Bimini

Bimini sits on the western edge of the Great Bahama Bank, roughly 85km east of Miami. Its high-profile winter dive is a provisioned great hammerhead encounter on sand off South Bimini.

Best time
Nov–Apr
Certification
Open water
Budget
$$–$$$ · $2,000–4,000 to over $4,000
Trip length
3–7 days
Trip style
Land based, Day trip, Liveaboard
Access
Easy

The short version

Known forSeasonal provisioned great hammerhead dives.

Main tradeoffThe hammerhead dive is baited and shark behaviour is influenced by provisioning.

Bimini dive region

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Your outlook

Explore 4 dive sites

Browse the map and wildlife below, or add an optional preference to narrow Bimini.

Most relevant wildlife

  • Great hammerheadJan–Apr, Oct–Dec
  • Caribbean reef sharkJan–Dec
  • Great barracudaJan–Dec
  • Nurse sharkJan–Dec

Plan the trip

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4 sites shown.

Conditions referenceSeason, water and visibilityBest Nov–Apr · Moderate current · 23–31°C (coldest Jan, warmest Jul)
Best months Operating
Current
Moderate
Water temperature
23–31°C (coldest Jan, warmest Jul)
Visibility
18–35m: Bank-edge reefs can be clear, while wind, Gulf Stream current and stirred sand reduce visibility.
Experience
Sapona and sheltered reefs can suit Open Water divers.

01 · Marine life

What you may see

rareoccasionalcommonly seenpeak seasondestination closed

Sightings are never guaranteed. The bars show typical likelihood by month.

Great hammerheadSphyrna mokarran
Sighting likelihood by month
MonthLikelihood
Januarypeak season
Februarypeak season
Marchpeak season
Apriloccasional
Mayrare
Junerare
Julyrare
Augustrare
Septemberrare
Octoberoccasional
Novemberpeak season
Decemberpeak season

Great hammerheads show documented October–April seasonal residency.

Caribbean reef sharkCarcharhinus perezi
Sighting likelihood by month
MonthLikelihood
Januarycommonly seen
Februarycommonly seen
Marchcommonly seen
Aprilcommonly seen
Maycommonly seen
Junecommonly seen
Julycommonly seen
Augustcommonly seen
Septembercommonly seen
Octobercommonly seen
Novembercommonly seen
Decembercommonly seen

Caribbean reef sharks occur year-round on reefs and shark dives.

Great barracudaSphyraena barracuda
Sighting likelihood by month
MonthLikelihood
Januarycommonly seen
Februarycommonly seen
Marchcommonly seen
Aprilcommonly seen
Maycommonly seen
Junecommonly seen
Julycommonly seen
Augustcommonly seen
Septembercommonly seen
Octobercommonly seen
Novembercommonly seen
Decembercommonly seen

Great barracuda are resident around reefs and wreck structure.

Nurse sharkGinglymostoma cirratum
Sighting likelihood by month
MonthLikelihood
Januarycommonly seen
Februarycommonly seen
Marchcommonly seen
Aprilcommonly seen
Maycommonly seen
Junecommonly seen
Julycommonly seen
Augustcommonly seen
Septembercommonly seen
Octobercommonly seen
Novembercommonly seen
Decembercommonly seen

Nurse sharks are resident around reef and sand habitat.

See all 8 species

02 · Dive sites

Dive sites worth knowing

A starting point, not a ranking. Conditions decide what works on the day.

See all 4 dive sites
03 · LogisticsGetting there and costsEasy. Fly to BIM. Typical trip $$–$$$.

Route overview

Easy

Day trips from a coastal base, about 0.5h from the airport.

Airport options

BIM

South Bimini Airport

Short taxi and ferry transfers connect the airfield with South and North Bimini accommodation

Typical trip cost

$$–$$$

$2,000–4,000 to over $4,000

Per person, excluding international flights.

  • A standard two-tank trip is currently listed at USD 160 plus 10% VAT.
  • The November–April hammerhead safari is USD 349 plus VAT; hotel packages and rental gear are extra.

Sources & last checked

Checked September 2026

Research is source-backed, but conditions and fees should still be confirmed locally.

View 7 sources and checking notes

Note on the data: Hammerhead timing and provisioning effects are research-backed. Site coordinates, normal visibility, access time and non-hammerhead conditions remain approximate. Water temperature: Rounded western-Bahamas surface-temperature bands; exposed Gulf Stream sites and depth can feel cooler. Access: BIM is on South Bimini. International schedules are limited; many travellers connect through Nassau or South Florida, while some liveaboards cross the Gulf Stream.