A Boaters Guide to Bimini

Getting to Bimini
Returning Home
Dive Sites in Bimini

Bimini Island in the Bahamas is only 50 to 60 miles off South Florida's shore. This is world class diving. The corals are extremely healthy. The walls offer vertical drops of 1000's of feet. This is incredible stuff.

Getting to Bimini

Recognizing how valuable tourism is to the islands' economy, the government of the Bahamas extends the welcome mat to Florida boaters each year. But they also make you pay for the privilege of using their waters.

This year be prepared to ante up if you're running to Bimini aboard your own boat. The requisite cruising permit now costs $150 for boats up to 35 feet, and $300 for boats larger. If you have more than four people aboard-including the captain-there's another $15 per head, covering Bahamas departure taxes. Bring cash. In fact, brings lots of cash for Bimini trips. Credit card and ATM services are spotty and those that accept credit cards usually charge a hefty surcharge.

Largely in response to negative feedback over the permit hike, in January 04 the Bahamas government announced that you can travel twice to the islands within 90 days on the same permit. More changes in the fee structure may be forthcoming. Otherwise, the procedures for obtaining permission to travel throughout this sovereign nation remain unchanged for 2005. Note, too, that penalties for violations are likely to be as stiff as ever-including huge fines and possible jail time. Obey the law and have a good time.

It's still required that every person aboard have either a passport, or a birth certificate (original or certified) and official photo I.D. (drivers' license).

Before entering any Bahamas harbor, raise the yellow quarantine flag up an outrigger or fishing rod. Have a Bahamas courtesy flag standing by to hoist upon clearance. You can get the both flags at any local marine store.

If you've made arrangements to stay at a hotel, tie up to the dock, contact the dockmaster and ask for Customs and Immigration forms. If you aren't planning to overnight in a hotel, you can still generally receive permission to temporarily moor at an available hotel dock (Weeches or Bluewater on North Bimini). Tipping the dockmaster is customary.

If you'd like to download the forms to prepare in advance, visit www.bahamas.com.

The captain is the only one who may go ashore to deliver the forms and show boat registration and passports to the Customs and Immigration offices. Offices are usually open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If you have a gun on your boat to fend off pirates (more imagined than real these days), keep it there, locked away at all times per local law. On the Customs documents you must report the serial number and manufacturer of the firearm, plus the exact number of rounds. This is another one of those rules that officials take very seriously.

Return your immigration cards to the Immigration office on the last island you visit before departing for home. Keep your cruising permit.

Returning home

Big boats (over 30 feet) must possess a U.S. Customs decal, which you can purchase for $25 annually at www.cbp.gov or by calling (317) 298-1245. U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP), under the Dept. of Homeland Security, issues these decals, and is also the agency you'll need to contact as soon as you return to homeport-on any size boat. It's worth getting one for a smaller boat too. You will find your return home a bit easier.

Back in the U.S., before anyone gets off the boat, the captain must call the Small Boat Reporting Hotline at 1-800-432-1216 to report arrival. You'll then be instructed to drive (perhaps by car) your crew to the closest CBP office for immigration clearance. Depending on where you are, this can be something of a hassle, but for now we'll have to accept it as part of the trip.

Dive sites in Bimini

The following list is published so that boaters can get the most out of the trip. Many of these sites have mooring buoys which are maintained by several of the commercial operations on Bimini. They have first dibs on the usage of those buoys. If you are on a buoy and a dive operator asks you to leave, please do. There is NO FISHING FROM THE BUOYS.

Because storms and boats can remove buoys, this list is not always current. Please do not anchor on the sites. Drift the sight if you are set on diving it. Bimini diving is the best of the best. Enjoy!