Diving in Abaco
Why dive here
Abaco offers some of Bahamas's richest diving, with 367+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales and nurse sharks. Water ranges 24-30°C, warmest July, August, September.
We’ve always thought of Abaco as the Bahamas’ boating heartland, and diving here feels like a natural extension of that easygoing, sail-first vibe. The reefs are generally calm and shallow, making it a dream for those who like to take their time exploring. Think long, relaxed dives over coral heads, particularly in the Fowl Cay Underwater National Park. That’s our favourite spot, where you’ll find schools of dark green parrotfish chowing down on the coral and fairy basslets flitting between the nooks. The real showstoppers for us are the blue holes. It’s a completely different feel dropping into those, like entering another world. We’ve drifted through schools of round scad so thick it felt like swimming through glitter, and the light filtering down from the surface is just magic. Visibility tends to be excellent year-round, but we’d suggest late spring for the most consistently glassy conditions. You might even spot a melon-headed whale offshore if you’re lucky, especially during migratory seasons. Don’t expect raging currents or huge pelagics every dive, but for laid-back exploration and a real sense of peace underwater, Abaco truly delivers.
Abaco Dive Site Map
Dive sites and dive centres in Abaco
Abaco Dive Sites
60 dive sites in Abaco
777
The 777 site in Abaco is a straightforward dive, topping out at 20m. It's a good spot for newer divers, offering a gentle introduction to the local reef environment. We often see smaller reef fish here, parrotfish grazing, and sometimes a few garden eels popping up from the sandy patches. It's a relaxed dive, good for getting comfortable in the water.
Angel Grand
Angel Grand, off Abaco, is a pleasant drift over a series of gentle coral heads. We often spot nurse sharks tucked under ledges and schools of snapper moving through the gorgonians. It’s a relaxed dive, good for photographers wanting a slower pace or those just starting to get comfortable with Caribbean currents. A solid choice for a second dive of the day.
Atlantis Road
Abaco’s Atlantis Road follows a sandy bottom channel, running parallel to the reef at about 12 metres. It’s a gentle drift dive, perfect for newer divers or those looking for a relaxed experience. We usually spot nurse sharks napping in the sand and green turtles grazing on the seagrass. Expect schooling grunts and snapper hovering over the coral heads that dot the channel.
Ben s Blue Hole
Ben's Blue Hole in Abaco is a cavern dive for experienced explorers. You'll drop into a large opening, descending into near darkness, so good buoyancy and a reliable torch are essential. Keep an eye out for snapper and tarpon lurking in the shadows. It’s a site best enjoyed by divers comfortable in overhead environments.
Ben s Cavern
Ben's Cavern, tucked away in Abaco, offers a classic Bahamian cave dive experience. Inside, you'll navigate through a labyrinth of chambers, admiring the stalactites and stalagmites that have formed over millennia. It's a site best suited for certified cave divers comfortable with overhead environments and navigating by line. Visibility inside the cavern tends to be excellent, making for a clear exploration.
Bimini
Bimini sits right on the edge of the Gulf Stream, which makes it a truly unique spot for shark encounters in the Bahamas. If you're looking for big pelagics, this is your place. We've seen blacktips, tiger sharks, and even the occasional blue marlin cruise by. But the real draw here is the great hammerheads, especially in winter. You can often get up close with these impressive animals, a truly humbling experience. It's a dive for those who want to see the ocean's apex predators, not just colorful reef fish.
Bimini Barge (Wreck)
The Bimini Barge is one of those wrecks that just hits right, particularly for us when we're in the mood for something a bit more chilled out than a deep penetration. Sitting upright in only 17 metres, it’s not going to challenge your deco limits, but it offers a solid 30-40 minutes of really engaging exploration. We love how the structure has become a high-rise apartment block for resident fish. You’ll find loads of grunts tucked into every shadowy corner, their stripes almost vibrating in the ambient light, and big schools of snapper just hanging out above the deck, often so thick they shimmer like a silver curtain when the sun catches them. Our favourite thing to do here is just slow down, maybe poke around the cargo holds – which are wide open and safe – looking for the resident green moray eel we almost always spot peeking out. It’s perfect for intermediate divers who appreciate a wreck that’s been thoroughly integrated into the reef ecosystem, rather than just a rusty hulk. The visibility here is often fantastic, 20 metres plus, so you get a great sense of the wreck's scale as you approach, its dark silhouette rising from the sandy bottom. Best dived on an incoming tide, we find, when the water is often at its clearest.
Bimini Diving: Great Hammerheads, Bull Sharks and Wrecks
Bimini offers a solid mix of shark encounters and wreck exploration. We’ve had some truly memorable dives here with the hammerheads, especially during the winter months when they’re more prevalent. Beyond the big pelagics, the wrecks, like the Sapona, are a real draw. She’s a half-submerged concrete ship, now a vibrant artificial reef, where we’ve often found schooling fish and the occasional turtle, making for some fantastic photo opportunities, even if the visibility can get a bit sporty sometimes. It's a good spot for divers comfortable with drift dives and keen on larger marine life.
BIMITI
Bimiti is one of those wrecks we keep coming back to in Abaco, a lovely shallow dive that’s perfect for a second tank or just a relaxed afternoon out. She was a motor vessel that went aground on East Brother Reef back in ’79, and time has done a beautiful job of integrating her into the reef. You’ll find her mostly broken up, spread across the sandy bottom at about 12 metres, but that’s part of the charm. Instead of one big intact structure, you get these fantastic sections of hull and machinery, each one a little coral-encrusted island. We love seeing the schools of grunt and snapper hanging out in the more sheltered nooks, and we’ve spotted plenty of inquisitive Caribbean reef sharks cruising by. Look closely at the metal plates; the hard corals have really taken hold, creating some surprisingly colourful patches. It’s a great spot for macro photography too, with nudibranchs and small crabs often tucked away. For a shallow wreck, it offers a lot to explore without feeling rushed, and it’s a brilliant dive for newer wreck divers or anyone who just appreciates a wreck that’s become a vibrant part of the ecosystem.
Blue Chromis - Bahamas
Blue Chromis in Abaco offers a straightforward dive to 22m, making it ideal for newer divers or those looking for a relaxed exploration. We’ve often found schools of small reef fish here, particularly the blue chromis that give the site its name, darting amongst the coral heads. It’s a gentle introduction to Abaco’s reefs, without strong currents or complex navigation.
Blue Heron Bridge at Phil Foster Park
Okay, let's set the record straight: the Blue Heron Bridge we're talking about is in Florida, not Abaco, Bahamas. That said, if you're looking for an honest take on the actual Blue Heron Bridge at Phil Foster Park in Riviera Beach, Florida, here it is. This spot is a legitimate muck dive, and we mean that in the best possible way. Drop in under the bridge, and you're not looking for big pelagics or sweeping coral vistas. Instead, it’s all about getting low and slow, hunting for the smaller stuff: octopuses tucked into discarded bottles, seahorses clinging to bits of rope, and frogfish perfectly camouflaged against the pilings. Visibility can swing, especially with tidal changes, so we always recommend hitting it around high slack tide for the clearest conditions and minimal current. It's a photographer's dream for macro shots, and genuinely suits divers who love a good treasure hunt in the silt.
Boynton Beach Reef
Boynton Beach Reef sits at a comfortable 21 meters, making it a great spot for newer divers in Abaco. You'll find a healthy patch reef here, with plenty of small reef fish darting around the corals. It’s a straightforward dive, good for getting your bearings or enjoying a relaxed afternoon beneath the surface.
Abaco Dive Centres
13 dive shops and operators in Abaco
Brendals Dive Center
Dive Guana
Divers Direct
Dixie Divers
Force-E Scuba Centers
Hydrotherapy Dive Charters LLC
Pura Vida Divers
Reef Oasis Viva Bahamas
Ocean Wildlife in Abaco
367 species recorded in Abaco
Abaco Daylight & Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrise and sunset times for Abaco, calculated from coordinates
Today - Monday 24 August
Sunrise
05:53
Sunset
18:46
Daylight
12h 53m
Golden Hour
18:15
First light (dawn) at 05:29 · Last light (dusk) at 19:10
Monthly Averages
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 07:06 | 17:45 | 10h 40m |
| Feb | 06:53 | 18:09 | 11h 16m |
| Mar | 06:27 | 18:25 | 11h 58m |
| Apr | 05:54 | 18:39 | 12h 45m |
| May | 05:31 | 18:55 | 13h 24m |
| JunLongest | 05:24 | 19:10 | 13h 46m |
| Jul | 05:33 | 19:11 | 13h 38m |
| AugNow | 05:49 | 18:54 | 13h 6m |
| Sep | 06:02 | 18:23 | 12h 21m |
| Oct | 06:15 | 17:50 | 11h 35m |
| Nov | 06:34 | 17:28 | 10h 53m |
| DecShortest | 06:56 | 17:27 | 10h 31m |
Times are approximate local times based on longitude. Actual times may vary slightly depending on the exact timezone observed in Abaco.
Where to Stay near Abaco
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Marine Protected Areas near Abaco
20 protected areas near Abaco - please respect local regulations when diving
Northshore / The Gap National Park
Marls of Abaco National Park
East Grand Bahama National Park
Joulter Cays National Park
South Berry Islands Marine Reserve
South Abaco Blue Holes National Park
Southwest New Providence Marine Managed Area
Cross Harbour National Park
Walker's Cay National Park
Andros Northern Marine Park
East Abaco Creeks - Cherokee
Andros Southern Marine Park
Showing 12 largest of 20
Getting to Abaco
Freeport
Fort Lauderdale
West Palm Beach
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