Cave diving · Central America & Caribbean
Cave diving in The Bahamas
The Bahamas is a low limestone archipelago riddled with blue holes: water-filled sinkholes and cave entrances, both inland and on the sea floor, that formed when sea level was far lower during ice ages. National Geographic's 2010 expedition report estimated more than 1,000 blue holes in the country, with under a fifth of them explored. This edition documents cave and blue-hole diving on Abaco, Grand Bahama, Andros and Long Island; the caves hold scientifically important fossils, archaeological remains and rare cave-adapted animals.
How access works
No single national permit system for recreational cave diving was found in the sources consulted; access depends on who controls each site. Caves inside national parks fall under the Bahamas National Trust, and Ben's Cave in Lucayan National Park is dived only with an authorised guide arranged in advance. Cave diving in the South Abaco Blue Holes Conservation Area on Abaco has been reported as guide-only, and Sawmill Sink needs a special permit because of its fossil and archaeological finds. Inland caves on private land need the landowner's permission, and scientific collecting requires a government research permit.
A general summary; each site page gives its own dated access information.
5
Cave systems
Dan's Cave System
Lucayan Caverns
Dean's Blue Hole
Sawmill Sink
Stargate Blue Hole
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Entrances and dive sites
| Site | Cave system | Type | Access | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dan's CaveSouth Abaco pine forest, Great Abaco Island | Dan's Cave System | Blue hole | Restricted access | |
| Ralph's CaveSouth Abaco pine forest, Great Abaco Island | Dan's Cave System | Blue hole | Restricted access | |
 |
Dean's Blue HoleClarence Town, Long Island | Dean's Blue Hole | Blue hole | Access status not verified |
 |
Ben's CaveLucayan National Park, south coast of Grand Bahama | Lucayan Caverns | Blue hole | Open to qualified divers, with conditions |
| Sawmill SinkSouth-central Great Abaco Island pine forest | Sawmill Sink | Blue hole | Restricted access | |
| Stargate Blue HoleThe Bluff area, South Andros | Stargate Blue Hole | Blue hole | Private: owner permission required |
4
Dive centres and guides
| Provider | Where | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Bahamas Underground | Marsh Harbour, Great Abaco Island | 2026-10-14 |
| Calabash Eco Adventures | Grand Bahama | 2026-10-14 |
| Cristina Zenato | Grand Bahama | 2026-10-14 |
| Small Hope Bay Lodge | Central Andros | 2026-10-14 |
A listing is not an endorsement.
Every fact on this page, with its source (5)
| Fact | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| National Geographic estimated that the Bahamas has more than 1,000 blue holes and that fewer than 20 percent had been explored.Estimate published August 2010. | Reported | [1] |
| Blue holes formed when the Bahama Banks were exposed during ice ages, when sea level was up to about 120 m lower than today. | Reported | [6] |
| Divers at Ben's Cave must be accompanied by an authorised dive instructor arranged before the dive date.Undated tourism-ministry listing, checked 2026-10-14. | Verified | [3] |
| All cave diving in the South Abaco Blue Holes Conservation Area was reported to be regulated and directly supervised by an approved guide, and any underwater activity at Sawmill Sink to require a special permit.Reported in 2019; no official rule text was found. | Reported | [4] |
| Brian Kakuk describes the South Abaco Blue Holes Conservation Area and Lucayan Caverns as strictly protected and requiring trained, legally employed guides; land caves need landowner permission, and scientific work needs government research permits.Interview published 2026-07-12. | Reported | [5] |
Verified: stated by an official or primary source we opened. Reported: from a secondary source only. Sources conflict: the note gives both versions. May be out of date: the newest source we found is old.
Written in our own words from the sources above. Report a correction