With mostly minimal currents and easy depths in crystal clear water, diving is suitable for absolute beginners, while experienced divers will enjoy some of the most relaxing diving in the Bahamas. It’s an ideal place to take entry-level dive courses, while advanced divers can be challenged by exciting further training, such as cave, deep and wreck courses.

The several shipwrecks to explore here host an array of exceptional life, and there are also numerous blue holes and deep cave networks for tec divers to discover. What’s more, not only is cave and deep diving popular here, drift diving is also epic, like at the famous Washing Machine site, where energetic currents sweep you along the reefs while you enjoy the show. Shark diving is also a major attraction, when local guides feed dozens of sharks at a time while divers kneel in the sands and watch with astonished eyes.

For logistics, most diving is done by boat, however there are a few short diving opportunities, especially at the numerous dive resorts that have impressive house reefs. Dive centers are plentiful and cater to all budgets, so there’s never a lack of availability. If you want to visit not only the best sites in the Exumas, but also those in remote locations, your best option is a liveaboard. Many depart from Nassau on New Providence Island.

If you want underwater variety, the Exumas has it all. From macro and reef species, to large pelagics, anything is possible. You’ll likely see tons of hard and soft coral species, in addition to crustaceans, wrasse, butterflyfish, angelfish, snapper, anemonefish, Nassau grouper and schools of barracuda and silversides. A wealth of shark species also thrive, particularly in the winter and spring months, including Caribbean reef sharks, nurse sharks, lemon sharks, bull sharks, hammerheads, oceanic whitetip sharks, silky sharks and tiger sharks. You might even encounter dolphins, pilot whales, humpback and sperm whale while travelling to dive sites in open ocean.

Scuba diving in the Exumas is great year-round, with welcoming water temperatures averaging 27°C-31°C. Though diving is possible throughout all seasons, the best time is the dry season from November to May, when the weather is mostly warm and sunny with minimal rainfall, and sea conditions are the most stable and favourable. June to October is the rainy season, when hurricanes might occur, so be sure to take out travel insurance if you visit during this time. However, on the whole, downpours normally pass quickly, and sunny periods are frequent. Plus, deals on diving and accommodation can be found, and dive sites are usually uncrowded during this period.

There are over 50 dive sites all offering something completely unique, but to name a few, we’ll start with Amberjack Reef, a colorful coral site hosting prolific amounts of marine life, where plenty of grey reef sharks and black grouper, among many other species, are seen regularly.

For unforgettable reef and shark diving, look no further than Shark Reef, where dozens of grey sharks thrive.

The Austin Smith Wreck is perfect for beginners. Accidentally sunk off the Exumas, it was originally bound for San Salvador. Now it serves as one of the top wreck sites in this area.

The Blue Holes, aka Angelfish Blue Hole and Mystery Cave, are superb deep cave sites for tec divers to venture into. Eagle rays and turtles are commonly spotted along the entrance to Blue Holes, which is just the beginning of this exemplary dive site.

Thunderball Grotto is a rock formation with holes and tunnels to explore, resembling swiss cheese. Suitable for snorkelers and divers of all levels, the adventurous geological layout hosts incredible numbers of hiding critters.

The Washing Machine is world-famous, where you’ll somersault in the currents before being released onto a large reef where turtles and nurse sharks rest.

In the center of the Exumas Marine Park lies Jeep Reef, where among a healthy reef, a sunken jeep lays on the seafloor, attracting a wealth of marine critters.