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Bimini Bahamas

Big Game Fishing, the Fountain of Youth, and Hemingway

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The first time we sailed into Bimini Bahamas, I was mesmerized by the color of the deep, blue ocean surrounding the island. It was actually indigo. The richest, violet blue I have ever seen! And even more amazing than the color, was the clarity.

I could see the white, sandy ocean floor eighty feet below the hull of our boat! As we motored into the harbor, the depth leveled off to about twenty feet and became a lighter, sea glass green.

There are actually two Bimini Bahamas islands, North and South. The island to the North is where was one of Hemingway’s favorite places to fish, write, and find inspiration. The main settlement is called Alice Town and the main road is called The King’s Highway. The Compleat Angler Hotel and Lounge was Hemingway’s hangout in the 1930’s. It was a terrible tragedy when it burned down recently in January 2006. The island lost a treasured landmark, priceless Hemingway memorabilia, and well loved owner Julian Brown in the fire.

Even though the Compleat Angler is no more, the island retains its classic feel and continues to lure in adventurous saltwater fishermen. Over a dozen big game fishing tournaments are held hereeach year. It is an easy destination for Florida fishermen since it is only 40 miles away.

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There is also a little bit of mystery surrounding the island. The Bimini Road is a large, unexplainable, underwater rock formation. It was discovered three fathoms deep in the late 1960’s. There is much controversy surrounding this aquatic anomaly. Some say it is part of the lost, underwater city of Atlantis!

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Atlantis isn’t the only unsolved mystery of Bimini Bahamas. The famous explorer, Juan Ponce de Leon included references to this place in his search for the fountain of youth. It was rumored to exist among the shallow pools of South Bimini. There is even a plaque commemorating the Fountain of Youth above a fresh water well on the road leading to the airport. I think it is a decoy though. I’ll tell you why and you can decide for yourself.

The legend of the Fountain of Youth says that the fountain lies hidden in a lethal labyrinth deep under a City of Gold. On the north island, there is a mangrove swamp that spans four miles. Found within the salt water of the swamp is “The Healing Hole”, a pool that lies at the end of a network of winding tunnels that stretch underground. On an outgoing tide, these channels pump cool, mineral-laden fresh water into the pool. Natural lithium and sulfur are two of the minerals said to be contained in these waters, which seem to exhibit curative properties, as people express a sense of mental and physical rejuvenation after their visit. I think that’s the real fountain of youth. So, the next question is, where’s that city of gold?

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One of the most interesting places I’ve ever visited is the Bimini Biological Field Station Sharklab on the south island. Owned and operated by Dr. Samuel H. Gruber, the Sharklab does some amazing shark research and ocean conservation work. You can visit the Sharklab while you’re and have one of the resident biologists give you a tour. We had a great time and learned so much about the local wildlife. My favorite was the beautiful Bimini Boa and the baby lemon sharks.

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It goes without saying that if the fishing is so great in these waters and the Sharklab finds plenty of sharks to study then there is a healthy ocean habitat to explore through scuba and snorkeling. Bimini Bahamas has some stunning coral gardens and lots of shipwrecks that attract a multitude of tropical fish and other marine life. The 270 foot partially submerged S.S. Sapona, a rum runner that ran aground during a hurricane in 1929 is a really popular spot for snorkeling.

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The Bimini Bahamas beaches here are small, but beautiful. If you’ve had enough fishing, diving, and snorkeling, you can relax on the sand under the sun to your heart’s content.

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