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Ocean Calling

Ocean Atlas · Caribbean

Caribbean

The Bahamas

Clear shallow banks, reefs and blue holes in a national shark sanctuary, with wild dolphins seen from the boat.

Turquoise water and a white sandbar in the Exuma Cays, Bahamas
Sandbar in the Exuma Cays · Photo: Nick Rickert on Unsplash
Exploring

Ethics pass, with care. We found a way to visit this country that meets our animal-welfare standard, as long as we work with the right local operator. Checked by Ocean Calling on 26 Sep 2026. Sources: Effects of food provisioning on great hammerhead sharks, Heim et al., Frontiers in Marine Science, 2021; Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, Bahamas National Trust.

🧭 Travel advice, checked 30 Sep 2026. The UK FCDO travel advice for The Bahamas was last updated on 28 May 2026, with information on Ebola screening at arrival. No warning against travel appeared in the snippet. Sources: UK FCDO travel advice, The Bahamas Advice differs by passport: check your own government before you plan.

FreedivingScubaSnorkellingTurtlesSharks

Why The Bahamas

The Bahamas has protected all sharks from fishing since 2011, and its shallow banks are some of the clearest water in the region. Andros has a long barrier reef and blue holes, the Exuma Cays have a no-take land and sea park, and Eleuthera has quiet reefs and a strong tidal cut. Near Bimini, Atlantic spotted dolphins live all year and may be seen from the boat. The famous tiger shark, great hammerhead and oceanic whitetip dives here use bait, so Ocean Calling does not host them. Hurricane season runs from June to November, so spring looks best.

Conservation-led. Ocean Calling guests never chase, touch or bait animals.

United States of AmericaHaitiDominican Rep.RussiaBahamasMexicoColombiaPanamaCosta RicaNicaraguaHondurasEl SalvadorGuatemalaBelizeVenezuelaFrancePuerto RicoJamaicaCubaTrinidad and TobagoBimini, The BahamasAndros, The BahamasExuma Cays, The BahamasEleuthera, The Bahamas

When to go

Mar-May. Timing changes by place and by animal, so check each place below.

We have researched this place and keep learning about it. There is no trip here yet.

Our ethics check

Can we travel here ethically?

Ethics pass, with care

Good with the right operator. Here is how we choose.

The Bahamas has very clear water and strong protected areas, like the Exuma Cays park, where no fishing of any kind is allowed since 1958. But the famous shark dives often use bait, and at Bimini a study found that 9 of 12 fed hammerheads often met their daily food needs from the bait. Ocean Calling does not host baited shark dives. We choose reefs and banks, and watch wild dolphins from the boat.

Checked 26 Sep 2026. Places change, so we look again every year.

Sources for this check
Places we are exploring

Where in The Bahamas

Short notes from our research. Wildlife is never guaranteed.

Bimini

Exploring

Small islands close to Florida, with clear reefs, a long history of shark science and wild Atlantic spotted dolphins seen from the boat.

🤿 In the water: Reef fish, Turtles, Southern stingrays, Nurse sharks resting on the reef (possible)

⛵ From the boat or shore, never in the water: Atlantic spotted dolphins (resident, from the boat), Bottlenose dolphins (from the boat)

When: Apr-Jun. Dolphin trips run mostly in the warmer months, with calmer seas from about April. Hurricane season starts in June. Winter hammerhead dives here use bait, so we do not host them.

Andros

Exploring

The largest and quietest island, with a long barrier reef, a deep ocean wall and blue holes on land and in the sea.

🤿 In the water: Reef fish and corals, Turtles, Eagle rays and stingrays, Nurse and reef sharks (possible)

When: Mar-May. Spring has calm seas and dry weather before hurricane season. Cave diving in blue holes is only for trained cave divers.

Exuma Cays

Exploring

A chain of small cays with the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, a no-take park since 1958, for snorkelling over clear reefs.

🤿 In the water: Reef fish and corals, Turtles, Stingrays and eagle rays, Nurse sharks (possible)

⛵ From the boat or shore, never in the water: Bottlenose dolphins (occasional, from the boat)

When: Mar-May. Spring has calm, clear water and dry weather. We do not include pig beach visits, as the pigs are fed by visitors.

Eleuthera

Exploring

A long, quiet island with reefs, turtles and rays, and a strong tidal cut for experienced drift divers.

🤿 In the water: Reef fish and corals, Turtles, Southern stingrays, Eagle rays

When: Mar-May. Spring has calm seas and dry weather before hurricane season. The tidal cut is for experienced divers only.

Animals

Animals recorded in The Bahamas

Tap an animal to learn how it lives, where it travels and how to meet it respectfully.

Land animals
Tiger shark with clear stripes swimming over a reefTiger sharkGaleocerdo cuvierSeen in 47 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedGreat hammerhead seen from above over rippled white sandGreat hammerheadSphyrna mokarranSeen in 20 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredOceanic whitetip shark with pilot fish in sunlit Red Sea waterOceanic whitetip sharkCarcharhinus longimanusSeen in 43 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredLemon shark seen from above, gliding over a pale sandy seabedLemon sharkNegaprion brevirostrisSeen in 16 countries in the AtlasVulnerableNurse shark swimming over a reef at Fernando de Noronha, BrazilAtlantic nurse sharkGinglymostoma cirratumSeen in 38 countries in the AtlasVulnerableBull shark swimming in clear blue water off Quintana Roo, MexicoBull sharkCarcharhinus leucasSeen in 30 countries in the AtlasVulnerableHeavily spotted adult Atlantic spotted dolphin with young, AzoresAtlantic spotted dolphinStenella frontalisSeen in 22 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernCommon bottlenose dolphin swimming over a seagrass bedCommon bottlenose dolphinTursiops truncatusSeen in 89 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernScarred Risso's dolphin spyhopping out of the waterRisso's dolphinGrampus griseusSeen in 56 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernShort-finned pilot whale surfacing off Tenerife with the island behindShort-finned pilot whaleGlobicephala macrorhynchusSeen in 43 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernOrcas surfacing close together in calm Arctic Norwegian watersOrca (killer whale)Orcinus orcaSeen in 55 countries in the AtlasData DeficientSperm whale mother raising her fluke beside her calf off DominicaSperm whalePhyseter macrocephalusSeen in 114 countries in the AtlasVulnerableAdult male Blainville's beaked whale surfacing in the BahamasBlainville's beaked whaleMesoplodon densirostrisSeen in 14 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernDwarf sperm whale leaping clear of the open seaDwarf sperm whaleKogia simaSeen in 22 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernFlorida manatee swimming underwater at Crystal RiverFlorida manateeTrichechus manatus latirostrisSeen in 2 countries in the AtlasEndangeredGreen turtle resting on the reef, shell and head pattern in sharp detailGreen turtleChelonia mydasSeen in 103 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernHawksbill turtle swimming, pointed beak in profileHawksbill turtleEretmochelys imbricataSeen in 88 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredSouthern stingray resting on white sand, St John, US Virgin IslandsSouthern stingrayHypanus americanusSeen in 33 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedWhitespotted eagle ray gliding over reef and sand in BelizeWhitespotted eagle rayAetobatus narinariSeen in 58 countries in the AtlasEndangeredCaribbean reef shark swimming close over a reef in the BahamasCaribbean reef sharkCarcharhinus pereziSeen in 19 countries in the AtlasEndangeredAtlantic manta ray gliding over a school of small fish off Holbox, MexicoAtlantic manta rayMobula yaraeSeen in 5 countries in the AtlasNot EvaluatedRed lionfish with spread fins over sand in Dauin, PhilippinesLionfish (red and common lionfish)Pterois volitans and Pterois milesSeen in 80 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernHumpback whale swimming close with long pectoral finHumpback whaleMegaptera novaeangliaeSeen in 87 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernLoggerhead turtle at the surface feeding on Portuguese man o' warLoggerhead turtleCaretta carettaSeen in 89 countries in the AtlasVulnerableScalloped hammerhead shark cruising in deep blue Red Sea waterScalloped hammerheadSphyrna lewiniSeen in 57 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredMinke whale surfacing and exhaling, seen from aboveCommon minke whale (North Atlantic)Balaenoptera acutorostrataSeen in 30 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernGreat barracuda cruising in open blue water, showing jagged teethGreat barracudaSphyraena barracudaSeen in 84 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernMale magnificent frigatebird perched on a mangrove branchMagnificent frigatebirdFregata magnificensSeen in 52 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernDwarf minke whaleBalaenoptera acutorostrata (dwarf form)Seen in 30 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernCuvier's beaked whale surfacing, pale scarred head and small dorsal finCuvier's beaked whaleZiphius cavirostrisSeen in 42 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernLeatherback hatchling crossing the sand toward the seaLeatherback turtleDermochelys coriaceaSeen in 76 countries in the AtlasVulnerableMelon-headed whales leaping together through a splash of white waterMelon-headed whalePeponocephala electraSeen in 22 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernPantropical spotted dolphin gliding at the calm ocean surfacePantropical spotted dolphinStenella attenuataSeen in 56 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernTwo rough-toothed dolphins leaping together, blotchy grey skin visibleRough-toothed dolphinSteno bredanensisSeen in 36 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSilky shark swimming near the surface in blue waterSilky sharkCarcharhinus falciformisSeen in 48 countries in the AtlasVulnerableBlacktip shark swimming in green water in the GalápagosBlacktip sharkCarcharhinus limbatusSeen in 49 countries in the AtlasVulnerablePortuguese man o' war floating with purple crest off Pico, AzoresPortuguese man o' warPhysalia physalisSeen in 36 countries in the AtlasNot EvaluatedCommon octopus crawling over a rocky seabed in FranceCommon octopusOctopus vulgarisSeen in 32 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernTwo pygmy sperm whales at the sea surface off the Azores, low backs and small hooked dorsal fins showingPygmy sperm whaleKogia brevicepsSeen in 23 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernLongsnout seahorse holding a red sponge stalk with its tail against blue waterLongsnout seahorseHippocampus reidiSeen in 25 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedNassau grouper with its mouth open, photographed at Los Indios in Jardines de la Reina, CubaNassau grouperEpinephelus striatusSeen in 20 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredMasked booby on Ascension IslandMasked boobySula dactylatraSeen in 80 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernQueen conch with a reddish spiny shell resting on seagrass over sandy seabedQueen conchAliger gigasSeen in 32 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedAdult brown booby standing on a rock with its bill open against blue sky, PrincipeBrown boobySula leucogasterSeen in 104 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernAtlantic bluefin tuna leaping out of choppy water, recorded in Hovedstaden, DenmarkAtlantic bluefin tunaThunnus thynnusSeen in 39 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernClose view of a red-footed booby head with blue, pink and red bill and throat skin among green leavesRed-footed boobySula sulaSeen in 91 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernTarpon swimming in open blue water with a dense school of small fish behind it, off St John in the US Virgin IslandsAtlantic tarponMegalops atlanticusSeen in 24 countries in the AtlasVulnerableBlacknose shark swimming in clear blue water, seen from the sideBlacknose sharkCarcharhinus acronotusSeen in 6 countries in the AtlasEndangeredCrowd of brown pelicans packed together on a coastal roost, one adult with a pale head and coloured bill facing the cameraBrown pelicanPelecanus occidentalisSeen in 48 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernTwo Gervais' beaked whales at the surface in the Gulf Stream off North CarolinaGervais' beaked whaleMesoplodon europaeusSeen in 9 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernAmerican flamingo wading in shallow water with its head lowered toward the surface, Yucatán, MexicoAmerican flamingoPhoenicopterus ruberSeen in 47 countries in the AtlasLives on landLeast ConcernCaribbean spiny lobster at the edge of a reef overhang with long antennae trailing across sandCaribbean spiny lobsterPanulirus argusSeen in 30 countries in the AtlasData DeficientWilson's storm-petrel resting on calm water with its wings raised above its backWilson's storm-petrelOceanites oceanicusSeen in 41 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernClose view of a northern gannet face, with pale blue eyes and a golden headNorthern gannetMorus bassanusSeen in 38 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernScopoli's shearwater skimming just above calm blue waterScopoli's shearwaterCalonectris diomedeaSeen in 37 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernGreat shearwater flying low over calm water, its reflection belowGreat shearwaterArdenna gravisSeen in 32 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernNeotropic cormorant perched among willow branches beside the waterNeotropic cormorantNannopterum brasilianumSeen in 29 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSargasso shearwater gliding over a grey sea, dark above and pale belowSargasso shearwater (Audubon's shearwater)Puffinus lherminieriSeen in 27 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernAnhinga holding a fish in its long, pointed billAnhinga (American darter)Anhinga anhingaSeen in 24 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernClose view of a double-crested cormorant with an orange-yellow throat patch and a turquoise eyeDouble-crested cormorantPhalacrocorax auritusSeen in 14 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernYellow stingray resting on a dark reef floor, its round disc covered in pale spotsYellow stingrayUrobatis jamaicensisSeen in 10 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern
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