Bahamas Diving in February - is it possible to do tiger beach and bimini hammerheads in 10 days?

[outofofficebrb]

Hey All,
Thanks for the advice! Unfortunately, as students, we can't quite afford any of those liveaboards at this time, also the land based dive shop for tiger beach is booked until 2019! It looks like we will be doing a 6 day dive package with Neil Watson's Bimini Scuba Center then maybe heading over to Nassau for Stuart cove's reef shark expedition? Does anyone recommend this? is the reef shark dive in Bimini very similar to Nassau?

The land based dive shop for tiger beach...Do you mean Epic Diving? Yes, they book well in advance so I am not surprised. Reef Oasis based at Viva Wyndham Bahamas is land based and makes trips to Tiger Beach at least 2 times a week. They have availability and are still collecting divers for trips. Shark Diving Availability Calendar This is who we did it with because we also couldn't get in with Epic and liveaboard availability was limited when we looked. We had a great time.

I did a Caribbean reef shark dive with Reef Oasis as well and can't compare it to Stuart's but I imagine it's the same thing.

 

[LiveaboardCom]

Okay, this is awkward, as you're a live-aboard related agency and I'm one intermediate diver with less of a broad experience to draw on, but that said...I would not plan a Blue Hole trip, including via live-aboard, specifically with an agenda to see sharks. I've done the Sun Dancer 2 (now Belize Aggressor IV) trip, and we did a Blue Hole dive. I've read reports from other people doing it.

The live-aboards of Belize don't always hit the Blue Hole. When they do, it's likely one dive that trip. A deep dive, around 130 feet deep to see the stalagmites/stalactites, a rather short dive at depth, and not one with a lot of big life to see. Some report seeing sharks; I was under the impression mainly reef sharks? I didn't see sharks in the Blue Hole, but we saw several sharks on other dives out of Belize.

Has anyone here seen a tiger shark on a Belize trip, or specifically at the Blue Hole for that matter?

I loved my Belize live-aboard trip, and recommend it for general beautiful Caribbean reef diving, but I wouldn't recommend it for people looking for bulls, hammerheads or tigers; mainly those out to see a few Caribbean reef and nurse sharks. Anyone have reason to believe differently?

Turks & Caicos is famous for reef shark encounters, but I believe the T&C Aggressor is doing whale watching trips in February. Jupiter, Florida is famous for the lemon shark aggregation and reef shark sightings; if you're open to shark feed diving, the species you're apt to see and time frame and closeness of likely encounters opens up considerably. Even if you're not, the lemon shark aggregation may be a good bet? It's seasonal, so check the dates. I don't think February is the right time of year for diving the sand tigers out of North Carolina, IIRC.

Richard.

Hi Richard,

Not awkward at all, it's good to hear your experiences and opinions - this is what forums are all about. Thank you. I will pass your comments on to my colleagues and see if I can find out more to add to the discussion about the likelihood of specific sharks at the Blue Hole and also the number of dives at that site on our safaris. My understanding is the sharks I mentioned are seen at the Blue Hole but I will find out more.

Thanks.

 

[LiveaboardCom]

Okay, this is awkward, as you're a live-aboard related agency and I'm one intermediate diver with less of a broad experience to draw on, but that said...I would not plan a Blue Hole trip, including via live-aboard, specifically with an agenda to see sharks. I've done the Sun Dancer 2 (now Belize Aggressor IV) trip, and we did a Blue Hole dive. I've read reports from other people doing it.

The live-aboards of Belize don't always hit the Blue Hole. When they do, it's likely one dive that trip. A deep dive, around 130 feet deep to see the stalagmites/stalactites, a rather short dive at depth, and not one with a lot of big life to see. Some report seeing sharks; I was under the impression mainly reef sharks? I didn't see sharks in the Blue Hole, but we saw several sharks on other dives out of Belize.

Has anyone here seen a tiger shark on a Belize trip, or specifically at the Blue Hole for that matter?

I loved my Belize live-aboard trip, and recommend it for general beautiful Caribbean reef diving, but I wouldn't recommend it for people looking for bulls, hammerheads or tigers; mainly those out to see a few Caribbean reef and nurse sharks. Anyone have reason to believe differently?

Turks & Caicos is famous for reef shark encounters, but I believe the T&C Aggressor is doing whale watching trips in February. Jupiter, Florida is famous for the lemon shark aggregation and reef shark sightings; if you're open to shark feed diving, the species you're apt to see and time frame and closeness of likely encounters opens up considerably. Even if you're not, the lemon shark aggregation may be a good bet? It's seasonal, so check the dates. I don't think February is the right time of year for diving the sand tigers out of North Carolina, IIRC.

Richard.

Hi Richard,

We currently have two vessels that go to Belize, the Belize Aggressor III and IV. Their itineraries include up to 25 dives per trip, including the Blue Hole. Given the number of dives I would expect they dive the Blue Hole more than once but that would of course be dependent on conditions.

I checked our customer reviews as well and a number of them mention shark sightings, which is great to hear. There isn't specific information about which types of sharks but I have found other reviews and discussions online about diving with the bull and hammerheads at the Blue Hole.

I have yet to find a specific report on Tiger sharks there though, so let's see if anyone else has information about that.

I think Belize would be a good for seeing sharks but I wouldn't compare it to shark-focussed itineraries such as Tiger Beach, Bahamas.

Thanks.

 

[TracysaCADiver]

The subject line says it all really, I have about 12 days off and a few friends and I were looking into dive possibilities in/around the Bahamas/Caribbean, looking for big sharks.
We're divemasters and I am studying Marine Conservation but out of the many shark species we've seen we have yet to come across great hammerheads or tiger sharks. From some cursory googling, we have read time and time again that the encounters on Grand Bahama with tiger sharks and Bimini with great hammers are some of the best.
My main questions are: a) Is it possible to see these two sights well in 10 days, b) is it possible to even travel between these islands in a timely and cost effective manner, and c) is there some other diving around these areas?
Additionally if you have any other recommendations for areas in the Caribbean to have comparable shark encounters it would be greatly appreciated!

This might be off the beaten path a little bit, but since y'all are DM's and all, have you checked out Florida for it's Sharks? I do understand that there is a migration that happens with the great hammers in the Jupiter/West Palm area I believe, but don't know exactly when that occurs... just me two cents...

 

[HalcyonDaze]

This might be off the beaten path a little bit, but since y'all are DM's and all, have you checked out Florida for it's Sharks? I do understand that there is a migration that happens with the great hammers in the Jupiter/West Palm area I believe, but don't know exactly when that occurs... just me two cents...

I'm not sure if I would term it a "migration," but February-March-April seems to be when we see the most great hammerheads at our feed sites off Jupiter. They are sighted at other times of the year, but that seems to be when we have a reasonable chance of going down and getting 3-6 over the course of a 3-tank dive trip. Conventional wisdom is that the hammerheads are there to feed on the mass blacktip shark migration inshore. When spring rolls around it gets close to turtle season, which also brings in the tigers. Going a little farther offshore into 120-150 fsw you'll run into large numbers of bull sharks, and through February we typically still have the out-of-town lemon sharks (there are local residents year-round, but we have some identifiable ones that only turn up in winter).

A couple things to remember is that the dive conditions are going to be very different than the Bahamas; you're in 65-140 fsw (on the deep ledge you typically level out at 90-100 and don't go all the way to the bottom), it's drift diving/live boat drops in what can be a strong current (3-4 knots at the high end), and overall you're expected to be more self-reliant as a diver (these dives are one reason I started carrying a pony bottle). Richard has an excellent writeup on a trip he did last April here: Emerald Dive Charters Trip Report

The other note is that in Jupiter/West Palm the dive charter options are more limited - last year we had three SCUBA charters out baiting for sharks; Deep Obsession has since changed ownership and no longer does baited shark dives that I'm aware of. That leaves Emerald and Miss Jackie (the latter run as Calypso Dive Charters); between the two of them that's 20 seats. Baited dives for sharks is a very loaded topic in FL (it's illegal inside state waters, so the fun and games have to stay outside the 3-mile limit); a lot of charters in the Palm Beach and Martin County will try to see sharks without bait. Your mileage may vary on this; you should have no problems seeing lemon and reef sharks that way but tigers and hammerheads will likely be lottery odds. The other area that has been growing is baited surface snorkel trips; these are actually as or more expensive than the SCUBA charters but the upside is sold as having no "bottom time" limits.

 

[Wookie]

I'm not sure if I would term it a "migration," but February-March-April seems to be when we see the most great hammerheads at our feed sites off Jupiter. They are sighted at other times of the year, but that seems to be when we have a reasonable chance of going down and getting 3-6 over the course of a 3-tank dive trip. Conventional wisdom is that the hammerheads are there to feed on the mass blacktip shark migration inshore. When spring rolls around it gets close to turtle season, which also brings in the tigers. Going a little farther offshore into 120-150 fsw you'll run into large numbers of bull sharks, and through February we typically still have the out-of-town lemon sharks (there are local residents year-round, but we have some identifiable ones that only turn up in winter).

A couple things to remember is that the dive conditions are going to be very different than the Bahamas; you're in 65-140 fsw (on the deep ledge you typically level out at 90-100 and don't go all the way to the bottom), it's drift diving/live boat drops in what can be a strong current (3-4 knots at the high end), and overall you're expected to be more self-reliant as a diver (these dives are one reason I started carrying a pony bottle). Richard has an excellent writeup on a trip he did last April here: Emerald Dive Charters Trip Report

The other note is that in Jupiter/West Palm the dive charter options are more limited - last year we had three SCUBA charters out baiting for sharks; Deep Obsession has since changed ownership and no longer does baited shark dives that I'm aware of. That leaves Emerald and Miss Jackie (the latter run as Calypso Dive Charters); between the two of them that's 20 seats. Baited dives for sharks is a very loaded topic in FL (it's illegal inside state waters, so the fun and games have to stay outside the 3-mile limit); a lot of charters in the Palm Beach and Martin County will try to see sharks without bait. Your mileage may vary on this; you should have no problems seeing lemon and reef sharks that way but tigers and hammerheads will likely be lottery odds. The other area that has been growing is baited surface snorkel trips; these are actually as or more expensive than the SCUBA charters but the upside is sold as having no "bottom time" limits.

I think he was referencing the Jupiter Lemons. Remember when everyone came to see the lemons? Now it's all shark feed and bulls and tigers.

Rumor has it that a certain 100 foot liveaboard is making plans to do shark diving on the east coast....

 

[HalcyonDaze]

I think he was referencing the Jupiter Lemons. Remember when everyone came to see the lemons? Now it's all shark feed and bulls and tigers.

Rumor has it that a certain 100 foot liveaboard is making plans to do shark diving on the east coast....

As far as I'm aware, the lemon shark "migration" is a long, long way from what it was about 15 years ago when folks started reporting it. Back then the lemons would be found in big groups, lying on the bottom and facing into the current.

http://www.xray-mag.com/sites/default/files/lemon_sharks_03.jpg

What's happened since then seems to depend on who you talk to; three of the more common hypotheses I hear batted about are that dive charter pressure scattered them, they got hit hard by fishermen, or water conditions changed and the aggregation moved elsewhere. Whatever the case, the best day I've had with bait was maybe 12-20 lemons - about a quarter of what people were reporting coming across 15 years ago. In the winter of 2006 I saw maybe a dozen around Governor's Riverwalk off Palm Beach; seven years later when I moved back to FL I spent a fruitless season looking for them. The following year was when I started doing the baited dives.