Nassau Sealife Activities

Want to know what maritime activities you can enjoy during your visit to the capital of the Bahamas, Nassau? Read on!

Ana Caballero

Ana Caballero

10 min read

Nassau Sealife Activities

Cruises in Nassau | Denis Santana

Nassau is a coastal city belonging to the Bahamas and, therefore, surrounded by the waters of the Caribbean Sea. Because of its geographical location, it's no surprise that during your stay you'll find a wide range of marine activities.

For example, among the best things to do in Nassau that incorporate marine activities is a visit to Junkanoo Beach for snorkelling, kayaking, surfing and boating. There's also the Love Beach coral reef snorkelling experience , the Cabbage Beach jet ski tour , interacting with swimming pigs at Exuma, among others.

1. Visit Junkanoo Beach in Nassau and enjoy a wide range of marine activities

Junkanoo Beach| ©Erin Young
Junkanoo Beach| ©Erin Young

If you want to enjoy a wide range of marine activities during your stay in Nassau, then you should visit Junkanoo Beach. This is a very popular destination, frequently incorporated into the itinerary of the best Nassau tours, due to its picturesque white sandy landscape and turquoise blue waters.

This small beach is located very close to the Cruise Port, so it's easily accessible by car or on foot. You can spend the whole day here without getting bored, whether you choose to relax on the sand, swim or do some sports.

For example, some of the marine activities you can enjoy at Junkanoo Beach include the following:

  • Snorkelling to discover the local marine life, made up of tropical fish and beautiful corals.
  • Take a boat trip, which allows you to see some areas of interest and discover the nearby reefs.
  • Take a kayak to explore this coastal region at your own pace.
  • Surfing, taking advantage of the gentle waves of this beach.

In addition, during this marine activities excursion at Junkanoo Beach in Nassau, you will have the opportunity to play some beach sports on the sand, such as volleyball and football. You can also sample the Caribbean food on offer at the beach restaurants.

Useful information

  • Price: the average price of the activity is around €39 per person.
  • Duration: approximately seven hours.

Book a marine activity tour on Junkanoo Beach

2. Snorkel the coral reef at Love Beach in Nassau

Snorkel Day| ©ollie harridge
Snorkel Day| ©ollie harridge

Visiting Love Beach and snorkelling on its coral reef is another option to add to your list of marine activities in Nassau. You'll have a beautiful natural area, away from the hustle and bustle of the city and with calm waters to explore.

From the first moment you'll be amazed by the contrast between the dense white sand and the crystal clear waters. In addition, there are the coastal rocks, which protect the beach from the strong waves of the sea. Undoubtedly, a calm and romantic atmosphere, which is ideal for you to relax and take pictures.

You can snorkel in the natural pools with the shallow water that this place has. Once underwater, you will have the opportunity to explore the coral reef that covers part of this beach, where you will find tropical fish, some sea turtles, moray eels, sea urchins and devil fish.

The beach is easily accessible. It's about a 20-minute drive from the city centre and approximately six minutes from Nassau's Lynden Pindling International Airport. In fact, if you decide to rent a buggy in Nassau, you could incorporate this destination into your route.

Useful information

  • Price: when accessing the beach you will have to pass through the Nirvana Beach Bar and pay approximately 5€ per person.
  • Duration: As this is an open-air activity, you will be able to stay on the beach all day.

Rent a buggy in Nassau

3. Go to Cable Beach in Nassau and try some motorised sports

Jetsurf| ©Liborio58
Jetsurf| ©Liborio58

Motorsports enthusiasts will find Cable Beach a must-see destination. If this is your case, then you'll want to visit the beach and embark on an unforgettable adventure exploring the waters in an innovative way.

This beach of approximately four kilometres of soft sand, shallow blue water and small waves is about a 20-minute drive from downtown Nassau. It's lively, picturesque and busy.

Some of the motorised water sports you can enjoy at Cable Beach include the following:

  • Jetsurfing, these boards incorporate a jet propulsion system, allowing you to enjoy a high performance ride on the waves (at least 20 mph).
  • Diving with an underwater jet ski, with which you can dive at high speed and without any effort, reaching a depth of up to 40 metres.
  • Aride on a jet ski or aqua kart to explore the surface of the water.

At the end of this motorised adventure, you can continue with your itinerary. Perhaps take a guided tour of downtown Nassau to discover this charming capital city, or return to your hotel to connect with the Nassau airport transfer service, should this be the end of your trip.

Useful information

  • Price: entrance to the beach is free, but for the sports you will have to pay approximately 66€ per person.
  • Duration: about four hours. It all depends on the number of sports you want to do.

Book a guided tour of Nassau

4. Discover the marine wildlife that is home to Blue Lagoon Island in Nassau

Blue Lagoon| ©Dolphin Encounters
Blue Lagoon| ©Dolphin Encounters

Blue Lagoon Island is an ideal place to have fun and relax for a whole day. These turquoise blue waters are home to incredible marine wildlife, which you can easily discover while doing some water activities.

You will meet your tour guide at the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal, where you will board a boat and sail to Blue Lagoon Island. During this trip, you'll have the opportunity to take in the scenic seascape.

Upon arrival at your destination, the real adventure begins. You will have free time to explore the area in a kayak or water bike. You can also take advantage of the shallow water to snorkel and appreciate the wildlife (tropical fish, turtles, rays and more).

Apart from the marine activities, you have the option to play volleyball and ping-pong in the assigned areas or just lie in a hammock to relax. If you have previously booked a Segway tour of the Blue Lagoon in Nassau, you can also take an unforgettable ride and learn about the history of the place.

Useful information

  • Price: the Blue Lagoon Island tour costs approximately €94 per person.
  • Duration: six to eight hours.

5. Take a stroll along the west coast of Nassau and discover Clifton Heritage National Park

Clifton Heritage National Park sign| ©Valérie Lévesque-Beaudin
Clifton Heritage National Park sign| ©Valérie Lévesque-Beaudin

At Clifton Heritage National Park, located on the west coast of Nassau, you'll find a tranquil natural area with crystal-clear waters for snorkelling. You'll also enjoy an amazing display of underwater art when you dive.

When you arrive at the park and start your walk to the water, your first encounter will be with a sculpture of the face of a Lucayan (the island's first inhabitants), sticking out of the sand. There, you will have the opportunity to take some pictures.

You will then be able to enter the water, swim a few metres and start your snorkelling adventure through the coral reefs of the region. You will also discover some of the sculptures submerged by the British sculptor Jason DeCaires Taylor.

For example, you will see:

  • The Virtuous Man, with a height of about 2.5 metres.
  • Ocean Atlas; this is a girl approximately five metres high and weighs 60,000 kilos.

To get to the park you only have to drive about 35 minutes from the centre. This is a quiet place that you can visit on your own. You also have the option of hiring one of the Nassau quad tours, jeep tours or van tours that incorporate this destination among their maritime activities.

Useful information

  • Price: General admission costs around €15 per person. However, if you hire a park guide there are other prices.
  • Duration: If you go on your own, the experience can last as long as you wish. Meanwhile, the park tours last approximately four hours.

Book a quad bike tour of Nassau

6. Experience snorkelling in the Sea Garden Conservation Area in Nassau

Boat ride| ©R'lyeh Imaging
Boat ride| ©R'lyeh Imaging

The coastal city of Nassau has many maritime activities to offer, one of them being a snorkelling experience in the Sea Garden Conservation Area. You'll get to explore a coral reef with many forms of life that will surprise you.

The adventure usually begins at the city's harbour, where the best boat tours of Nassau depart daily. There, you will board a boat and sail quickly to this conservation area.

When you reach this coral reef system protected by a cove, you will dive with a specialised guide. But first, he will teach you basic snorkelling techniques to avoid any inconvenience.

During the dive, you will be amazed by the crystal clear blue waters of this magical place. In addition, you will have the opportunity to see up close a number of marine plants, tropical fish, marine coral, at least a couple of turtles and much more.

After this experience you will return to the boat and then to the port to continue with the activities on your itinerary. For example, you could take a five-minute walk along Woodes Rodgers Walk to the Straw Market to buy some souvenirs or visit the nearby bars and restaurants for a culinary tour of Nassau.

Useful information

  • Price: the approximate value of the activity is €117 per person.
  • Duration: approximately a couple of hours.

Book a gastronomic tour of Nassau

7. Rent a jet ski and cruise the crystal clear waters of Cabbage Beach

Cabbage Beach| ©Aaron Headly
Cabbage Beach| ©Aaron Headly

Perhaps your itinerary is a little too tight for one of the day trips and excursions to Nassau with marine activities. If that's the case, but you don't want to miss out on the water sports of this seaside town, then Cabbage Beach is the place to visit .

You can rent a jet ski with a guide and shuttle service to the beach. This way, you'll only need to connect with the outfitter in downtown Nassau or at the cruise port for a 15-20 minute ride to Cabbage Beach.

When you arrive at this beach of crystal-clear water and white sand, a certified guide will show you how to ride a jet ski. You'll cruise along Nassau's north shore at your own pace, taking in the sky, the sea and the resorts that line this mile-long beach.

At the end of your rental time, you'll return to the starting point. You'll continue with your itinerary of things to see and do in the city and, if it's your last day, you can head back to the hotel to connect with a shuttle service to and from Nassau Airport.

Useful information

  • Price: this rental service starts from €110 for two people.
  • Duration: the scooters are rented for one hour.

Book a transfer to Nassau airport

8. Take a trip around Nassau and visit the Exuma district

Exuma| ©Ana Alexandrino
Exuma| ©Ana Alexandrino

If you plan to be in town for more than two days and want to experience the area around the capital of the Bahamas, then a trip to the Exuma district is ideal. Enjoy various maritime activities, mangrove scenery and incredible native wildlife.

For this excursion, you'll board a plane at Nassau Airport for Rock Sound Airport, approximately 20 minutes away in Exuma. Upon arrival, you'll begin your tour with a guide. You will be amazed by the crystal clear waters, beautiful palm trees and miles of white sand.

You will be able to meet and interact with the friendly swimming pigs, considered one of Exuma's biggest attractions. You'll also have the opportunity to swim alongside dozens of nurse sharks without fear.

Also, on this swimming pigs and sharks tour to Exuma from Nassau, you'll see the Bahamian iguana colony up close. These are a species of giant lizards, which can weigh up to eight kilograms.

Useful information

  • Price: the price of this trip usually starts at €604 per person.
  • Duration: approximately six hours.

Book a trip to Exuma from Nassau

9. Have fun at Pearl Island Beach and get away from the hustle and bustle of Nassau

Pearl Island| ©tom.fraley
Pearl Island| ©tom.fraley

Pearl Island Beach stands out as another must-see spot on your itinerary if you want to enjoy the best marine activities in Nassau. You'll be able to swim freely, do water sports, see marine wildlife and more.

You'll need to join a guided tour to Pearl Island Beach, which usually incorporates a ferry transfer from Nassau Harbour, about 20 minutes away. Along the way, you'll get a different perspective of the city and the surrounding coastline from the blue waters of the Caribbean Sea.

Back on dry land, you can grab your snorkelling gear and head to the crystal clear waters of the beach to dive in and slowly discover the species that live on these reefs. You'll see lots of colourful fish, some turtles and rays. You'll also have the chance to kayak along the coast at your own pace on this Pearl Island beach tour from Nassau.

Useful information

  • Price: the price of the experience is around €84 per person.
  • Duration: Approximately five hours.

Book a Pearl Island Beach Tour from Nassau

10. Take a scenic cruise along Nassau's coastline and see another perspective of the city

Afternoon Cruise| ©Güldem Üstün
Afternoon Cruise| ©Güldem Üstün

You may not be keen to dive into the water to explore Nassau' s wildlife up close. However, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy some maritime activities. Such as taking a scenic cruise to see the coastline from a different perspective.

This type of experience usually starts from Nassau Harbour, where you'll board a boat with the captain and his crew. All you have to do is sit on the deck area, relax and let yourself be enveloped by the paradisiacal view, led by the blue waters of the Caribbean Sea.

Without a doubt, this is an activity that will take your breath away at any time of the day. However, the sunset will be a true natural spectacle. You will witness how the sea and the sky merge on the horizon, while the last rays of the sun give you multiple shades reflected on the surface of the water.

Useful information

  • Price: the activity has an average cost of around 106€ per person.
  • Duration: at least a couple of hours.