November in Bimini is one of those months that have the potential for diving conditions to change dramatically between the beginning of the month and the end of the month. Early in the month, water temperatures are typically still in the low 80s and the prevailing winds are southeasterly, following the summer trends. By the end of the month, the weather has transitioned to the winter patterns. Cold fronts begin rolling in from the east coast of the United States, bringing cooler waters and stronger northerly winds. All of that isn’t bad news though, with the changing temperatures come new migratory critters.
The biggest of the animals that begin to show up in strong numbers this month are sharks. We always have lemon, nurse, Caribbean reef, blacktip, and blacknose sharks in Bimini, but some of the other larger species are migratory, much like snowbirds in Florida, preferring to winter in relatively warm Bimini. Greater hammerheads and massive bull sharks are two of our higher profile winter residents. These massive fish begin rolling into Bimini’s waters in November, and typically hang around until the water begins to warm up.
Cooler water temperatures also help to bring many of the more shy residents of Bimini’s underwater habitats to light. As the water chills, many of the fish that prefer cooler water have been staying quite deep, often hundreds of feet deep over the edge of the continental shelf. As the temperature that deep gets too cold, huge Nassau and black grouper, goliath grouper, and Caribbean spiny lobster all begin their annual trek to shallower and warmer waters for the winter months. Due to Bimini’s proximity to the Gulf Stream, this search for warmer waters often sends fish deeper. The shallow Great Bahama Bank and flats to the east of Bimini get much cooler in the winter than the deep waters off the continental shelf, due to the “life blood” of Bimini, the Gulf Stream. It’s quite common to see many more of the flats fish like permit and tarpon cruising on the reefs once the water begins to chill.
All in all, November is often a very exciting and diverse month to dive in Bimini. Many changes are occurring above and below the water, and the diversity and opportunities for exploring Bimini’s wrecks and reefs are overwhelming. So get out there and find something cool underwater!