Have you ever dreamed of swimming within colorful coral reefs among clouds of vibrantly colorful fish while sea turtles pass you by? If so, scuba diving is something you should try, and there is no place more idyllic to dip your flippers in than Staniel Cay.
Located near Nassau and a mere 300 miles from Miami, Florida, this chain of islands offers premier diving in crystal-clear waters that teem with marine life. It is hard to beat, and that’s why divers from around the world flock here to swim among shipwrecks and coral reefs and rest up in one of our beachfront vacation homes in Staniel Cay.
As Jacques-Yves Cousteau once said, “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”
SCUBA Diving 101
Photo Credit: Rich Carey
Diving can be an intimidating or even an unsettling concept on its face. Being submerged in forty feet of water while you breathe through an oxygen tank is far from natural. But don’t let this discourage you from giving it a try! Anyone who takes to it will tell you how amazing, therapeutic, and rewarding this hobby can be.
It’s so approachable for all ages that even kids as young as 12 can do it. It doesn’t require any supernatural strength, and you’ll be surprised at how easy it is once you get the hang of relaxed breathing on a regulator.
Diving in Staniel Cay: What to Expect
Dive Courses
Fortunately, any certified dive school will never just drop you into the ocean without easing you into it. The PADI Discovery Dive, a full-day course, is the first step in learning to dive. It takes you through the fundamentals and safety precautions before you even enter the water. Proper gear and an understanding of the equipment come first, where instructors go over how to read your instruments, properly breathe through the SCUBA mouthpiece, and operate your buoyancy system.
Diving Basics
Then, you’re off to a pool where you take your first underwater breaths with an instructor beside you the whole time. Here, you learn how to equalize, properly clear your mask of water that may leak in, recover your breathing mask if it gets knocked away, and keep yourself balanced while swimming. Instructors will not let you advance until you prove that you can execute these procedures properly for your safety.
Your dive instructor is there to assist you and address any issues or anxieties you may have. It is all about safety before it’s about fun. The safer you are, the more you will get to enjoy the wonders of the underwater!
How Deep?
Now, you get to put all of your knowledge to the test as you see how rewarding and liberating the underwater world can be. For your first open water dive, you will go no deeper than 40 ft (12m) for an entry-level shallow water dive.
How to Get PADI-Certified in Staniel Cay
If you’re looking to improve your diving, enroll in a PADI-certified Open Water Dive Course. This course usually takes 4-5 days, including 2 days of classroom work and three open-water dives.
Staniel Cay Adventures is the best place to get your PADI certification on the island.
When to Go Diving at Staniel Cay
It’s important to remember hurricane season in the Bahamas. While Staniel Cay isn’t prone to them, the season itself can disrupt nearby dive sites, weather, and ocean currents, making diving less enjoyable. Hurricane season usually runs from June to November but can fluctuate depending on the year.
Water visibility is typically superb year-round, making Staniel Cay Exuma an excellent destination to visit any time of year. However, the months of November to February are best for anyone hoping to swim with docile local sharks.
Popular Dive Sites Around Staniel Cay
Here are some noteworthy diving locations that you might check out after your “discover scuba” dives.
1. Exuma Land and Sea Park
Photo Credit: Tony Pullar
This ecological land and sea reserve within Exuma Cay was the first of its kind in the world and is home to the Western Hemisphere’s second-largest coral barrier reef. Divers can float through the shallow waters along this reef wall among the abundance of fish life and even hand-feed endangered Bahamian rock iguanas with the supervision of professional guides.
2. Thunderball Grotto
Photo Credit: MBV1
Located just a half mile from Pig Beach, where you can find the now famous ocean swimming pigs, this once-hidden gem is one of the best dive sites in the Exumas.
There is a reason Thunderball Grotto has become a pop culture icon in Hollywood over the years, inspiring the James Bond film ‘Thunderball,’ which was shot in these waters. This underwater cave system has many hidden entrances teeming with fish species like angelfish, groupers, yellowtail snappers, lobsters, and the charismatic sergeant major fish. This cave systems site is for skilled divers only, so work up to this one.
3. Drug Smugglers’ Plane Wreck
Photo Credit: Wirestock Creators
Located in shallow crystal clear waters, the now famous Drug Smugglers plane wreck is the most accessible wreck dive site available in the Bahamas. The plane was linked to members of the Colombian cartel run by Pablo Escobar and crashed while weighed down with illegal contraband.
Only a quick day trip from Staniel Cay, it is a great stop for divers and snorkelers alike.
4. Compass Cay
Photo Credit: Zoe Esteban
Famous for its nurse shark sanctuary, Compass Cay is the perfect place to get up close and personal with these gentle sharks. While many shark species get a bad rap, swimming with these docile bottom feeders is the perfect way to face your shark fears in a safe setting and admire these beautiful creatures for what they are—amazing!
If you’re lucky, you may even spot a few reef sharks. Again, they are mostly disinterested in people as long as you don’t go out of your way to provoke them; humans are not on their menu.
There is no shortage of non-diving-related activities in Staniel Cay, and there are excellent restaurants to refuel at as well.
Diving Tours and Companies: Who To Dive With Around Staniel Cay
Here are our favorite dive operators on the island.
Staniel Cay Adventures
Small group tours run by PADI-certified and experienced dive masters, Staniel Cay Adventures offers personalized dive experiences at the premier dive sites in the Exumas.
Discovery Dive courses are provided here for those who are not yet certified and are ages ten and up. Each tour includes all of your necessary equipment, and wet suit rentals are also available. Small groups mean that dive instructors can maximize safety and one-on-one guidance for each diver.
Only Staniel Cay Adventures can provide Discovery Dives and PADI-Ceritification for those without a diving certificate. This makes it the best choice for those who have never dove before.
Staniel Cay Yacht Club
Photo Credit: Alexander Chaikin
Set sail with Staniel Cay Yacht Club Catamaran charters as you discover hidden gems, snorkel through the most pristine coral reefs among the abundance of tropical marine life, and enjoy world-class luxury. With 21 years of sailing experience, the captain can take you through the Exumas and show off unexplored dive sites, empty sand bars, and fresh catch-of-the-day dinners for groups of up to 8.
Stay and SCUBA in Staniel Cay!
There are fewer rewarding experiences in the world than diving, and it’s easy to see how addicting it can be! Staniel Cay is not only one of the most highly acclaimed destinations for diving, but it’s also a great place to try it out and see if this sport is for you!
Our beachfront vacation homes set on Staniel Cay make the perfect home base for all your Caribbean adventures, whether diving, kayaking, or just a place to have a luxurious bubble bath soak.