Nassau & New Providence · Bahamas · Reef
Shark Arena
Dozens of Caribbean reef sharks at 12 m, on a baited feed
Area photo: Rüdiger Stehn · CC BY-SA 2.0
A baited shark feed run at 40 ft (12 m) on the sand shelf off New Providence, shallow enough that divers of all levels can take part. Dozens of good-sized Caribbean reef sharks close in once the bait goes down, while the group sits or kneels on the sand and watches. It is the most popular shark feed in the Bahamas, and the sharks are the whole reason the site exists.
Also known as Runway Wall, Stuart's Cove Shark Arena.
Where it is and how deep
No published position for this site — the map shows Nassau & New Providence and its other sites; operators know the mooring.
The dive
The site sits at 40 ft (12 m), so the descent is short and the whole dive happens on one flat sand bottom. Divers sit or kneel on the sand in a line before the bait comes down, and from that point the dive is stationary: hands in, and nobody leaves the line until the feed is finished. Those rules are the safety system rather than etiquette.
Once the bait is in the water, dozens of good-sized Caribbean reef sharks close in and circle, passing the kneeling line at arm's length in an excited feeding frenzy. Nothing else about the site is the point: there is no route to swim and no structure to explore, and at 12 m the dive ends on the boat's schedule rather than on gas. When the bait is gone the sharks thin out and the group ascends together.
Marine life and season
- Reef sharks
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime |
Season follows Nassau & New Providence: Diving is year-round; Nov–May is calmest and clearest, and Aug–Oct hurricane season brings the most cancelled days.
Know before you go
- Baited sharks pass within arm's reach: keep your hands tucked in, hold the camera still rather than tracking animals with it, and stay on the sand until the feed is over.
Dive videos
Shark Arena, Bahamas · MBsAdventures on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is the Nassau shark dive?+
The feed is run at 40 ft (12 m) on a flat sand bottom, usually as part of a two-tank trip. That keeps it inside Open Water limits and gives a long bottom time, so the boat's schedule ends the dive rather than depth or gas.
Do you need to be an experienced diver for Shark Arena?+
No. At 12 m the site is open to divers of all levels. What matters is the briefing: settle onto the sand in the line, keep your hands in, and stay put until the feed is over.
Sources
- Nassau/New Providence Dive Sites — Dive The World
In The Logbook
- Where to see reef sharks on your first divesBig animals · 14 min read
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