The Bahamas' Snorkeling Paradise: 10 Best Spots for Drifting Through the Turquoise
What is the Most Popular Snorkeling Beach in The Bahamas?
With crystal clear waters and abundant coral gardens, narrowing down the best snorkeling spots in The Bahamas is a challenge. With over 700 islands to choose from, the country offers an enormous range, from secluded coves you can wade into right from the beach to offshore wrecks you need a boat to get to.
There are several approachable spots that are excellent for beginners and families, plus a range of more challenging adventures for experienced snorkelers. Read on to figure out where you want to snorkel on your next Bahamas vacation.
1. Rose Island
The luxury option
适合： 照片, 家庭
Rose Island is a slender strip of land just a short boat ride from Nassau, making it a great choice for a day trip if you’re staying in the city. It’s surrounded by reefs within easy swimming distance, and those along the northern side of the island are more developed.
Snorkel in the clear waters here to explore colorful coral heads, a range of fish, and encounter green hawksbill and loggerhead turtles in their natural homes. Take a formally organized day trip to Rose Island with access to a private beach club where you can find refreshments and hammocks after your adventure.
Rose Island
2. The Devil’s Backbone
Ancient wrecks to explore
适合： 家庭, 冒险
For centuries, the Devil’s Backbone has been a hazard for ships passing through the Bahamas. Its jagged line of rocks and sharp corals caused several shipwrecks and earned a scary name. However, it is a superb place for diving. Visibility is excellent, and many of those wrecks are just 10 to 35 ft below the surface, including one that sank in 1865 with a train on board.
In addition to the fascinating wrecks, you’ll find several varieties of corals and an array of fish, including parrotfish, stingrays, and occasional sharks. Located just north of Harbour Island, so hop on a tour boat either locally from the island itself or from Nassau to reach the reef.
The Devil's Backbone
3. Gaulding Cay
A calm cove for beginners
适合： 情侣/夫妇, 照片
The quiet Gaulding Cay beach is only a 30-minute drive from North Eleuthera Airport, making it no trouble at all to get there. The shallow bay and calm waters make this snorkeling spot a smart choice for kids and beginners, though its untouched nature means there are no amenities to speak of. If you build up an appetite, head to one of the nearby restaurants along the Queens Highway.
Gauldings Cay itself is actually a tiny island you can wade to from the shore. Practice snorkeling around its rocky edges and explore the warm waters of the cove to find vibrant tropical fish.
Gaulding Cay
4. Great Guana Cay
For casual exploration
适合： 家庭, 情侣/夫妇
A 7-mile-long islet, Great Guana Cay, benefits from a barrier reef running along the entire length of its Atlantic coast. The reef supports soft sponges, sea fans, and other fabulous corals and attracts marine species like rays, sharks, and turtles. Take to the water by yourself, or join a tour for added insights on the area and its local wildlife.
There’s a handful of eateries on the island where you can refuel, including options for formal dining and live music nights. Alternatively, grab a takeout meal and enjoy it on the beach.
Great Guana Cay
5. Mermaid Reef
A sheltered and shallow location
适合： 家庭, 照片
Located in Central Abaco, conveniently close to the town of Marsh Harbour, Mermaid Reef is easily accessible, even walkable if you book your accommodation here. The beach is stunning, lined with palms, and the occasional rocks won’t bother you if you wear water shoes.
The reef’s sheltered position ensures that the waters stay calm, allowing you to snorkel at your leisure. These conditions are fantastic for beginners and kids, but still offer plenty to see and explore for more confident swimmers. The thriving reef is teeming with life, so bring some bread or rice, and the fish will come right up to you for a snack.
Mermaid Reef
6. Honeymoon Harbour
A serene escape
适合： 照片, 情侣/夫妇
If you’re staying in the beautiful Bimini Islands, you can’t miss the chance to snorkel at Honeymoon Harbour. The remote spot is only a short boat ride away, and typically, only a few fellow travelers on the boat will be there with you, giving the picturesque beach a peaceful, secluded feel. The location’s name suggests it’s suited to couples, but rest assured, it’s very family-friendly; the shallow waters are great for young explorers.
This spot is on the western side of The Bahamas, closer to Miami, so the wildlife is a little different. Expect to encounter curious stingrays, gentle nurse sharks, and plenty of starfish.
Honeymoon Harbour
7. Peterson Cay National Park
A secluded spot
适合： 家庭, 照片
Peterson Cay National Park can be found on Grand Bahama, a little way outside of Freeport. The park itself is a protected underwater area surrounding a tiny island that you can access from the tranquil Peterson Beach. Simply wade out and snorkel freely to see elkhorn corals, sea fans, sponge gardens, and seagrass meadows. Explore independently or join a tour for added benefits like equipment hire, lunch, and informative commentary.
While it is the smallest national park in The Bahamas, Peterson Cay is no less important or beautiful. The cay itself is a vital nesting area for native birds, so check out the skies as well as the seas while you’re there.
Peterson Cay National Park
8. Andros Barrier Reef
World-class barrier reef experience
适合： 情侣/夫妇, 家庭
At an incredible 190 miles long, the Andros Barrier Reef is the third-longest barrier reef in the world and one of the healthiest. It attracts fewer crowds than Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, and it can feel like you have the whole reef to yourself. If you don’t count the blue marlin, manta rays, turtles, and reef sharks, that is.
Less experienced snorkelers should try the shallower end; at just eight feet deep, you get easy access to the spectacular landscape of corals and their inhabitants. If you’re seeking a more advanced adventure, head to the Tongue of the Ocean and look down into the abyss.
Andros Barrier Reef
9. Sapona Shipwreck
A wreck bursting with new life
适合： 照片, 冒险
Originally built in 1920 and made from concrete, the wreck of the SS Sapona is located between Port Royal, South Bimini, and Honeymoon Harbour, another popular diving spot. The seas here are so shallow that the top of the ship is visible above the waterline, meaning you can swim through some of the interior chambers with just a snorkel.
Beyond the novelty of investigating the historic ship, the wreck acts as an artificial reef and has been colonized by a range of sun corals and sponges. This, in turn, has created a welcoming environment for butterflyfish, grunts, eels, and barracuda. So, be sure to take your time and admire the stunning underwater world.
Sapona Shipwreck
10. Pelican Cays Land and Sea Park
Wildlife takes priority here
适合： 家庭, 情侣/夫妇
This national park spans 2,100 acres of wilderness just off the eastern coast of Abaco. The protected landscape and coral reef support abundant biodiversity, which you can approach from the beaches or via kayak. Nature comes first here, so infrastructure is limited, but it’s worth it to enjoy the pristine, unspoiled seascape.
Dramatic coral canyons and schools of tropical fish are excellent subjects for underwater photography. You’ll find over 170 different species living in this area, including the Nassau grouper and queen conch, several types of sea turtle, and an extensive variety of corals like finger sponges and staghorn coral. Keep an eye out for bottlenose dolphins, too.
Pelican Cays Land and Sea Park
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