annually for the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism by thanks to the Minister and his team at The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, and The Bahamas Map Illustration © 2013 Clif Art Out Island Promotion Board. MultiMedia Group Limited, Nassau, The Bahamas. Copyright © 2019/2020 MATTHEW TOWN y Ya l Ca cht Daily flights ie C n lu from Ft. Lauderdale ta b S EXUMAS, BAHAMAS stanielcay.com [email protected] Bah 242.355.2024 U.S. 954.467.6658 stanielcay.com • [email protected] • Bahamas 242.355.2024 • U.S. 954.467.6658 • VHF 16 to a true, professionally controlled dolphin encounters. The experience begins with you and the dolphins connecting in the open ocean. It’s truly an experience you’ll never forget and it fun for kids of all ages. A WORLD OF DIVERSITY & LARGE ANIMALS 10 UNIQUE DESTINATIONS The dolphin encounter is just the beginning at UNEXSO. During the same day you can do a shark dive coming face-to-face with sharks, and if your schedule permits you can explore a sunken ship.