Into the Deep Blue: Bahamas Beneath the Waves

When you think of reasons to party in the former British West Indies, few are better than Emancipation Day. And few ways of marking the occasion are better than getting out onto the iridescent waters of the Exumas and watching a classic boat race like the Black Point Regatta. Running from Staniel Cay to nearby Black Point, this race has been gathering local sailors and their traditional sloops together for the past 42 years every Emancipation Weekend. (Why just have a day when you can have a whole weekend, right?)

Just south of Bimini, tiny Gun Cay is the site of Honeymoon Harbour Beach, a remote and beautiful stretch of shore that’s accessible only by boat. Bimini Undersea offers trips to the beach, where you can lounge on the sand and snorkel in the calm, clear water. However, the highlight is the opportunity for face-to-face encounters with the local stingrays. These bottom-dwelling creatures have grown accustomed to people feeding and touching them, so there’s very little risk of a sting, as long as you’re gentle and take small steps to avoid trodding on them.

A 600-suite hotel within a hotel, The Cove is the most luxurious of the room towers at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort. Kids aren’t banned, but the vibe is definitely grown-up—witness the adults-only Cove Pool, with its DJ-driven party scene, outdoor gaming tables, and mating-ritual pool wear. But there’s a sense of sophistication in the two-story lobby, which soars above ponds of water lilies, as well as the suites, which have balconies with ocean views, sunken living rooms, and marble-floored bathrooms. All the activities of Atlantis, including those that make adults feel young again—such as the Abyss and Leap of Faith waterslides, or the dolphin encounters—are only steps or a free shuttle ride away. Also available is immersive programming that connects guests to the rich history, art, people, food, and festivities of the islands, from exhibits showcasing regional artists and a weekly Junkanoo Fest & Feast (honoring a more than 500-year-old tradition) to five new outposts of beloved local Bahamian restaurants.

Chartering a fishing boat for a day on the open ocean is one thing, but getting beneath the waves with a spear and a mask is a wholly different experience, one that you can enjoy with the help and instruction of Strata G Smith, a native Bahamian who works out of Bimini, alongside his wife Kathleen Fisher of Bimini Healing Arts. Explore some of the finest underwater parks in the Bahamas with with one of the finest, and safest, instructors you’ll ever meet. Strata provides guide services, teaches traditional, hand-line and spear fishing, offers sightseeing trips, and more. Strata generally works with visitors who have their own boats, or those who have rented on-island. Contact Strata at: 242 473 1141