Reefwander
A cluster of sharks bunches together near a baited line in sunlit blue water — Bimini.

Bimini · Bahamas · Reef

Turtle Rocks

Shallow ledges where the bank meets the open Atlantic

Area photo: mattk1979 · CC BY-SA 2.0

Turtle Rocks are three rock formations running north to south that break the waterline and separate the Grand Bahama Bank from the Southern Atlantic. Either side can be dived, with a maximum depth of only 10 m, over an extensive ledge system of overhangs and scattered hard coral heads. Spotted eagle rays, Caribbean reef sharks and nurse sharks work the area.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Turtle Rocks: typical dive to 10 m (to 33 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit10 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

25.6752° N, 79.3197° WPublished position for this site.

The dive

The three rocks break the surface, which makes the site easy to find and easy to read: you can dive either side of them depending on where the weather is coming from, and the maximum depth is only 10 metres, so bottom time is limited by gas rather than by anything on the computer.

Below the surface it is an extensive ledge system, cut with many overhangs and scattered with hard coral heads from small to large. The overhangs hold a lot of macro life, and the site rewards a slow dive with a torch even in daylight. Out over the open ground the area attracts spotted eagle rays, Caribbean reef sharks and nurse sharks, with angelfish and parrotfish along the ledges.

Marine life and season

  • Eagle rays
  • Reef sharks
  • Macro critters
Month-by-month season rating for Turtle Rocks
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PrimePrimePrimeGoodGoodFairFairFairFairFairGoodGood

Season follows Bimini: Great hammerheads are most consistent December–March; September–October bring peak hurricane risk to the northern Bahamas.

Sources

  1. Turtle Rocks - Bahamas — Scubago
  2. Diving sites Bahamas Bimini — Dive The World

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