Bahamas Travel Tips

If you have been to Bahamas before, please share your experiences, ideas and feedback (Hotel, Excursions, General Feeling,…) in the comments section below, by doing so you will help fellow travellers to plan their next trip

Coco Cay Bahamas A Family Island Used as a Private island by a Cruise Line. Photograph by A. Duarte

The Bahamas, just the name brings forth images of beautiful beaches, coral gardens and outstanding scuba diving.

Many people think of Nassau when they think of the islands but the Bahamas are an island chain with over 700 islands and 2,400 cays that extends 760 miles. It is best to consider that there are two Bahamas.

The Main islands with 80% of the county’s population and the Out Islands. Grand Bahamas Island with the city of Freeport has about 10% of the population. New Providence Island, with Nassau, the nation’s capital has about 70% of the countries population.

These two islands are considered the main islands and have the majority of the countries tourism infrastructure and visitors. Tourism is the main source of income and 70% of the countries tourist are cruise ship passengers.

Nassau is the busiest cruise port in the world and has the majority of the cruise ship passengers. Some cruise lines have developed islands as a private destination.

Abaco is the second largest of the islands in the Bahamas and has about 10% of the country’s population. It is a part of the Out Islands also called the Family Islands. The remained of the population are found in other islands of the Bahamas. Out of over 3,000 islands and cays only 30 are inhabited full time.

In this page you will find practical information to plan a scuba diving trip to Bahamas:

Table of contents

Bahamas travel
Where to stay?
Activies and Excursions
Best time to visit
Health and Safety
Where is Bahamas?
Getting there
Getting around
Photos Bahamas
Best dive spots
Scuba diving

Where to stay?

I usually use this website to book in advance my hotels in Bahamas as they usually have the lowest rates I find. I like it because it's free to cancel and change the dates.

While there are 30 islands that have inhabitants, there are only a few locations that frequently see tourist. The most common destinations are:

New Province – Nassau: This is the primary destination in the country and has the majority of the upscale resorts. While the diving is very good here, it does attract a wide range of tourist including thousands of cruise ships passengers every day. You will often find more that 10,000 passengers on any days. With is extensive international airport, Many of the liveaboards depart from here.
Grand Bahamas Island – Freeport: while not as built up as Nassau, this island is also a major tourist destination and does attract cruise ships on short cruises. It is the home of some of Bahamas first dive operators and is well known for shark dives and shark feedings.
Eleuthera: One of the Out Islands it has a much more relaxed tourism atmosphere than the main islands. These and the other Out Islands attract a more active outdoors clientele.
Abaco; along with Exuma and Cays represents the east edge of the Bahamas. These are lightly developed islands with many unspoiled dive sites. Being opened to the Atlantic Ocean it has a greater variety of diving conditions they other part of the Bahamas.
Bimini Islands: sports fishing and diving are the call of fame for these islands. Both related to the many pelagic species found in the waters, including sharks. Many consider this the best non-remote shark diving in the world.

Activities and excursions in Bahamas

Nassau has a long history and it shows in the different activities and excursions that are available. It has a strong British flavor since it was a Crown colony. There are also attractions that reflects Nassau past popularity with pirates. As the major tourist destination, there are many beaches available and water sports. A viable night life and a number of casinos.

The Family islands are laid back and relaxed. Activities are nature based either on land or in the water. Night life may be limited at some destinations.

Book an amazing Liveaboard holiday trip or a Dive Resort

Best time to visit Bahamas

The stock answer of when to dive the Bahamas is anytime. While the Bahamas do not get very many hurricanes, many people like to avoid the hurricane season June to October

Some highlights:

March and April is the time many sharks move from the Caribbean up the US coast. So you will see the most sharks at this time.
May is spawning season for many fish so there is greater activity.
June, July and August has the warmest water and air conditions and unless there is a rare hurricane, flat surface conditions.

Health and Safety

Generally you will find suitable health care in the country, however, some smaller Out Islands may have limited facilities, including no assigned doctor. This should not be the case in the typical tourist destinations, it might be a factor or isolated retreats.

There are five public and private hospitals in The Bahamas with a total of 1,068 beds including Joint Commission International accredited Doctors Hospital. There were 55 health centers or primary care clinics, 41 in the Out Islands, nine in New Providence, and five in Grand Bahama Island.

There is 59 satellite clinics and 288 privately owned healthcare facilities that offered primary care and diagnostic services. If necessary, air evacuation would be possible from the nearest air strip and can take patients directly to a US hospital if the situation requires.

Personal safety and crime issues is a little more complicated. The Family Islands has some of the lowest crime rates in the world. However, The situation on the main islands, especially in Nassau is the reverse.

The crime rate and drug problems in Nassau has soared to the point that The United States and many EU countries have issued travel warnings to their citizens. Some reports even go as far as saying there is a break down in law and order in sections of Nassau.

Visitor considering staying in Nassau should review the travel warnings and seek clarification from the accommodations they will be staying.

If you are planning an upcoming dive trip or travelling to Bahamas, it is a really good idea to invest in travel insurance for scuba diving, because you never know what could happen and when you might need it (because accidents do happen!). I recommend this diving insurance as they offer worldwide coverage and focus on providing scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.

Where is Bahamas located in the world?

While most people consider the Bahama Islands as being in the Caribbean Sea, it is technically located in the Atlantic Ocean.

Most of the Bahamas is located to the east of the United States Continent and the Florida peninsula. The northern most Bahama island is east of West Palm Beach Florida, while the southern most island is near Haiti.

Bimini Island is the closest to the US mainland just 50 miles apart. The Florida Barrier Reef is the third largest barrier reef in the world and it is between Florida and the Bahamas.

How to get to Bahamas?

The Bahamas is an easy country to reach for travelers.

Commercial air transportation: The Bahamas has three international airports with commercial flights. The majority of the flights are short haul flights – less than 3 hours – to the United States, Mexico or Caribbean countries. These destinations provide connections to the rest of the world. There are limited or seasonal flights to European airports as well.
Private / charter flights: In addition to the international commercial airports there are an additional 25 air ports of entry. Once processed by a port of entry, planes may continue to another destination if they wish. In total there are 58 domestic airports most privately owned. Seaplanes from Florida fly into some of these airports or to sea ports.
Cruise Ships: The majority of visitors to the Bahamas do so by cruise ship. These ships leave from a port located on the east coast of the US, mostly the Florida ports.
Commercial ferry: There are high speed ferries between Florida and some Bahamas islands.
Private or Charter boats. Boats may be charter in Florida to travel to the islands.

Do I need a visa for Bahamas?

The government of the Bahamas allows nationals of over 120 different countries to enter the country without obtaining a visa before arriving. The same visa and entry requirements apply regardless on how an individual enters the country.

All travelers require a valid passport, which in most cases must be valid for 6 months beyond the expected departure date. Travelers must also be able to present proof of departure transportation and adequate funds for the intended stay.

Please note, that if you are not a United States citizen and your departure is to the United States you will be required to show you are allowed entry into the US.

The Bahamas government as of Oct 2016 list the following nationals as needing a visa before arrival: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC), Cote D’ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Rep.), Iraq, Jordan, DPR (North) Korea, Kazakhstan, Krygyztan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macau (Chinese Ppt.), Madagascar, Mauritania, Micronesia, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine, Philippines, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen.

Getting Around

Between islands most tourist will fly. The country’s network of airports makes reaching any of the tourist destinations simple.

Travel agents might arrange transportation for a high speed ferry. However, experienced travelers and the locals will often take mail boats. The mail boats are a combination passenger and cargo ship that have contract to deliver mail to outlying islands. These ships are the only way to bring in supplies to the smaller lightly inhabited islands. While some trips will take days, others are only a few hours. Nassau to Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera is only a 20 minute flight, while a mail boat will take about five hours. The mail boat is $30 compared to over $250 for the flight.

When on the island, taxi are the most common form of transportation. Some islands are small enough to walk where ever you want to go.

The Exhuma Islands in the Bahamas are like no place I’ve ever visited. It’s impossible to describe all the colors of blue in these waters. This little beach area had perfectly clear water with powder white sand beneath your feet that was waist deep for hundreds of yards from the beach. A couple of times we came here we were the only people around. by Norm Lanier

From the hustle and bustle of a major tourist destination that is Nassau to the laid back almost like visiting family feel of the Family Islands, The Bahamas has something for everyone. As divers, we can also experience a wide range of diving conditions and dive sites. Easy to get to, great dive sites and many great liveaboards, it is clearly a destination you need to do.

Bahamas Photos

No related photos found. See all Photos

Scuba diving

You will find all information about sea life, best time to visit, top dive spots, etc. in our review: Bahamas Diving

Diving Reviews for this region

Bahamas

The Bahamas offer a wide range of diving sites. There are sites that are great for learning to dive and others for experienced divers. Cave divers will find many opportunities.

Bahamas Diving Review