Six Not-to-Miss Diving Destinations in the Exumas
Posted on September 29, 2015The variety of dive sites in the Exuma Cays is truly unique and offers spectacular settings for beginner and advanced divers alike. Underwater enthusiasts are able to experience a new adventure everyday, including the exceptional blue holes of the Exuma Cays. The warm, clear water is home to dramatic underwater walls, lush coral reefs and exciting marine life encounters, all just a short boat ride away from February Point on Great Exuma. Highly trained dive operators will pick you up from the February Point marina to begin your underwater adventure.
Blue Holes– The blue holes of the Bahamas are unique geological features as they are the only tidal “blue” holes in the world. These underwater caves are called blue holes because of their coloration when viewed from above; the dark blue deep water in the holes contrasts with the light blue shallow water surrounding them. Blue holes around the Exumas include Angelfish, Crab Cay, and Mystery Cave.
Amberjack Reef – A 50-foot patch reef that has prolific fish life. This is a top spot to see the charismatic food-chain toppers like sharks and large grouper. Keep your eyes open because graceful eagle rays are also a common sight.
Dog Rocks -This reef starts at 35 feet and slopes off to 50 feet before dropping straight down into the abyss. This is one of the best dives in the Bahamas if you like to identify fish due to the variety of species. Black coral is abundant here as well as orange elephant ear and tube sponges.
Jeep Reef – This dive site gets its name from a coral-encrusted Jeep. The dive can only be done at slack tide because of the strong currents but you will find a very healthy population of fish. It is in the middle of the Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park and very close to February Point.
Barracuda Shoals – This bankside patch reef has huge schools of colorful fish as well as many small critters on the reef and surrounding sand. Barracuda Shoals offers a beautiful shallow dive for beginners.
Austin Smith Wreck – This site gets its name from a 90-foot Bahamian Defense Force cutter ship that sank in 1995 while being towed to San Salvador. This intact wreck is teeming with marine life from angelfish and butterfly fish to the tiniest invertebrates like the miniature crabs that live within flowerlike anemones.
Whether you’re just visiting or you choose to make Great Exuma your home, February Point offers a true out-island lifestyle with modern conveniences. It’s easy to create lasting memories with a variety of activities for the whole family. Set on 80 acres surrounded by the vivid blue waters of Exuma, this tropical gated community offers a wide variety of luxurious custom homes and condominiums available for ownership or rent. The February Point community provides the perfect homeport for those seeking the adventurous free spirit of the out islands of the Bahamas.
