The Exumas have a secret weapon: visibility. With 100+ foot clarity on most days, snorkeling here feels more like flying than swimming. But it's not just about the water quality—it's about what lives in it and where you can access it. These seven spots range from world-famous to locals-only, and all deliver experiences you won't find anywhere else.
1. Thunderball Grotto
What it is: A limestone cave system with underwater swim-throughs, open-air chambers, and shafts of light that pierce through ceiling openings at midday. If you've seen Thunderball or Splash, you've seen this grotto—it's been featured in both films.
What you'll see: Massive schools of snapper, grunts, and sergeant majors. The fish are so used to snorkelers that they swim within inches of your mask. Inside the caves, light plays off the white sand bottom, creating an ethereal blue glow. At high tide, you can surface inside the main chamber—a cathedral of rock with skylights and the sound of water echoing off walls.
Best time: Midday (10 AM - 2 PM) when sunlight beams directly through the ceiling openings. Arrive early or late to avoid day-tripper crowds from Nassau.
Charter advantage: Day boats rush through in 30 minutes. With your own yacht anchored nearby, you can snorkel it twice—once mid-morning, again at a different tide when the cave chambers reveal new passages.
2. Compass Cay – Nurse Shark Encounter
What it is: The marina at Compass Cay hosts a resident population of nurse sharks that have become habituated to humans. You can swim among them in chest-deep water.
What you'll see: Dozens of nurse sharks ranging from 3 to 6 feet long, gliding silently along the sandy bottom. They're docile and curious—swimming around you, occasionally brushing past. It's unnerving for the first 30 seconds, then becomes one of the most surreal wildlife encounters you'll have. The water clarity makes it feel like an aquarium.
Best time: Early morning before day boats arrive. The sharks are more active and the marina is quieter.
Important note: These are nurse sharks, not aggressive species. They don't have sharp teeth and pose no danger to swimmers. That said, don't touch them—it stresses the animals and removes their protective slime layer.
3. Pipe Creek – The Aquarium
What it is: A shallow channel between Pipe Cay and Compass Cay where tidal flow creates a natural aquarium. Crystal-clear water (often 120+ feet visibility), white sand bottom, and abundant marine life in a protected setting.
What you'll see: Southern stingrays burying themselves in sand. Schools of yellowtail snapper following your fins. Queen conchs slowly crawling across the bottom. Occasional sea turtles cruising through on their way to feeding grounds. The depth rarely exceeds 10 feet, making it perfect for novice snorkelers or kids.
Best time: Slack tide (when the current pauses between incoming and outgoing) for easiest swimming. Your captain will time it perfectly.
Charter advantage: Pipe Creek is large enough that you can anchor away from other boats and have a section entirely to yourself. Most day-trippers stick to one known spot, while locals know a dozen hidden channels.
4. Warderick Wells – Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park
What it is: A no-fishing, no-take marine reserve protecting 176 square miles of pristine reef systems. The result: healthier corals and dramatically more fish than anywhere outside the park boundaries.
What you'll see: Everything. Schools of blue tang. Nassau groupers the size of coolers. Spotted eagle rays gliding over the reef. Hawksbill turtles munching on sponges. The coral coverage is some of the best in the Bahamas—healthy, colorful, and teeming with life at every depth from 5 to 60 feet.
Best time: Morning before winds pick up (afternoon breezes can reduce visibility slightly). Multiple reef systems mean you can snorkel different spots over several days.
Charter advantage: The park requires a mooring fee ($60-$150 depending on duration), which deters day-trippers. Overnight stays give you access to the reefs at sunrise and sunset—the best times for wildlife activity.
5. Allan's Cay – Swimming with Iguanas
What it is: A small island inhabited by Exuma rock iguanas—a species found nowhere else on Earth. Snorkeling here is less about underwater life and more about the bizarre experience of swimming to shore and being greeted by dozens of prehistoric-looking reptiles.
What you'll see: Underwater: standard reef fish, sea grass beds, occasional rays. Above water: 50+ iguanas ranging from juveniles to massive 4-foot adults. They're not aggressive, but they are bold—walking right up to you expecting food (which you can provide, following guidelines).
Best time: Late afternoon when iguanas are most active and temperatures are cooler for them.
Fun fact: These iguanas were nearly extinct 30 years ago. Conservation efforts brought the population back, and now they're a quirky highlight of any Exumas trip. It's snorkeling + wildlife encounter in one stop.
6. The Blue Holes
What it is: Underwater sinkholes formed during the last ice age when sea levels were lower. They appear as perfectly circular dark blue spots surrounded by turquoise shallows—dramatic from above, mysterious from below.
What you'll see: The "halocline"—a visible boundary layer where freshwater from underground caves meets saltwater. It looks like an underwater oil slick, distorting everything below it. The walls of the blue hole are typically lined with sponges, corals, and fish that thrive in the unique environment. Depths range from 20 feet at the edge to 100+ feet in the center.
Best time: Calm, sunny days when you can see the full depth of the hole. Visibility is always good, but dramatic lighting makes it otherworldly.
Skill level: Intermediate. The depth and lack of reference points (just open water below you) can be unnerving for new snorkelers. If you're comfortable in open water, it's an unforgettable experience.
7. The Sunken Plane at Staniel Cay
What it is: A twin-engine drug smuggling plane that crashed in the 1980s and now rests in 10 feet of crystal-clear water. It's become one of the most photographed snorkel sites in the Bahamas.
What you'll see: The plane itself—remarkably intact, wings spread, propellers visible, covered in algae and coral growth. Barracuda often hover near the fuselage. Angelfish, sergeant majors, and snappers dart in and out of the cockpit. It's eerie and beautiful.
Best time: Midday for best light penetration and photos. The plane sits on a white sand bottom, so afternoon sun illuminates it perfectly.
Freediving opportunity: At only 10 feet deep, this is an easy site for freediving practice. You can duck dive down, hold onto the wing, and get eye-level photos. It feels much deeper than it is due to the exceptional clarity.
Why Charter Access Matters
Here's what the resort brochures don't tell you: the best snorkeling in the Exumas is not accessible from shore. It's scattered across 100+ miles of islands and cays, most uninhabited. Day boat tours hit one or two spots. Staying on a yacht gives you access to all of them, on your schedule, without crowds.
Timing control: You can snorkel Thunderball Grotto at sunrise when you have it entirely to yourself, not during the midday crush. You can return to spots multiple times if you loved them.
Gear quality: Charter boats carry properly fitted masks, fins, and snorkels—not the rental-quality gear that leaks and chafes. If you want prescription masks, wetsuits, or underwater cameras, they can be arranged in advance.
Local knowledge: Your captain knows which reefs are best on north winds vs. south winds, where to find turtles in different seasons, and which blue holes are calm enough for beginners. That expertise turns good snorkeling into unforgettable snorkeling.
Essential Tips for Exumas Snorkeling
1. Wear a rashguard or sunscreen. You'll be in shallow water for hours. The Bahamas sun is intense, and reflection off the water doubles exposure. Reef-safe sunscreen is required in marine parks.
2. Bring an underwater camera. Even a basic GoPro captures incredible footage in this clarity. Shots that look amazing to your eye translate directly to camera—no editing needed.
3. Snorkel in the morning. Winds typically pick up after 1 PM, creating chop that reduces visibility and makes swimming harder. Dawn and mid-morning offer glass-calm conditions.
4. Don't touch anything. Coral is fragile. Urchins hurt. Nurse sharks are harmless but shouldn't be handled. Look, photograph, enjoy—but let the reef remain pristine.
5. Tell your captain what you love. If you're obsessed with sea turtles, they know where to find them. Prefer calm, shallow snorkeling? They'll avoid the deep reef walls. Charter means customization.
The Exumas Advantage
You can snorkel beautiful reefs all over the Caribbean. But the Exumas offer something different: water so clear it feels artificial, encounters you can't have elsewhere (swimming pigs, nurse sharks, iguanas), and access to sites that remain pristine because they're genuinely remote.
These seven spots are a starting point. Your captain knows 20 more. The Exumas are an entire ecosystem of underwater experiences, and the only limit is how much time you have to explore.