Bahamas Liveaboard Diving: Tiger Beach, Exumas & More

Why the Bahamas Is a Top Shark Diving Destination

The Bahamas is the Caribbean's premier shark diving destination and one of the most accessible liveaboard regions for divers based in North America. With Tiger Beach, the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, and some of the world's most dramatic blue holes, the Bahamas offers a unique mix of big-animal encounters and geological spectacle.

A liveaboard is the best way to cover the Bahamas' spread-out dive sites. Tiger Beach is off the west end of Grand Bahama, the Exuma Cays stretch 200 kilometres southeast, and the blue holes are scattered across different islands. No single resort gives you access to all of these.

Best Time to Go

October to June: Tiger shark season at Tiger Beach, with peak encounters from November to May. Water temperatures range from 24-28°C. Visibility is typically 15-30 metres.

Year-round: Caribbean reef sharks, nurse sharks, and lemon sharks are present throughout the year. Blue hole diving is not season-dependent.

Avoid August-September for the peak of hurricane season, when some operators pause or redirect itineraries.

Top Dive Sites

Tiger Beach

A shallow sandy bottom at 8-12 metres off Grand Bahama where tiger sharks gather regularly. Divers kneel on the sand as tigers cruise past at close range — one of the most reliable large shark encounters in the world. Lemon sharks, great hammerheads, and bull sharks are also frequent visitors.

Exuma Cays

A chain of 365 cays with protected marine areas, coral walls, swimming pigs (yes, really), and nurse shark aggregations at Compass Cay. Less intense than Tiger Beach but more varied.

Blue Holes

The Bahamas has over 200 inland and ocean blue holes — vertical cave systems formed during the last ice age. Dean's Blue Hole on Long Island (202 metres deep, the deepest known blue hole) and the ocean blue holes of Andros are among the most famous.

Bimini

Known for wild spotted dolphin encounters and great hammerhead sightings in winter. Close to Florida — some itineraries depart from Fort Lauderdale.

What Does a Bahamas Liveaboard Trip Cost?

Bahamas liveaboard trips typically cost $2,500 to $4,500 per person for 5-7 nights. The relatively short itineraries (compared to Indo-Pacific destinations) keep costs moderate, but the proximity to the US means strong demand.

Additional costs: flights to Nassau or Freeport, Bahamas departure tax, marine park fees (usually included), equipment rental, and nitrox.

Booking through a Dive Pod on MyDivePod gives you 5% off at checkout on eligible bookings, plus 5% back as loyalty points.

How to Book

Browse available Bahamas liveaboards on MyDivePod's Explore page. Filter by date and price to compare options. Every vessel is operated by an independent liveaboard operator — MyDivePod is a marketplace, not a boat company.

MyDivePod is a marketplace. We connect you with independent liveaboard operators but do not own, operate, or crew any vessel. The operator is responsible for the boat, crew, safety, and the diving operation.