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. Precisely because of this geographical location, it is not surprising that during your stay you will find a wide range of marine activities.

For example, among the best things to do in Nassau that incorporate marine activities, highlights the visit to Junkanoo Beach for snorkeling, kayaking, surfing and boating. Likewise, there is the Love Beach coral reef snorkeling experience , the jet ski tour at Cabbage Beach, 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 is easily accessible by car or on foot. Here, you can spend the whole day without getting bored, whether you decide to relax lying on the sand, swim or practice some sports.

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

  • Snorkeling to discover the marine life of the place, composed of tropical fish and corals of great beauty.
  • Take a boat ride, which allows you to see some areas of interest and discover the nearby reefs.
  • Take a kayak, with the purpose of exploring 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 soccer. You will also be able to taste the Caribbean food offered at the beach restaurants.

Interesting information

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

Book a marine activities excursion at Junkanoo Beach

2. Snorkel in the coral reef of Love Beach in Nassau

Snorkeling Day| ©ollie harridge
Snorkeling Day| ©ollie harridge

Visiting Love Beach and snorkeling in its coral reef is another option to add to your list of marine activities in Nassau. You will have a natural space of great beauty, away from the bustle of the city and with calm waters to explore.

From the first moment you will be surprised with the contrast offered by the dense white sand and crystal clear waters. In addition, there are the coastal rocks, in charge of protecting the beach from the strong waves of the sea. Undoubtedly, a quiet and romantic atmosphere, which is ideal for you to relax and take pictures.

You can snorkel in the natural pools with shallow water that hosts this place. 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 is about a 20-minute drive from downtown 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.

Information of interest

  • Price: when accessing the beach you must pass through Nirvana Beach Bar and pay approximately 5€ per person.
  • Duration: because it is an outdoor activity, you can be on the beach all day.

Rent a buggy in Nassau

3. Go to Cable Beach in Nassau and practice some motorized sports

Jetsurf| ©Liborio58
Jetsurf| ©Liborio58

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

This beach of approximately four kilometers of soft sand, shallow blue waters and small waves is located about a 20-minute drive from downtown Nassau. It is a lively, picturesque and busy place.

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

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

At the end of this motorized 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 transfer service to the Nassau airport, in case this is the end of your trip.

Useful information

  • Price: the entrance to the beach is free, but for the practice of 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 practice.

Book a guided tour of Nassau

4. Discover the marine wildlife that welcomes 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 have to connect with the guide in charge of the activity at the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal, where you will board a boat and sail to Blue Lagoon Island. During this trip, you will have the opportunity to contemplate the marine landscape.

Upon arrival at your destination, you will be able to start the real adventure. 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 simply lie in a hammock to relax. Also, if you previously booked the Segway tour of the Blue Lagoon in Nassau, you can take an unforgettable ride and learn about the history of the place.

Information of interest

  • Price: the tour to Blue Lagoon Island has an approximate price of 94€ per person.
  • Duration: six to eight hours.

5. Take a walk along the west coast of Nassau and discover the 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 snorkeling. In addition, when you dive you will enjoy an amazing display of underwater art.

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 (first inhabitants of the island), which protrudes from the sand. There, you will have the opportunity to take some pictures.

Then, you will be able to enter the water, swim a few meters and start this snorkeling adventure through the coral reefs of the region. In addition, you will discover some of the sculptures submerged by the British Jason DeCaires Taylor.

For example, you will see:

  • Virtuous Man, with a height of about 2.5 meters.
  • Ocean Atlas; this is a girl of approximately five meters high and 60 thousand kilos of weight.

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

Information of interest

  • Price: the general entrance fee is about 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 have an approximate duration of four hours.

Book a quad tour in Nassau

6. Experience snorkeling 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 the snorkeling experience at the Sea Garden Conservation Area. You will be able to explore a coral reef with many forms of life that will surprise you.

Generally, the adventure begins at the city's harbor, from where the best boat tours of Nassau depart daily. There, you will board a boat and navigate quickly to this conservation area.

When you reach this coral reef system protected by a cove, you will dive with a specialized guide. But before, he will teach you basic snorkeling 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 of 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.

Information of interest

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

Book a gastronomic tour of Nassau

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

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

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

You can rent a jet ski with guide service and transfer to the beach. This way, you will only have to connect with the activity manager in downtown Nassau or at the cruise port to travel 15 to 20 minutes to Cabbage Beach.

When you arrive at this beach of crystal-clear waters and white sand, a certified guide will teach you how to drive a jet ski. You will travel along the north coast of Nassau at your own pace, contemplating a privileged panoramic view of the sky, the sea and the resorts that line this mile-long beach.

Once the rental period is over, you will return to the starting point. You will continue with your itinerary of things to see and do in the city and, if it is your last day, you can go to the hotel to connect with a shuttle service to and from the Nassau airport.

Information of interest

  • Price: this rental service starts at 110€ for two people.
  • Duration: the rental of the scooters is one hour.

Book a transfer to Nassau airport

8. Take a trip to the surroundings of Nassau and visit the district of Exuma

Exuma| ©Ana Alexandrino
Exuma| ©Ana Alexandrino

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

For this excursion, you will board a plane at Nassau Airport for Rock Sound Airport, approximately 20 minutes away in Exuma. Upon arrival, you will be able to start a 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 will also have the opportunity to swim alongside dozens of nurse sharks without fear.

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

Information of interest

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

Book a tour to Exuma from Nassau

9. Have a great time 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 ride from Nassau Harbor, 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 land, you can grab your snorkeling gear and head to the crystal-clear waters of the beach to dive in and slowly discover the species that make life on these reefs. You will see lots of colorful fish, some turtles and rays. In addition, on this excursion to Pearl Island beach from Nassau you will have the possibility to kayak along the coast at your own pace.

Interesting information

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

Book a Pearl Island Beach Excursion from Nassau

10. Take a scenic cruise along the coast of Nassau and see another perspective of the city

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

You may not be enthusiastic about diving into the water to explore Nassau' s wildlife up close. However, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy some maritime activities. Such is the case of embarking on a scenic cruise to see the coastline from a different perspective.

This type of experience usually starts at the Port of Nassau, where you will board a boat with the captain and his crew. You will only have to sit on the deck area, relax and let yourself be enveloped by the paradisiacal view, led by the blue waters of the Caribbean Sea.

Undoubtedly, this is an activity that will leave you breathless 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 sunlight give you multiple shades reflected on the surface of the water.

Information of interest

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