Bahamas Liveaboard Diving

The name Bahamas comes from the Spanish words 'baja mar' which means shallow water, with just about all areas accessible by divers. One of the main diving areas that will be visited is the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. With their motto being 'Take only photographs, leave only footprints' their aim is to protect their precious environment while still letting anyone enjoy it. It is one of the National Park and Protected Areas managed by the Bahamas National Trust, so due to it being protected there is very minimal damage to the environment, which allows for 'peace of mind' exploration in pristine, essentially untouched waters. Dive sites you may visit in this area include The Washing Machine, Cathedral, Jeep Reef or the Austin Smith Wreck.

With the Bahamas having large numbers of sharks, the Tiger Beach dive site, one of the dive sites offered on liveaboard trips, offers the experience of diving with sharks in close proximity. Species which have been spotted there include Tiger Sharks, Lemon Sharks, Caribbean Reef sharks and more. As there is no chumming of the water or feeding of the sharks, it is considered the pinnacle of shark diving.

You will also have the opportunity to see the romantic pink beaches of the island Eleuthera, which are surrounded by ancient, prosperous reefs.

To get a taster of the diving world of the Bahamas, Nassau and its neighbouring island of Paradise Island provide numerous opportunities. Some including shipwrecks, one dive site called Lost Blue Hole is exactly that, a large natural Blue Hole that can be explored by divers. You may also visit the humorously named 'Fish Hotel' dive site which has an abundance of large schools of fish. Their sites are of all different depths so any divers can go exploring there.

More About Liveaboards In The Bahamas

The liveaboards in the Bahamas generally run for a 8 days/7nights period with the price starting from $US300 a day, however, please note this excludes gear rental, which if needed will be $US175 per 7 day trip, or Nitrox, which starts from $US100 per trip. Diving/Trip insurance is highly recommended for all passengers. There are approximately four liveaboard itineraries around the Bahamas per month. Each one will take no more than 14 passengers. Divers are required to have their Open Water certificates, but apart from that, all levels are welcome. The dive staffs priority is your safety so they will do thorough briefings before all dives and make sure everything is on top form before jumping in.

Liveaboard trips in the Bahamas offer luxurious and comfortable accommodation onboard, with a professional and experienced crew. You will get the chance to do up to 5 dives a day (including night dives) and in between these you can relax onboard and have freshly prepared meals served throughout your trip.

Tips For Travellers

Diving in the Bahamas is possible all year round. Each season provides divers with a different kind of diving experience, all which have their own individual charm. The springtime (April and May) provide a high abundance of the Mahi Dolphin Fish, a very unique fish that is also not extremely common. In the winter time (November to March) there are high chances to see schools of Hammerhead sharks, an experience on its own.

When it comes to temperatures and diving conditions, they can vary but not to extremes that would prevent anyone from getting into the water. November commences the winter weather, bringing in cold fronts from time to time. Mostly these are mild, if stronger, then it can have an effect on the visibility, but not for more than a day or so. The waters around this time are around 25 - 26 degrees Celsius (77-80 degrees Fahrenheit) so even though it is winter, they are still pleasant temperatures to dive in. The summer months, which are June to September, have the best conditions with waters being around 30 degrees Celsius (85 degrees Fahrenheit). The riskiest months for storms is August, however, they are not at all frequent and would only affect the visibility for a day or two.

The official language is English, their currency is the Bahamian Dollar, however, the US dollar is widely accepted. Most nationalities you can get a visa upon arrival for between 3 months and 8 months. Finally, there are no required vaccinations you must have to enter the country, nevertheless, it is always a good idea to be up to date with your vaccinations before travelling.

Departure Ports And How To Get There

Bahamas liveaboards primarily depart from the capital city Nassau. Nassau inhabits 70% of the entire Bahamas population. It has an international airport, Lynden Pindling International Airport, which will be your main port of entry into the Bahamas. It is easy to access Nassau, either through flying or ship/ferry. Flights land at the international airport from multiple cities in the United States, cities in the Caribbean and the United Kingdom. You can also get ferries or cruise ships to and from other islands which will dock at the Prince George Wharf.

Grand Bahama is also a departure point for some itineraries in the Bahamas. Guests will fly in and out of Grand Bahama International Airport, (airport code is FPO). Transfers are generally not included in the trip cost. It is a 30 - 45 minute taxi ride to Old Bahama Bay. Approximate cost is $US75.