FANTOME - Nassau & New Providence

The Fantome is a proper, old-school Caribbean wreck dive, the kind we love for its history and the way the sea has reclaimed it. This isn't some purpose-sunk structure; the Fantome was a Windjammer cruise ship, a grand sailing vessel lost to a storm back in '77, blown onto a sandbar just northeast of Nassau. She's resting in just 15 metres, so you get plenty of bottom time to really explore. What you'll find today is a remarkably intact steel hull, 73 metres long, broken but still retaining that classic sailing ship silhouette. We usually start at the bow, where the anchor chains spill into the sand, then work our way back along the deck. You can poke around the remains of the bridge, imagining the chaos of that storm, and then descend into some of the cargo holds, now home to schools of snapper and grunt. Look closely in the darker corners for nurse sharks snoozing and the occasional green moray eel peering out. The coral growth isn't overwhelming, but you'll see plenty of tube sponges and gorgonians clinging to the metal, adding texture and colour. It’s a fantastic dive for those who appreciate a wreck with a real story, one that’s been subtly sculpted by time and the ocean.

Location: Nassau & New Providence, Bahamas, Caribbean
Coordinates: 25.258333, -76.955500
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 15m

Best Time to Dive in Nassau & New Providence

The warmest water temperatures in Nassau & New Providence occur in August, averaging 30.4°C (up to 34.0°C). The coolest conditions are in February at 24.6°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 24.7°C (air: 21.2°C)
February: 24.6°C (air: 23.5°C)
March: 24.9°C (air: 23.8°C)
April: 26.1°C (air: 25.4°C)
May: 27.5°C (air: 26.5°C)
June: 29.0°C (air: 28.2°C)
July: 30.1°C (air: 29.3°C)
August: 30.4°C (air: 29.6°C)
September: 30.0°C (air: 29.0°C)
October: 28.9°C (air: 27.5°C)
November: 27.2°C (air: 25.5°C)
December: 25.6°C (air: 22.8°C)

Nearest Dive Centres to FANTOME

Marine Life in Nassau & New Providence

Home to 539 recorded species including 455 reef fish, 24 hard corals, 19 whales & dolphins, 11 sharks & rays, 9 sea snails & nudibranchs, 4 other.

Notable Species

Blainville's Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon densirostris) - Whales & Dolphins
Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) - Hard Corals
Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
Dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) - Whales & Dolphins
Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) - Whales & Dolphins
Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
Finger Coral (Porites porites) - Hard Corals
Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
Massive Starlet Coral (Siderastrea siderea) - Hard Corals
Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
Great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa) - Hard Corals
Common lionfish (Pterois volitans) - Reef Fish
Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) - Whales & Dolphins
Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) - Reef Fish
Schoolmaster (Lutjanus apodus) - Reef Fish
Staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) - Hard Corals
Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish

Recommended Packing List for FANTOME

Based on average water temperature of 27.4°C, currents 7 cm/s.

Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°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