How to Dive the Exumas - Exuma Cays
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.
- Location
- Exuma Cays, Bahamas, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 24.169000, -76.440000
Marine Protected Area: Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park
Best Time to Dive in Exuma Cays
The warmest water temperatures in Exuma Cays occur in August, averaging 30.4°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 24.7°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 24.7°C
- February: 24.7°C
- March: 25.1°C
- April: 26.4°C
- May: 27.6°C
- June: 29.2°C
- July: 30.2°C
- August: 30.4°C
- September: 30.1°C
- October: 29.1°C
- November: 27.4°C
- December: 25.9°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Exuma Cays
- Amberjack Reef (reef)
- Austin Smith Wreck (wreck)
- BAHAMAS DRAKE - 9m (wreck)
- Blacktip Wall - 27m (wall)
- Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando (wreck)
- Dog Rocks
- Exuma Cays - 5-30m (reef)
- Exumas Diving: Great Diversity, Magical Scenery... and Pigs
- Highborn Kew Wall - 15-40m (wall)
- Jeep Reef - 5-15m (reef)
- Lobster No Lobster - 10m
- Normans Key Cut - 5-20m (channel)
- Pillar Wall - 25m (wall)
- Smuggler’s Plane - 8m (wreck)
- The Austin Smith (Wreck) - 18m (wreck)
Marine Life in Exuma Cays
Home to 353 recorded species including 307 reef fish, 12 hard corals, 11 whales & dolphins, 6 sea snails & nudibranchs, 5 sharks & rays, 3 other.
Notable Species
- Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) - Hard Corals
- Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
- Great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa) - Hard Corals
- Finger Coral (Porites porites) - Hard Corals
- Massive Starlet Coral (Siderastrea siderea) - Hard Corals
- Common lionfish (Pterois volitans) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) - Hard Corals
- Cola (Ocyurus chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- Sheephead (Microspathodon chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- Boulder Brain Coral (Colpophyllia natans) - Hard Corals
- Fire coral (Millepora complanata) - Jellyfish
- Tripod Spiderfish (Bathypterois grallator) - Reef Fish
- Tiger Grouper (Mycteroperca tigris) - Reef Fish
- Fire coral (Millepora alcicornis) - Jellyfish
- lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris) - Sharks & Rays
- Conklin's cardinalfish (Phaeoptyx conklini) - Reef Fish
- Rosy Blenny (Malacoctenus macropus) - Reef Fish
- Maze Coral (Meandrina meandrites) - Hard Corals
- Blushing Star Coral (Stephanocoenia intersepta) - Hard Corals
- Saddled Blenny (Malacoctenus triangulatus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for How to Dive the Exumas
Based on average water temperature of 27.6°C, currents 8 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°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