The Exumas offer a diverse spread of dive sites built around walls, drift dives, reefs, and a handful of more unusual structures including wrecks and a technical-grade blue hole. Currents define much of the experience: cuts between the cays funnel water in ways that create everything from gentle drift dives to the powerful swirling conditions at The Washing Machine. Shallow reef sites suit beginners, while deep walls such as Pillar Wall and Off The Wall reward intermediate and advanced divers. Marine life is a real draw, with Nurse Shark, Atlantic Goliath Grouper, Caribbean Reef Shark, and Green Sea Turtle all observed regularly across the sites.
Monthly water temperature across Exumas's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water stays warm throughout the year, peaking in the summer months and cooling slightly through winter, though it remains comfortable across all seasons. The best-rated months cluster from late autumn through spring, when conditions tend to be calmer and visibility is at its clearest. Currents vary significantly by site: cuts between the cays can run strong, making sites like Normans Key Cut and The Washing Machine best dived at the right tidal window.
12 operators
Governor's Harbour, Bahamas
Black Point, Bahamas
11 more sites to explore
Water temperature around Exumas ranges from about 25°C in January to 30°C in July, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
In the warm season (about 30°C) a rash guard or 3mm shorty is comfortable in Exumas; in the coldest months (about 25°C) step up to a 3mm full suit.
Fin maps 23 sites in Exumas (20 scuba diving sites and 5 snorkelling spots, with some suited to both).
The Exumas have a strong record of observed sightings across a wide range of species. Nurse Shark and Stoplight Parrotfish are seen on almost every site, while Atlantic Goliath Grouper, Caribbean Reef Shark, and Green Sea Turtle are common throughout the area. Occasional sightings of Spotted Eagle Ray and Tiger Shark add an element of surprise, and the reefs support species such as Queen Triggerfish, Porcupinefish, Garden Eel, and Purple Sea Fan.
Yes, a good portion of the sites are rated for beginners. Highborn Kew Wall offers beginner-friendly wall diving, Amberjack Reef combines natural and artificial structures at accessible depths, and Lobster No Lobster is a shallow reef with mild current. Boat access is standard across virtually all sites, so beginners should be comfortable boarding and entering from a vessel.
Several Exumas sites are specifically designed around currents flowing through the cuts between cays. The Washing Machine is the most demanding, with powerful swirling water that makes it suitable for advanced divers only. Normans Key Cut and Dog Rocks Reef also involve notable current, and Wax Cut Drift offers a more moderate drift experience for intermediate divers. Timing these sites to the tidal cycle is important, and operators familiar with the area will plan dives accordingly.
No. Stargate is a blue hole with cave and cavern sections that descends well beyond recreational limits, placing it firmly in the technical diving category. It is a shore-entry site, which is unusual for the Exumas, but the dive itself demands technical training and appropriate equipment. Recreational divers can explore the shallower shelf near the entry point, but the full site requires specialist certification.
