Spéléo-plongée · Amérique centrale et Caraïbes
La spéléo-plongée en 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.
Comment fonctionne l'accès
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.
Un résumé général ; chaque page de site fournit ses propres informations d'accès datées.
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Systèmes de grottes
Dan's Cave System
Lucayan Caverns
Dean's Blue Hole
Sawmill Sink
Stargate Blue Hole
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Entrées et sites de plongée
| Site | Système de grottes | Type | Accès | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dan's CaveSouth Abaco pine forest, Great Abaco Island | Dan's Cave System | Trou bleu | Accès restreint | |
| Ralph's CaveSouth Abaco pine forest, Great Abaco Island | Dan's Cave System | Trou bleu | Accès restreint | |
 |
Dean's Blue HoleClarence Town, Long Island | Dean's Blue Hole | Trou bleu | Statut d'accès non vérifié |
 |
Ben's CaveLucayan National Park, south coast of Grand Bahama | Lucayan Caverns | Trou bleu | Ouvert aux plongeurs qualifiés, sous conditions |
| Sawmill SinkSouth-central Great Abaco Island pine forest | Sawmill Sink | Trou bleu | Accès restreint | |
| Stargate Blue HoleThe Bluff area, South Andros | Stargate Blue Hole | Trou bleu | Privé : autorisation du propriétaire requise |
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Centres de plongée et guides
| Prestataire | Où | Vérifié |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Une mention n'est pas une recommandation.
Chaque information de cette page, avec sa source (5)
| Information | Statut | 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. | Signalé | [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. | Signalé | [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. | Vérifié | [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. | Signalé | [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. | Signalé | [5] |
Vérifié : indiqué par une source officielle ou primaire que nous avons consultée. Signalé : issu d'une source secondaire uniquement. Sources contradictoires : la note présente les deux versions. Peut être obsolète : la source la plus récente que nous avons trouvée est ancienne.
Rédigé dans nos propres mots à partir des sources ci-dessus. Signaler une correction