Arguably the best month for diving in Bimini, if not all of the Bahamas, is May. The water temperatures have finally reached the much desired 80 degree or warmer mark, and the seas finally lay down. The air temperatures are warm, but not sweltering like in August and September, and the water feels amazing! It’s hard to stay out of it. My full wetsuit is finally retired for the season, and shorties and rash guards are here until October or November.
The next best thing about May in Bimini is winds begin to settle into their milder south easterlies so the water is almost always calm. The crossings from Florida on your boat begin to get much easier, but the mad rush doesn’t start until Memorial Day. So for all of May, we pretty much get perfect weather, and the gorgeous waters of Bimini all to ourselves!
The harder to reach sites like The Victories and Tuna Alley become daily visits. The greater hammerheads of Bimini are STILL here! Some of our favorite drift dives like the Kinks gets tons of pelagic fish on them. Dolphin, cero mackrel, and blackfin tuna are common sights along the drop off to the continental shelf this month. Still, my favorite animals to play with in May are the wild spotted dolphin. With the calmer seas, especially in the afternoon, the dolphin grounds north of Bimini become easy and reliable to get to. These gentle and playful mammals will follow our boats for miles showing off with flips and high speed turns. Everyone that gets a chance to watch a school of dolphin, sometimes 40 plus strong, goofing off riding a big wake just fall in love with them. Their curious and jovial nature allows us to interact with them for hours sometimes. No one can have a bad day when they are playing with dolphins. So come on over to Bimini before everyone else this month and enjoy the best the Bimini and the Bahamas has to offer.
FORECAST BY: Neal Watson II
PADI Instructor #240841
Bahamian Master License #8662
Bimini SCUBA Center at Bimini Sands Resort and Marina
Phone: (242) 448-6606
Email: neal_wtsn@yahoo.com
www.BiminiScubaCenter.com