Beaches & Watersports

Watersports on Nassau / Paradise Island

By Greg Johnston

Landlubbing is only half of the "no experience necessary" formula for seeing all that Nassau / Paradise Island has to offer. The island’s unique position perched on the deep crevice of the Tongue of the Ocean and back dropped by the gorgeous shallows of the Great Bahama Bank create the idyllic conditions for some big thrills adventure. That is to say – it's time to make a splash.

Choose from a variety of watersports such as sailing, windsurfing, parasailing, water skiing and snorkeling. If you prefer to stay dry while enjoying the water, nothing beats the experience of slicing through the waves on a chartered cruise aboard any of the day-sail boats or evening sunset cruises.

You can explore the many cays scattered along Paradise Island, dive right into a magnificent undersea world or enjoy the thrill of big-game fishing. Here's a sampling of some fun things to do.

Spend a full day at Dolphin Encounters at Blue Lagoon Island. It's an up-close, in-your-face experience with some of the most intelligent creatures on the planet. It's a great place to try snorkeling, or just relax on any of the beachfront lounge chairs. The ferry leaves from Paradise Island several times daily.

At Hartley’s Undersea Walk, spend a fun afternoon becoming that undersea explorer you've always wanted to be. A waterproof helmet fits snugly over your head and you walk along the ocean floor.

Stuart Cove’s SUB Bahamas (Submersible Undersea Bubble) is a half-day adventure that is sure to test your aquanaut skills. It's easy, extremely safe and really fun and you don't need any scuba or snorkeling experience. Some quick familiarization training and you'll be cruising around the reefs at a depth of 15 feet alongside colorful schools of fish in the seahorse-shaped SUB.

Stuart Cove’s Snorkel Bahamas offers a half-day water experience on the shallow reefs at Goulding Cay or some of the James Bond underwater movie sets. It's like a trip down memory lane, or reef, for that matter. More than a dozen shipwrecks are found scattered along the reef line, most ideal for snorkeling – like on the Carib Breeze, where its mast rises to just below the surface.

Scuba diving here ranks with the best in the world. Stuart Cove's Dive Bahamas has morning and afternoon dive charters that will take you along a beautiful coral reef, a thrill that is sure to keep you looking over your shoulder for big animals such as turtles and stingrays. A second dive will follow on a shallower reef or wreck site.

The western end of Nassau/Paradise Island provides the most pristine and protected waters, hence the reefs and wrecks are prolific with undersea life. The sheer size of these wrecks is amazing to see. Whether you are an experienced diver, a mere novice or considering an introduction to scuba diving, you would be hard pressed to find a friendlier destination.

Try a powerboat adventure to one of the Out Islands for the day. Exuma Powerboat Adventures runs trips daily to the Exuma Cays, where you can feed iguanas, take a nature walk and snorkel in the Exumas' Land and Sea Park. Or head to Saddleback Cay, also in the Exumas, with Island World Adventures. The day trip includes a guided hike, lunch and soft drinks, beer and rum punch.