Diving in Exuma Cays
Why dive here
Exuma Cays offers some of Bahamas's richest diving, with 348+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, dolphins, humpback whales, lemon sharks and octopuses. Water ranges 25-30°C, warmest July, August, September.
The Exuma Cays, in our opinion, are what the Bahamas are all about - healthy reefs, a bit of drift, and that classic vivid blue water. We love the sheer variety here, especially within the Land and Sea Park. You’ll spend a morning soaring past colourful parrotfish and schools of horse-eye jacks on a gentle drift, then drop onto a wall teeming with blackfin blennies and glass gobies later the same day. Our favourite spots often involve a bit of current, which keeps things interesting and brings in the bigger stuff. Keep an eye out for lemon sharks cruising the sandy channels; they’re a regular sight, particularly around the northern cays. Visibility is usually excellent, often 30 metres plus, making those deeper wall sections truly spectacular. Just remember, there are no dive centres directly in the Cays, so you’ll be coming by liveaboard or day boat from Nassau. It's a small trade-off for truly pristine diving.
Exuma Cays Dive Site Map
Dive sites and dive centres in Exuma Cays
Exuma Cays Dive Sites
18 dive sites in Exuma Cays
Amberjack Reef
Amberjack Reef, tucked away in the Exuma Cays, is a solid Caribbean coral dive. It’s not going to blow your mind, but you'll find plenty of the usual suspects here – snapper, grouper, and yes, amberjack cruising through. This site is a good choice for a relaxed afternoon dive, suitable for divers who appreciate consistent reef activity without needing huge thrills.
Austin Smith Wreck
The Austin Smith Wreck, a former Bahamian Defence Force cutter, has been sitting upright in the Exumas since 1995, and it’s a good little dive if you’re in the area. We usually find it in about 18 meters of water, bow pointing east, with the structure still largely intact. Over the years, plenty of jacks and snappers have made it home, darting around the wheelhouse and cargo holds. It’s a comfortable wreck, not overly challenging, making it a solid choice for divers looking for a straightforward penetration or just a leisurely swim-around. You’ll often spot a reef shark cruising by, too.
BAHAMAS DRAKE
The Bahamas Drake isn't about deep exploration; it's a shallow wreck with a story, sitting upright on the sand at just nine metres. We love how accessible it is, a perfect second dive or a relaxed long bottom time. We found her covered in the kind of soft corals that ripple in the gentle current, creating these living curtains that hide spiny lobsters and a surprising number of moray eels. You can spend ages poking around the superstructure, imagining the cargo of building materials and foodstuffs she was carrying when she went down in '68. Schools of snapper often hold tight to the shadows, and we've even spotted the occasional nurse shark cruising by. It’s a photographer's delight on a sunny day, with light shafts dancing through the openings and illuminating the wreck’s details.
Blacktip Wall
Blacktip Wall in the Exuma Cays offers a straightforward wall dive down to 27 meters. We often find schooling snapper and jacks along the reef edge, with the occasional reef shark patrolling the deeper blue. It’s an intermediate dive, pleasant for those who enjoy drifting along a healthy Caribbean wall without too much fuss. Good for a solid, relaxed dive.
Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando
We’re big fans of a good airplane wreck, and the Curtiss C-46 in the Exumas is one of our favourites. It’s a proper historical piece, sitting upright on the sand, and despite its age, it holds its shape really well. You can still make out the cockpit, the cargo hold, and even parts of the tail section, which makes for some great swim-throughs if you're comfortable with wreck penetration. The C-46 has become a home to so much life. Schools of schoolmaster snapper hang out in the fuselage, sometimes so thick you can barely see through them. We’ve spotted green turtles resting on the wings more than once, just chilling. Look closely and you’ll find plenty of blennies-rosy blennies are all over the place, and we’ve even seen the odd roughhead triplefin tucked into crevices. The sand around the wreck also holds its own secrets, with various gobies peeking out. It’s a site that really rewards a slow, observant dive. We’d suggest going in the morning; the light filtering through the water and into the wreck is something else.
Dog Rocks
Dog Rocks, up at Ship’s Channel Cay in the northern Exumas, is a pretty good spot, especially if you like a bit of topography. We found the top of the reef sits around 10 meters, before sloping down a little further, then just dropping into the deep blue of Exuma Sound. The main draw here is "The Cathedral," a proper cavern swim-through at about 12 meters. Sunlight streams in, catching the schools of silversides that often fill the space. It’s a nice dive for those who enjoy exploring the structure as much as the fish life.
Exuma Cays
The Exuma Cays, particularly within the Land and Sea Park, feel a bit different from other spots in the Bahamas. It's not about one deep wall or a single dramatic wreck here. Instead, you're looking at a collection of shallower dives, often around 12 meters, where the focus is on the health of the system itself. We’ve drifted over healthy seagrass beds where green turtles graze, then rounded a corner onto vibrant coral patches dotted with schooling grunts and snapper. It’s an ideal spot for those who appreciate seeing a protected ecosystem thriving, rather than chasing specific big animal encounters. The gentle currents and moderate depths make it a relaxed experience, good for getting your buoyancy dialed in while enjoying the healthy reef.
Exumas Diving: Great Diversity, Magical Scenery... and Pigs
The Exuma Cays in the Bahamas offer a solid variety of diving. We've seen a bit of everything here, from the relaxed drift dives over healthy reefs to some exhilarating wall dives where the reef just drops away into the blue. It’s a place where you're likely to spot a turtle cruising by, or maybe some schooling fish thick enough to make you pause. Plus, if you need a surface interval with a difference, those swimming pigs are certainly a talking point. It’s a good choice for divers looking for a mix of experiences, without being overly challenging.
Highborn Kew Wall
Highborn Kew Wall in the Exuma Cays offers a classic Caribbean wall dive. The reef plunges vertically, with plenty of nooks and crannies to explore for nurse sharks snoozing in crevices and moray eels peeking out. It's a solid choice for divers who enjoy drifting along a dramatic drop-off and keeping an eye out for larger pelagics in the blue.
How to Dive the Exumas
The Exuma Cays are a sprawling network of islands, all strung out over a substantial stretch of the Caribbean. Thinking about diving here means thinking about logistics, first and foremost. This isn't a place you just pop into for a quick shore dive; a liveaboard is really your only practical option for getting to the good spots. We're talking about a lot of open water, so be prepared for some cruising between sites. You’ll find walls that drop into the blue and some surprisingly healthy shallow reefs, often with plenty of reef sharks cruising by. It’s a trip best suited for divers who enjoy being out at sea for a few days, happy with the rhythm of boat life and keen to explore a range of sites without the daily grind of port calls.
Jeep Reef
Jeep Reef in the Exumas is a popular spot for a reason. You'll find a submerged jeep wreck here, sitting upright on a sandy patch, which makes for some fun swim-throughs and photo ops. The reef nearby is a healthy coral garden, home to plenty of grunt and snapper. It's a relaxed dive, good for all levels.
Lobster No Lobster
Lobster No Lobster is an easy, shallow dive in the Exuma Cays, sitting right around 10 meters. It’s perfect for new divers or anyone wanting a relaxed second dive. You’ll find plenty of small reef fish darting amongst the coral heads, and often we spot juvenile Caribbean reef sharks cruising through the sandy patches. Keep an eye out for conch on the bottom.
Exuma Cays Dive Centres
Ocean Wildlife in Exuma Cays
348 species recorded in Exuma Cays
Exuma Cays Daylight & Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrise and sunset times for Exuma Cays, calculated from coordinates
Today - Monday 24 August
Sunrise
05:46
Sunset
18:34
Daylight
12h 49m
Golden Hour
18:04
First light (dawn) at 05:23 · Last light (dusk) at 18:58
Monthly Averages
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 06:53 | 17:39 | 10h 46m |
| Feb | 06:42 | 18:02 | 11h 19m |
| Mar | 06:18 | 18:16 | 11h 58m |
| Apr | 05:47 | 18:29 | 12h 42m |
| May | 05:25 | 18:43 | 13h 19m |
| JunLongest | 05:19 | 18:57 | 13h 39m |
| Jul | 05:27 | 18:59 | 13h 32m |
| AugNow | 05:42 | 18:43 | 13h 1m |
| Sep | 05:53 | 18:13 | 12h 20m |
| Oct | 06:05 | 17:42 | 11h 37m |
| Nov | 06:23 | 17:21 | 10h 59m |
| DecShortest | 06:43 | 17:21 | 10h 38m |
Times are approximate local times based on longitude. Actual times may vary slightly depending on the exact timezone observed in Exuma Cays.
Where to Stay near Exuma Cays
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Marine Protected Areas near Exuma Cays
15 protected areas near Exuma Cays - please respect local regulations when diving
Westside National Park
Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park
Joulter Cays National Park
South Berry Islands Marine Reserve
Jewfish Cay Marine Reserve
Conception Island National Park
Moriah Harbour Cay National Park
South Abaco Blue Holes National Park
Southwest New Providence Marine Managed Area
Cross Harbour National Park
Andros Northern Marine Park
East Abaco Creeks - Cherokee
Showing 12 largest of 15
Getting to Exuma Cays
Normans Cay
Nassau
San Salvador
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