Less than 50 miles from Florida is a surprisingly diverse diver’s paradise. The Bahamas, a chain of 700 islands and cays stretching for almost 600 miles, is well-known for its beautiful white sand beaches and impossibly turquoise waters. Each island group has a character all its own, both above and below water. The Bimini and Cat Cay chain, located at the western edge of the Bahamas, looks like any other picturesque, quiet out-island at the surface, but a peek below reveals that the beauty is much more than skin deep.

Located along the edge of the Gulf Stream, the wrecks and reefs south of Bimini and Cat Cay get a steady supply of nutrient-rich water that keeps them vibrant and healthy. The white sand reflects sunlight off the seafloor, giving corals the light they need to grow, and giving divers nearly endless visibility. Nearby mangroves act as nurseries, keeping the reefs stocked with countless species of fish and invertebrates. Bimini’s impressive shark population tops it all off, with abundant Caribbean Reef and Nurse sharks, as well as Bull, Blacktip, and Blacknose Sharks, Great Hammerheads, and Tigers. All these factors create one of the healthiest and most diverse ecosystems in the Florida and Bahamas regions.

Farther south along the edge of the bank, toward Orange Cay and beyond, the underwater scene becomes more breathtaking, punctuated by pristine giant coral mounds – hundreds of feet long — towering 50’ (17m) off the sand. These reefs are so healthy you might think you are in the most remote part of the world, when in reality you’re only 40-80 miles from the nearest inhabited island and a day’s sail from Florida. Most of these more remote dive sites were discovered by guests and crew on diving liveaboards, and more are being discovered each season.

If you’re not located on the east coast of Florida already or have access your own boat, the Out-Islands of the Bahamas can be very difficult to get to. Major airlines only fly into the larger islands and from there you can only access the more remote islands by puddle-jumper or mailboat.

A few dive shops on Bimini offer day-trips to some of the closer dive sites, but the best way to really experience the beauty of the more remote areas is by liveaboard. Only one liveaboard still operates here, and sails directly from downtown Miami. Juliet is a 104’ three-masted schooner that offers week-long dive trips to the Bahamas April through November when the weather it at its best. She accommodates only 12 guests in six cabins, two with private head and shower. The large dive deck has individual dive gear and tank stations, camera rinse stations, and ample fresh water for post-dive showers. Juliet’s experienced crew makes you feel like family, and includes an on-board educator to provide you with interesting facts about the ecosystem and what you might see underwater. The meals never disappoint, and neither does the diving.

Source: Scuba Diving