Elbow Cays 5 - Bimini

Diving Alaska always feels like a proper adventure, and Escape Reefs gives you a taste of that wild, cold-water magic. It's less about vibrant corals and more about the intricate, rugged beauty of the northern Pacific. We’ve found the real show here is often closer to the reef itself – think colourful Spiral Bryozoan colonies clinging to the rock, and the sheer number of crustaceans like Roughpatch Shrimp and those hefty Dungeness Crabs scuttling about. Keep an eye out for foraging Pacific herring, and if you’re lucky, a Spotted Ratfish gliding by in the deeper sections. It's a spot that rewards slow, observant diving, perfect for those who appreciate the subtle details of a truly unique ecosystem.

Location: Bimini, Bahamas, Caribbean
Coordinates: 23.953920, -80.446210
Type: reef

Marine Protected Area: Cay Sal Marine Managed Area

Best Time to Dive in Bimini

The warmest water temperatures in Bimini occur in January, averaging 26.4°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 26.4°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 26.4°C (air: 23.6°C)
February: 26.4°C (air: 23.9°C)
March: 26.4°C (air: 24.6°C)
April: 26.4°C (air: 25.6°C)
May: 26.4°C (air: 26.7°C)
June: 26.4°C (air: 28.0°C)
July: 26.4°C (air: 28.9°C)
August: 26.4°C (air: 29.1°C)
September: 26.4°C (air: 28.8°C)
October: 26.4°C (air: 27.6°C)
November: 26.4°C (air: 26.0°C)
December: 26.4°C (air: 24.3°C)

Marine Life in Bimini

Home to 636 recorded species including 514 reef fish, 34 hard corals, 31 sharks & rays, 12 other, 9 sea snails & nudibranchs, 7 whales & dolphins.

Notable Species

Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish
Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
Bicolor Damselfish (Stegastes partitus) - Reef Fish
Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
Grunt (Haemulon plumierii) - Reef Fish
Slippery Dick (Halichoeres bivittatus) - Reef Fish
Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
Yellowhead Wrasse (Halichoeres garnoti) - Reef Fish
Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
Clown Wrasse (Halichoeres maculipinna) - Reef Fish
Cola (Ocyurus chrysurus) - Reef Fish
Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
Bluestriped Grunt (Haemulon sciurus) - Reef Fish
Doctorfish (Acanthurus chirurgus) - Reef Fish
French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) - Reef Fish
Rainwater Killifish (Lucania parva) - Reef Fish
Hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus) - Reef Fish
Sergeant-major (Abudefduf saxatilis) - Reef Fish
Sand goby (Coryphopterus glaucofraenum) - Reef Fish
Greenblotch Parrotfish (Sparisoma atomarium) - Reef Fish

Recommended Packing List for Elbow Cays 5

Based on average water temperature of 26.4°C.

Shorty or Rashguard - warm 26°C water needs minimal exposure protection
Mask - essential for every dive
Fins
BCD - buoyancy compensator
Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories