Home to the Bahamian capital Nassau, NPI offers divers a taste of everything from fantastical wrecks and shark dives to classic coral reefs and syrupy sunsets.

1. James Bond Wrecks

With crystal-blue waters and striking sandy bottoms, it’s no wonder Nassau has drawn Hollywood’s discerning eye. Known collectively as the James Bond Wrecks, the 92-foot tug called the Tears of Allah (seen in the James Bond film Never Say Never Again’s tiger shark scene) and the Vulcan bomber wreck (a plane custom-built for Thunderball) can be dived together on a single tank.
stuartcove.com

2. Southwest Reef

Proof that you don’t have to go deep to go large in the Bahamas, this reef some 6 miles off Nassau’s southwest coast delivers an aquariumlike experience in just 15 feet of water. On the edge of the Great Bahama Bank, the reef’s nutrient-rich waters wave with colorful sea whips and fans. Peer into crevices to spot invertebrates among the kaleidoscope of butterflyfish, trumpetfish and other reef regulars. Don’t forget to keep an eye on the blue for cruising rays and whitetip reef sharks.

3. Goodfellow Farms

Lacking the lushness of, say, Jamaica, it’s hard to grow much of anything on the limestone islands of the Bahamas. So it’s all the more exciting to taste the Aquaponics greenhouse grown organic herbs and vegetables from Goodfellow Farms. Lunch is served daily in the farm’s rustic, inland setting.

4. Drinks at Compass Point Beach Resort

Leave the tourists to Atlantis and enjoy a far more local cocktail scene at colorful Compass Point Beach Resort, a short drive from downtown Nassau. It’s an ideal setting for raising a frosty Sands beer or the house favorite mojito while watching the sun go all golden at day’s end. compasspointbeachresort.com

5. Razorback Wall

Reached by a 20-minute boat ride off the island’s southern coast, the reef called Razorback rises up from the sand before tapering off into the blue abyss. Coral heads and tunnels are the dominant features on the wall’s inside edge, where thousands of reef fish congregate.

6. Shark Arena

If you do just one dive in Nassau, make it this toothy one. Graceful Caribbean sharks roller-coaster around you and veer in for closer looks during feeding dives at this sandy bottom site. Divers kneel in a semicircle in the sand to take in the spectacle. And while most sharks are in the 6-foot range, you might occasionally spot one pushing 8 feet long.

7. Ray of Hope

Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas sank the 200-foot-long Haitian freighter back in 2003. It landed upright, fully intact, and was soon on its way to becoming one of Nassau’s best dives — all in just 40 to 60 feet of water. In addition to having the possibility to penetrate the gangways and cabins, divers delight in the megafauna the wreck attracts.

8. Clifton Heritage Park

Stroll through the rambling ruins of a 19th-century plantation site. Locals know to follow the nature trails to a little-visited beach that has snorkeling near the shore.

9. Gourmet Conch Salad

For an authentic experience, head to the lone conch-salad stall on the roadside near Compass Point Beach Resort at the entrance to Gambier Village. At Dino’s Gourmet Conch Salad, the dish is spiked with tropical fruits such as mango and pineapple, and you can often see fishermen splitting open conch shells nearby.

10. Graycliff Hotel and Restaurant

There are many surprising things about Graycliff, a historic mansion turned hotel and restaurant built in 1740 by a bonafide pirate of the Caribbean. But the extensive wine cellar — with more than 250,000 bottles representing vintages from 15 countries — is particularly impressive.
graycliff.com

DIVERS GUIDE

Average water temp: Low 80s
What to wear: Skin or shorty
Average viz: 90 feet
When to go: Year-round
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