I have a 25' Parker and we are thinking about taking it across to the Bahamas for a week of diving. I know that is a popular trip many folks make every year. Anybody have any advice as to where to port, accommodations, dive spots etc? How is crossing the gulf stream? I routinely make 120 mile round trip dive trips in the gulf and have battled some big seas, so I am not a novice boater but I do want to know what I am getting into.
Anybody made the trip to the Bahamas on a <25' boat?
- Thread starter divinnole
- Start date
I know a lot of folks do it on smaller vessels so I am not worried about the boat. we are there. I would like to find someone who has made the trip to get their opinion of best ports and accommodations. Where are the best reef areas etc....
Ton of youtube videos, including the guys who made the one above, that highlight points of interest.
My favorite spot is
My favorite spot is
I have a friend who routinely does it in the summer. This past yr one of his engines gave out so he had to slow down and had coast guard, customs, and martin co sherrifs all stop or board his boat at different times coming back. Supposedly his speed on the radars mimicked what drug traffickers use when coming close to us waters.
Jets skis???
I don't always take a small vessel to the Bahamas; but when I do, I go like this.
Just be prepared to change your plans. The gulf stream can change really quickly, and you may have to extend your stay while waiting for passable conditions. Getting to Grand Bahama from Ft Lauderdale or WPB is probably the easiest. There are also plenty of dives spots within a day's trip. Tiger Beach isn't far, but I'd recommend a guide for something like that.
To the OP, probably out of your way, but I've always heard good things about Honeymoon Harbour and Gun Cay, and everybody hits up the Sapona shipwreck if possible.
Also, Cheeseburger Party on Fiddle Cay is fun but you just missed it.
You may even bump into this guy...
I was expecting a more Branson-esque video or some naked/topless wave runner races. There into that kinda thing down there. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
"Sometimes we’ll go off island for the rest of the day. About 18 miles away there’s a lovely island called Anagarda and we kitesurf over there. I learnt to kitesurf about eight years ago when the sport was still slightly hairy because they hadn’t designed kites that were easy to control. Once, a delightful photographer turned up on the island with an even more delightful girlfriend and asked if I would take her kitesurfing on my back. I said I would, and then he asked if I minded if she didn’t have any clothes on. Silly question." - Richard Branson
Went to a bachelor party down there a few years ago, one of the guys owned the hotel, and we ate conch salad, cracked conch and fried lobster the whole time we were there. Tough to find a good conch salad here, but occasionally you do.
Also, Cheeseburger Party on Fiddle Cay is fun but you just missed it.
You may even bump into this guy...
I was expecting a more Branson-esque video or some naked/topless wave runner races. There into that kinda thing down there. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
"Sometimes we’ll go off island for the rest of the day. About 18 miles away there’s a lovely island called Anagarda and we kitesurf over there. I learnt to kitesurf about eight years ago when the sport was still slightly hairy because they hadn’t designed kites that were easy to control. Once, a delightful photographer turned up on the island with an even more delightful girlfriend and asked if I would take her kitesurfing on my back. I said I would, and then he asked if I minded if she didn’t have any clothes on. Silly question." - Richard Branson
Went to a bachelor party down there a few years ago, one of the guys owned the hotel, and we ate conch salad, cracked conch and fried lobster the whole time we were there. Tough to find a good conch salad here, but occasionally you do.
Last edited:
Make sure you are locked and loaded. Had multiple friends have run ins with pirates coming across. Most I know will only travel in groups anymore.
We will have 3 boats making the trip. I know all of us (boat owners) carry guns anytime we go offshore, so depending on the laws we will be armed on the trip.
I take my 26' boat to the Bahamas all the time. Might not be the same though because it rides in the port of my 200' yacht.
I thought I read one time that Bahamians didn't want armed boaters in their waters. What happens if they stop and board you when you have guns on board?
Two in the chest and one in the head for each of 'em.
Then pour gasoline all over their boat, light a match, drive off with a stiff drink in hand.
http://barometerbob.org/
http://www.bluemarlincove.com/gallery_pictures.html#prettyPhoto
https://www.thebiminisands.com/
Some good crossing info on Barometer Bob web site. The Gulf Stream can be rough with any North component to the wind, builds waves against the flow of the Stream. With light winds and South component it can be smooth as a bathtub.
Ft Lauderdale to Bimini about a 45 mile crossing. Palm Beach to West End about 55 miles.
Check your insurance for coverage in the Bahamas. Most companies cover 75miles as coastal waters. Some will not cover single engine craft.
During the summer in good weather there are tons of boats making the crossing.
Florida Sportsman forums has good information and you can seek others making the crossing when you are going.
http://www.floridasportsman.com/region/southeast/
http://www.bluemarlincove.com/gallery_pictures.html#prettyPhoto
https://www.thebiminisands.com/
Some good crossing info on Barometer Bob web site. The Gulf Stream can be rough with any North component to the wind, builds waves against the flow of the Stream. With light winds and South component it can be smooth as a bathtub.
Ft Lauderdale to Bimini about a 45 mile crossing. Palm Beach to West End about 55 miles.
Check your insurance for coverage in the Bahamas. Most companies cover 75miles as coastal waters. Some will not cover single engine craft.
During the summer in good weather there are tons of boats making the crossing.
Florida Sportsman forums has good information and you can seek others making the crossing when you are going.
http://www.floridasportsman.com/region/southeast/
No thanks for any raw food being slapped around barehanded by a person that undoubtedly just released a chocolate hostage. Should be a law to wear gloves when handling and serving raw food.
The lime juice should disable any trace fecal matter, so all is good. I'd be more than willing to give that conch salad a try.
It's interesting reading this thread and thinking about the people I know who live in the Bahamas (wife's uncle and family lives in Marsh Harbor). I realized not one takes their own boat back to the US. They all fly or take a freighter. Wonder why?
