Learn About Bahamas Wildlife

WELCOME

WHY LONG ISLAND?

SLEEP

PLAY

OWN

MORE BAHAMAS...

WHO AM I?

Bahamas Wildlife Ranges From Playful Bottlenose Dolphin to Reclusive Wild Boar...

Bahamas Wildlife can be split into two catagories: Land and Sea. In the Bahamian Sea, there is an adunbance of life. And one of the coolest things about the Bahamas is that you don't need to dive down deep to see it. In fact, a simple walk in a tidal pool will reveal crabs, snails, urchins, starfish, and more. A walk on the beach is sure to bring rewards. We've found the most beautiful shells in the Bahamas, but it is all part of the cycle of life that makes these islands so magical so it is important not to take anything... except photos.

An easy snorkel allows you to view coral reefs, colorful reef fish, sting rays, nurse sharks, and more. If you go scuba diving, you are likely to see reef sharks, spotted eagle rays, grouper, snapper, Caribbean lobster, large gardens of sea fans, sea turtles, and even Atlantic spotted and Bottlenose dolphin!

We love to snorkel, freedive, and scuba dive. In 2005, we sailed to the US Virgin Islands and continued to sail all around and down the island chain in the Eastern Caribbean. We were never able to find an underwater experience there that compared with any of our diving experiences in the Bahamas. We'd been spoiled by the Bahamas' clear water, accessible coral reefs, and prolific undersea wildlife.

Most of the Caribbean has pretty deep water because most of the islands are actually volcanoes rising up from the seafloor. Because the islands themselves are mountains, the water is deep all around them. This is really cool, especially for boats that need a lot of deep water to navigate. The Bahamas islands are limestone and the water all around them is very shallow, getting deeper gradually. This accounts for the easy access to beautiful snorkling and also for the brilliant shades of blue and green that characterize the Bahamian Sea. You can see these shades clearly in the photo of me above. Shallow water is clear, sea glass green, or ice blue. Deeper water goes from light turquoise to deep indigo. It is so unbelievably gorgeous!

The shallow waters of the Bahamas also ensure that there are several wrecks to dive on. And everybody know that fish love wrecks!

Here is a plane wreck that is really fun to snorkel and freedive on. There are tons of fish and corals living in, on, and around this wreck. It is near Norman's Cay in the Exumas.

If you go looking for Bahamas wildlife, you can be sure to find it, especially in the ocean! Here is a baby octupus we found in a sponge colony.

And look at this Queen Helmet Conch we found in a tidal pool. They are carnivores and poisonous to eat, but beautiful to look at.

Here you can see how clear the water is, even several feet deep. I am looking at a baby lemon shark. You don't even have to go swimming to see such amazing animals in the Bahamas!

What about Bahamas Wildlife on land? Well, there are wild pigs... not native of course. The Spanish Explorers like Columbus brought them to the islands, but they have since gone feral and now run wild in the pine forests of the islands. These feral pigs are perhaps not so wild. They live near Staniel Cay in the Exumas. They have learned to beg humans for food and they actually swim quite well...

They're really quite friendly...

There are also Hutias, which are an endangered member of the rodent family and look like small beavers minus the tail and large teeth. There are feral cats, goats, and horses, both brought by man. There are also Bahamian land crabs, which are a local delicacy. Lizards abound and there are rock iguanas on some of the islands. They are a protected species because they are endangered. We like them a lot. Here is Brian making friends with one...

And here I am standing back and admiring this guy...

There are no poisonous snakes in the Bahamas, just wonderful little snakes that help keep down the rodent population, like this Bahamian Boa...

There are so many amazing birds in the Bahamas! A birdwatcher's dream come true! There is even a native, though endangered, Bahamian parrot. And the West Indian Whistling Duck, also endangered, you must hear to believe. Here is a majestic Osprey or Fish Hawk with his prey clutched in his talons...

Our favorite Bahamas Wildlife is probably the sharks, they're so beautiful and it's always exciting when they're around...

This one likes the same beer as we do...

What is this wild animal? It's just our traveling cat, Jack Dreadbelly, going wild on coconuts in the cockpit of our sailboat.

Return From Bahamas Wildlife To Bahamas Facts

Return From Bahamas Wildlife To Bahamatopia Travel Guide Home