Harbour Island is an ideal destination for scuba diving. The island is surrounded by a diverse range of underwater ecosystems, including coral reefs, shipwrecks, and blue holes, which offer a unique and exciting experience for divers of all levels.
Whether you are a seasoned diver or a beginner, scuba diving in Harbour Island is an unforgettable experience that allows you to explore the beauty and diversity of the island’s underwater world.
Scuba diving in Harbour Island
Best time to go diving in Harbour Island:
If you wonder when to scuba dive in Harbour Island , well the answer is clear : The island offers fantastic diving conditions and hot and sunny climate year round. The best time to go scuba diving is November to May when the most marine life is active. It is also the best time for shark diving. The most Caribbean reef sharks and blacktip reef sharks can be seen during these months.
If you enjoy getting the best deals and diving at uncrowded dive sites, book your trip from June to October. The water temperature in the area in winter is around 18-25C/64-77F and the average temperature in summer is 24-33C/75-91F.
Best dive spots in Harbour Island:
While it’s small and quaint, Harbour Island is a marvellous destination for scuba divers, who come from all over the world to discover the island’s famous dive spots.
Don’t miss the Devil’s Backbone, a coral reef system that is home to a variety of colorful fish and other sea creatures. Additionally, there are several shipwrecks in the area, which provide an interesting glimpse into the island’s maritime history, especially the civil war era.
Devil’s Backbone is a collection of sub-sites where wrecks are king. Here you’ll find Train Wreck and even three separate shipwrecks piled on top of each other. The shallow and jagged reef is located off the northern tip of the island.
Other good dive spots in harbour island are :
The Maze: A network of coral canyons and swim-throughs that offer an exciting and challenging dive experience for advanced divers.
The Cobia Cage: An artificial reef created from a cage used to hold cobia fish. It’s now home to a variety of marine life, including reef sharks, sea turtles, and moray eels.
The Plateau: A shallow dive site where divers can see colorful coral formations, schools of fish, and other marine life.
The Rose Garden: A beautiful coral garden with a variety of soft and hard corals, sponges, and sea fans that attract a diverse range of marine life.
Overall, Harbour Island has plenty of amazing diving spots that offer something for divers of all levels and interests, from thrilling drift dives to stunning coral reefs and unique artificial reefs.
What to see during your dive:
Harbour Island in the Bahamas is home to a diverse array of marine life and underwater ecosystems that make for an exciting and unforgettable scuba diving experience. Here are some of the things you can expect to see during your dive in Harbour Island:
– Colorful Coral Reefs: The waters around Harbour Island are home to a wide variety of colorful corals, including elkhorn, staghorn, and brain coral. These corals provide habitat for a range of fish and other sea creatures.
– Schools of Fish: Divers can expect to see large schools of colorful fish, such as angelfish, butterflyfish, parrotfish, and sergeant majors, as well as larger species like groupers, snappers, and barracudas.
– Sea Turtles: Harbour Island is home to several species of sea turtles, including green turtles and hawksbill turtles, which can often be spotted during dives.
– Rays : In the shallows, keep an eye out for rays burrowed in the sand or eagle rays floating in the current.
– Sharks: Divers may encounter a variety of shark species in the waters around Harbour Island, including reef sharks, nurse sharks, and even the occasional hammerhead or tiger shark.
– Shipwrecks: The Bahamas is home to thousands of shipwrecks, many of which can be explored by divers. These wrecks are often teeming with marine life and provide a unique opportunity to explore the history and heritage of the region.
– Blue Holes: The Bahamas is famous for its blue holes, which are deep, underwater sinkholes that provide a unique and otherworldly diving experience. Harbour Island has several blue holes that are popular among divers.
Overall, diving in Harbour Island offers a fantastic opportunity to explore the beauty and diversity of the underwater world, with a range of fascinating marine life and ecosystems to discover.
There are several dive centers in Harbour Island, Bahamas that offer scuba diving and snorkeling services. Here are a few of the local dive centers:
Valentines Dive Center
Located at Valentine’s Resort and Marina, this dive center offers a variety of dive trips and courses, as well as snorkeling excursions and equipment rental.
Valentines Resort & Marina, 1 Bay Street, Dunmore Town
+1 242-333-2080
https://www.valentinesdive.com/
Ocean Fox Scuba Diving & Fishing Charters (Jeff Fox)
Renowned for delivering private excursions with personalized details, Ocean Fox is located right on site at Romora Bay Resort and Marina. For more than 38 years, Ocean Fox offers fantastic local fishing and diving opportunities on Harbour Island.
Romora Bay Resort and Marina, Colebroke Street, Harbour Island
+1 242-333-2323
Lil’ Shan’s WaterSports
Certified diver and Captain Devon Lil Shan Stuart offers a number of water sports and equipment rentals, Scuba Diving Instruction, Private Dive Guide, Bottom Fishing, Private Scuba Lessons
Bay Street, Dunmore Town, Harbour Island
+1 242-333-3532
lswatersports@hotmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/LilShansWatersports/about