In Africa, you have the Big Five Game Animals. When you hit the savannah, these are the big boys you want to tick off and experience close up.
As divers, of course, we have our own Big Five. Everyone’s big five are different but for Master Liveaboards, in the Caribbean at least, they are all sharks!
- Tiger Shark
- Great Hammerhead Shark
- Bull Shark
- Caribbean Reef Shark
- Oceanic White Tip Shark
If your list is even close to this then you need think about diving with sharks in the Bahamas – where there is no question that you will be able to tick them off your list within a pretty short time!
This island, known by many for its white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters, is a dream destination if you are a shark fanatic, or if you just want to learn more about them. In the Bahamas you can certainly experience once in a lifetime dives with these majestic animals.
Varied shark species
While our Big Five are the most common sharks cruising the area, they are far from the only sharks you can see. There are actually up to 40 different species of sharks in the Bahamas. This means you will also have the chance to see lemon sharks, nurse sharks, silky sharks, blacktip reef sharks, blacktip sharks; to name only a few.
The great news for divers is that the government of the Bahamas realised what a precious commodity they had. Due to this, in 2011, they began to protect all shark species. They declared the Bahamaian waters (around 630,000 square kilometers) a sanctuary to all sharks.
To back this up, they also made the trade in sharks and shark parts illegal. With this decision, they join other nations, such as Palau, the Maldives, the Marshall Islands, and an increasing number of countries, doing all they can to protect their apex predators.
How dangerous are the sharks in the Bahamas?
Contrary to popular belief, the sharks in the Bahamas are not the ferocious killing machines they are perceived to be. They are simply curious about their environment and the things in it.
As you prepare your trip, we recommend you taking the time to read our equipment guidelines found here. As mentioned, sharks are curious and sensitive and so your equipment may attract unwanted attention.
Also read our important info sheet as this will give you several tips on the best behavior to adopt while diving with sharks.
Book your diving holiday in the Bahamas with Master Liveaboards
To learn more about our diving in the Bahamas and where you can get up close with our big 5 – https://masterliveaboards.com/bahamas/
Check out our schedule onboard Bahamas Master
