There are a few locations that come to mind when looking for the best shark diving hotspots on this blue planet. Cocos, Galapagos, South Africa, Fiji, Australia, and Mexico all have some amazing shark dives. But there’s no denying that the Bahamas ranks high on that list, perhaps taking the title of Shark Diving Capital of the World! We’re excited to bring you to some of the best of Bahamas shark diving. Read on for an introduction to each diving location and what species of sharks we expect to find there.

Tiger Shark Diving @ Tiger Beach

Just a small part of the Little Bahama Bank, Tiger Beach has long been a world class shark diving hotspot. Scuba divers can get uncaged and up-close encounters to this super predator! The tiger sharks that migrate through this area are very well known to the operators that work here. Some of the sharks that are still interacting with divers today have been documented at the site 15 years ago! Most of the animals you’ll see there are quite used to divers and the shark diving routine. Just stick to the rules and enjoy the show. Bahamas shark diving at it’s best!

Bahamas Shark Diving: Oceanic Whitetip

Once considered that most abundant vertebrates on earth (over 100 lbs), Oceanic Whitetip Shark populations have been decimated making them very difficult to find. The Bahamas, however, is one of the last strongholds for a healthy population of this pelagic shark. Shark divers from around the globe can expect to reliably encounter this species during their peak season of April – June. They’re bold, curious and incredibly photogenic, making the trip out here well worth it. This species makes Bahamas shark diving unique.

Bahamas Shark Diving: Great Hammerhead

Moving over to the Great Bahama Bank, divers can expect to see numerous Great Hammerhead Sharks. Once the elusive chance encounter, shark divers can expect to be surrounded by these large and unique animals during the winter months. Here’s another species where Bahamas shark diving reigns supreme.

Bahamas Shark Diving – and then some…

Each of these locations also provide shark diving beyond the target species. For example, at Tiger Beach, you can see up to 6 species of shark on a single dive, including tiger sharks, great hammerhead sharks, bull sharks, reef sharks, lemon sharks, and nurse sharks. While diving with great hammerhead sharks, its common to see nurse and bull sharks as well. During the oceanic whitetip shark diving season, divers will also encounter reef sharks, dusky sharks, as well as chances at seeing great hammerhead sharks and blue marlin!

What a great day today! We had some challenging conditions with a stiff current to battle, but it was all worth it the moment Emma showed up. Today marks her return to Tiger Beach after leaving the area at the end of 2018.  The crew was elated and the guests on this day trip to Tiger Beach were thrilled to have met the Queen of the Beach.  Emma, along with 4 other tiger sharks, a great hammerhead shark, a few bull sharks, and of course the reef and lemon sharks, along with a solitary nurse shark, made for a 6 species dive!  Shark diving doesn’t get much better than that!

We go over a lot of details during our shark diving briefings in the Bahamas, and make a lot of recommendations. One of them, is that divers make a negative entry. But this is not always clear, sometimes confused, and often done incorrectly. What is a negative entry, and why do we recommend it?

Doing a negative entry requires confidence and comfort in the water

SCUBA Diving Magazine (June 6, 2017)

Simply put, a negative entry means that you’re getting below the surface as quickly as possible. Usually you make a giant stride from the boat with air in your BCD and hang on the surface for a moment to get yourself situated. With a negative entry, you’re jumping in with no air in your BC and making your way to the bottom. Why do we do this?

Tiger Beach, Bahamas

At Tiger Beach in the Bahamas, the shark diving is technically pretty easy, but there are some challenges. First off, we often have to wait for the reef sharks and lemon sharks to clear a path for us so that we can get off the dive platform. There are loads of sharks hanging around the surface and it’s a good idea to get down right away. Often times, when divers are lingering at the surface, they are distracted and not looking in the water. That’s where the sharks are!

During the dives at Tiger Beach, we also occasionally experience strong currents. This means that the longer a diver spends at the surface, the further down current they will end up before hitting the bottom. Getting off the surface and down to the bottom quickly helps ensure that you end up as part of the dive group and not a lone diver down current having to struggle to make your way back to the line.

Here are some tips straight from SCUBA Diving Magazine’s article:

• Make sure you’re properly weighted – for our shark dives, that means wearing plenty of lead.
• Be prepared – because you’re heading straight down, empty the air in your BCD, hold your mask, and make your way off the surface
• Jump like a pro – make sure you clear the platform and exhale to empty your lungs.
• Equalize early and often – make sure you control your decent and equalize your ears, which likely means adding air as you descend.

Finally, if you have any questions on the technique, just talk to the dive crew. They’re always there and happy to help out! We always prefer people understand and feel comfortable with the diving so they can focus on and enjoy the sharks!

To say this season has been one of the best yet is a bit of an understatement. Tiger Beach has consistently been getting better and better and we have enjoyed every minute of it! We have been averaging 5 species on most dives, including Tiger, Reef, Lemon, Great Hammerhead, and Bull sharks. The nurse sharks are around but have been least likely of the 6 species we can expect to see to show up on our dives.

Here’s a short video to give you an idea of what the dives have been like:

This time of year is definitely hot at the beach! The dives have been incredible! We have had to contend with a bit of weather, but overall the divers have had their fill of sharks! Make sure when you’re planning a trip out during this peak season that you plan for weather. We recommend reserving a minimum of three dive days as well as securing dive specific travel insurance (www.DAN.org or www.DiveAssure.com) that will cover for lost days of diving due to weather cancellations. And don’t worry, as long as we’re able to make it out to the dive site, we’ll show you the very best that Bahamas Shark Diving has to offer!

We’re already filling in our 2020 calendar quickly, so let us know if you’re interested in getting in on the action! Check out our Tiger Beach Diving Packages here and don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Tiger Beach, Bahamas – 2019

We’re really proud to be able to introduce divers to the tiger sharks at Tiger Beach. It’s an amazing experience and definitely worth investing a few extra days to get the most of it. Since we offer day trips, we do get a lot of inquires asking about booking a single day of shark diving at Tiger Beach. Here’s a few thoughts on why you should consider spending a bit more time there.

Tiger Beach Diving: Travel

The pain in everyone’s trip! We have seen our share of travel delays, canceled flights, missed connections, and delayed baggage. Fortunately, Freeport is the second largest international airport in the Bahamas.  It can accommodate larger commercial jets which does decrease the likelihood of significant delays.  But it is certainly still a possibility.  Not having an essential piece of gear or missing a flight all together could ruin the only dive day you have planned.

Tiger Beach Diving:

Have you just dusted off your gear and packed it for the trip? Did you just get your gear back from servicing and haven’t broken it in yet? Did you just get a new mask, one that’s sure to fog up on you? Have you just gotten a new wetsuit and not really sure how much weight you should wear? Did you just get new gear or are renting equipment and aren’t very familiar with it yet? The shark diving at Tiger Beach is technically pretty easy.  That doesn’t mean we don’t see a fair share of first day blunders. If you’re not diving on a regular basis, consider the first day a check out. They’ll certainly be sharks all around, but you may be focused on clearing your mask and getting your BCD inflator to cooperate.

Classic Tiger Beach: Shallow Sand Flats

Tiger Beach Diving: Photography

A lot of divers that visit Tiger Beach are hoping to get that perfect image to take back to their friends. From the GoPro to the biggest DSLR camera rig, it’s not always a sure thing that you system is going to dial itself in and give you that perfect shot right away. Seasoned photographers are constantly adjusting their settings.  You may have to work with the dive conditions to get great images. Booking a multi-day trip to Tiger Beach also gives you the opportunity to experience the different dive sites. In reality, it’s quite a large area and we tend to visit different sites each day.   We take advantage of the different topography, from sand flats, to sargassum beds, to the beautiful reefs of Tiger Beach.

Two big tigers glide past divers on the reef

Tiger Beach Diving: Sharks

Spending so much time in the water with the sharks really allows us to appreciate the individual behaviors of the animals. We know them by name and by personality. A multi-day trip gives you the opportunity to gain more insight into what these animals are really all about. You gain a better appreciation for the sharks the more time you spend with them. In addition, we can see up to 6 species of sharks out at Tiger Beach. Having several days gives you the best chances of having that special encounter!

A Bull Shark over the sargassum meadows at Tiger Beach

Tiger Beach Diving: Weather

With only a single day booked for the shark dives, you’re really rolling the dice. No matter what time of year, no matter what the season is.  There is always a chance that mother nature forces us off the water. Tiger Beach is located on a shallow sand bank off shore.  There is really no protection from high winds and seas. Even if it was safe for the boat to be out there, even if you weren’t seasick, there’s still a high likelihood that rough weather would wipe out the visibility on the site and keep us from doing any shark diving at all. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, it certainly pays to have some buffer days scheduled in.

We’d hate to end this conversation with only focusing on the potential negative reasons that 1 day may not be enough.  Here’s a look at the positive side.  If the conditions are perfect, and you have a great day of diving and fall in love with the sharks, you might want to do it again.  Unfortunately, 99% of the time, we won’t have any space left open the days before and after your trip.  Make sure you don’t regret giving it only 1 shot!

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Perhaps no more thrilling adventure awaits a diver.  A dive with tiger sharks in the crystal clear, warm waters of the Bahamas is unforgettable. Epic Diving runs daily tours out to the world famous Tiger Beach during the tiger shark high season. Virtually guaranteeing guests come face to face with these large, but well behaved, predators. According to the crew, the diving there has only been getting better, season after season. Here are some of the reasons why…

Dive with Tiger Sharks…made easy!

You’re not going to find better conditions anywhere for a dive with tigers than Tiger Beach in Northern Bahamas. Technically speaking, the dive conditions out at Tiger Beach are quite easy. Most of the dive sites there are shallow, between 20 – 35 feet (6 – 10 meters).  There are some reefs a bit deeper, between 40 – 60 feet (12 – 18 meters). The water temps are usually pretty warm during the season, but can dip down to the mid 70s F (23.5 C). Those two features, combined with the generally great visibility, pose few challenges to divers.

The one factor that can catch guests by surprise is the occasionally very strong currents, typically driven by the turning tides. To compensate for this, divers are instructed to wear extra lead to help keep them stationary on the sandy bottom.  Tiger shark diving at the classic, sandy Tiger Beach are static dives, meaning divers will be positioned in a line on the sand and remain stationary for most of the dive.

…Close Up!

All of our trips are out of the cage and up close and personal with the tigers (in addition to the reef and lemon sharks). We do not offer any cage diving and all of the guests need to be SCUBA certified. During the dives, we’re typically surrounded by 30 or more reef and lemon sharks in addition to the larger-than-life tiger sharks. Without any barriers, the animals get close, making for some incredible photographic opportunities!

…and more!

When you sign up for one of our trips to dive with tiger sharks, you’re not going to just see tiger sharks! They’re certainly the stars of the show, but let’s not forget about the other sharks. Diver’s will certainly see reef sharks and lemon sharks, in addition to the tigers. During the winter time, there are also very high chances of seeing great hammerhead and bull sharks as well. Throw in a nurse shark or two, and we’ve seen up to 6 species on a single dive! At some of the sites we visit, there are also loads of large, friendly grouper and southern stingrays.

Dive with Tiger Sharks…sign me up!

Ready to book your adventure of a lifetime? Interested in returning to the worlds greatest shark dive? Take a look at our packages to dive with Tiger Sharks which includes all the details you’d need, including travel tips, boat details, accommodations info, and frequently asked questions. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you need any more info or would like to make your reservation.

Dive with Tiger Sharks: Best of Bahamas!

We had an awesome time during our combined Dive Photo Guide/Prawno Apparel trip to dive Tiger Beach and Bimini’s Great Hammerheads. The trip was not without challenges courtesy of Mother Nature, but we were able to strategize as a team and get the most out of our dive time! With Bimini out of the equation because of weather challenges, the stars aligned and we spent all of our dives at Tiger Beach enjoying the Tiger sharks, reef sharks, lemon sharks AND Great Hammerhead and Bull sharks! It was a great couple of days out there and we’re happy to share Jeff Honda’s video from the trip! Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Tiger Beach Dive Trip Report

More in videos: Southern Stingray: Grand Bahama Island

The diving at Tiger Beach has only been getting better, season after season!  We’ve been so excited to see the changes, and this year is no different.  The shark diving at Tiger Beach has become a fan favorite.  Not only are we enjoying numerous tiger sharks with the reef sharks and lemon sharks to compliment the show, but we are now having regular dives featuring great hammerhead sharks and even bull sharks.  During the early part of the year this past season, we had several days during each of our trips that had great hammerhead sharks mixed in with the tiger sharks!  It has been incredible and the photographic opportunities are top notch.

The 2018 season is already shaping up to be another record setter with loads of tiger sharks and a few great hammerheads making regular appearances.  Obviously, this time frame has become quite a popular time to visit.  We are already taking reservations for the 2019 season and the calendar is filling up fast.  If you’ve been thinking of making a visit, there’s no better time.  Tiger Beach off Grand Bahama Island is hotter than ever!  Be sure to check out our Tiger Beach packages and contact us early to reserve your spot for these unforgettable adventures.  It was recently named the Reader’s Choice #1 Big Animal dive destination in SCUBA Diving Magazine.

The January/February issue of SCUBA Diving Magazine was just released and covers the 2018 Readers Choice Awards. Not surprisingly, the Bahamas ranked on top for the reader’s pick, best big animals destination! The 2-page photos used for the article was taken during one of our Tiger Beach expeditions this past February by Jennifer Penner of NewMediaSoup.

Grand Bahama is underrated in the diving community. Great reefs and, of course, the abundance of sharks make it amazing!”

The article features all three of our favorite shark diving hotspots: Great Hammerheads off Bimini, Tiger Sharks off Grand Bahama, and Oceaincs Whitetips off Cat Island. Here are a few excepts…

Tiger Beach is undoubtedly one of the world’s best shark diving sites and each year seems to get better and better.  In the recent few seasons, we have been having reliable encounters with Great Hammerheads during the January – April timeframe.  It’s an amazing experience to have Tiger Sharks, Reef Sharks, Lemon Sharks and now Great Hammerheads and Bull Sharks all together on the same dive.  Contact us for more details and to make a reservation.

We are often asked if we offer day trips to tiger beach. The answer is yes! In fact, all we offer are shark diving day trips. We do not operate a live aboard dive boat at all. In all three locations, we make day trips to various shark diving hotspots. On Grand Bahama island, we head out each morning for our Tiger Beach day trips. In Bimini, it’s a short boat ride between the dive site and the hotel/marina. On Cat Island, we transfer to the boat each morning before heading out for a day with the oceanic whitetip sharks.

When do you run Tiger Beach trips?

We are located on the West End of Grand Bahama Island for our day trips to tiger beach.  Peak season is between the fall and spring months. During that time frame, we enjoy some of the best shark diving this planet has to offer. In addition to our regulars, we also find the fan favorites like Emma and Hook!

What is the dive boat for Tiger Beach like?

A typical day trip to tiger beach involves an early start to grab a bite to eat before boarding the boat for the ride out to the shark grounds. MV Thresher is fully equipped for comfort and safety to enjoy the whole day out on the water. In addition to all the seating space on the dive deck and up on the flybridge, there’s also a fully enclosed cabin to get out of the elements on some of those not so inviting winter mornings. Both the flybridge and inside cabin have stereo systems with Bluetooth connectivity to enjoy your favorite playlist.

What are day trips to Tiger Beach like?

Once we get up to tiger beach, we’ll scan the area and pick our anchor spot. As the chum makes it’s way into the water, divers can get their gear setup finalized and prep cameras while we wait for the sharks to show up. Reef sharks are usually the first ones to the boat, with lemon sharks following closely behind. Once the tiger sharks show up, we’ll gear up and head into the water. Technically speaking, our dives are not difficult at all. Our average dive depth is between 20 – 30 feet (6 – 10 meters) so dive times are generally over 60 minutes. Divers also usually arranged in a line on the bottom and remain stationary throughout the dive. We’re heavily waited to make it easier to stay put on the bottom and hold your position in the variable surface surge and current that is well known at Tiger Beach.

After the last dive has ended, we’ll pull the chum and anchor and make our way back to the resort. Our host accommodations are fully appointed with all the comforts you could need. Take a shower, grab a bite to eat, enjoy the hot tub or pool, or jump online and post your favorite photos from the day diving with tiger sharks.

How many days should you dive Tiger Beach?

We recommend no less than three days planned to be at tiger beach. Unfortunately, the winter season is known for occasional squalls of heavy winds and high seas, preventing us from making it out for diving at tiger beach. It is located far offshore and completely unprotected from any significant winds. We offer standard packages with either 3 or 5 days of diving planned. We know it can be really disappointing to lose a day of diving and we strongly recommend travelers secure some form of travel insurance specific to diving, such as the kind offered by DAN or DiveAssure.

What can we expect to see at Tiger Beach?

Sharks, lots of sharks! We are fortunate to have had a 100% success rate finding the tiger sharks on our day trips to tiger beach. We also always see reef sharks and lemon sharks and occasionally nurse sharks. More recently, we’ve been encountering a lot more bull and great hammerhead sharks than usual. We’re hoping that carries forward during future tiger beach shark diving seasons. We also love spending some time at the reefs in the tiger beach area. They are really lush, beautiful, and loaded with sharks. The reefs are much deeper than the classic tiger beach spots, averaging around 50 feet or so.

How do I arrange a trip to Tiger Beach?

Having such a short season, we generally book up in advance, so it’s best to contact us early. Our calendar is set and boat reserved throughout the season so we don’t have space for your typical open bookings. Contact us for dates and availability.

Day Trips to Tiger Beach

Check out some of our other great posts about Tiger Beach:

Tiger Shark Diving in the Bahamas – 5 Common Mistakes

Tiger Beach Shark Diving: Negative Entry

Tiger Beach Diving in the Bahamas – 2019!

Dive with Tiger Sharks: Best of Bahamas

Great Hammerhead Sharks at Tiger Beach!

Tiger Beach Bahamas: When Currents Rip

Bahamas – 1st Place Pick for Big Animals 2018