Last Updated on March 31, 2024
Are you looking for the best “Swim with Sharks Bahamas Tour”? If so, you’ve come to the right place.
I’ve made beach destinations my thing, not only because I love trips to the shore but because I want to help you enjoy beautiful turquoise sands and shark swims as well.
To that end, I’ve put together a roundup of the top-rated Bahamas shark swimming experiences so you can quickly choose the best option.
Overall, the Exuma Full-Day Experience is the best tour. Not only is this tour ranked 5 stars, but you will spend your day touring 7 of the best cays, where you can swim with sharks and pigs.
You’ll enjoy a tasty Bahamian lunch, have friendly nurse sharks swimming all around you, and visit other top regional attractions.
Let’s dive in to this tour and the rest!
Our Top 3 Picks: Swim With Sharks Tours In Bahamas!
Best Swim With Sharks Bahamas Tours!
Photo Credit- Shore Thing Escapes
Tour Rating: 5 Stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Length: 8 Hours Check Rates Here
If you’re looking for the best shark swimming experience ever, look no further than this Exuma Full-Day Tour.
Not only will you get to swim with (and pet) nurse sharks, but you’ll also visit seven different islands of the Bahamas.
Kick off the tour by meeting and feeding rock iguanas on Allen’s Cay. These cool reptiles were the highlight for some visitors.
Next, you’ll visit Norman’s Cay–the site of a crashed Curtiss C-46 Commando that belonged to Colombian Drug Lord Pablo Escobar.
It’s now home to coral and fish, making it an intriguing spot to snorkel.
After more snorkeling with marine life at the Aquarium, it’s time to visit “Pig Island” (aka Big Major Cay), home to Exuma’s famed swimming pigs.
Have fun swimming in the clear blue water with these adorable wild animals.
After a tasty Bahamian lunch, a shark encounter awaits at Compass Cay Marina.
Swimming with the gentle nurse sharks and scratching their sand-papery skin will be an unforgettable experience.
Here’s what a past guest said about this tour:
“Amazing day! A must-do! We had the best time ever, Kal and the crew were amazing they looked after us and were helpful, kind, and knowledgeable, really great day packed full of great experiences, thank you all.”
Lisa_D ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅ What’s included in this tour:
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Use of Snorkeling equipment
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Breakfast
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Lunch
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Alcoholic Beverages
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Snacks
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Bottled water
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Soda/Pop
Photo Credit- Born Free Charters
Tour Rating: 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Length: 8 Hours Check Rates Here
Picture yourself swimming in the crystal-clear waters of Compass Cay while a lot of sharks swim around you, flipping onto their backs so you can rub their bellies. How fun does that sound?
But this Exuma Island Hopping Guided Tour isn’t only about swimming with nurse sharks.
You’ll also float in the shallow waters off Pig Beach for a once-in-a-lifetime experience greeting these friendly porkies.
Theories abound on how these pigs got to the Bahamas, ranging from shipwrecks to pirate barbecues to tourism schemes.
Next, you’ll snorkel around a crashed plane that belonged to Pablo Escobar, a Columbian drug lord known as the “wealthiest criminal in history.”
This fabulous Swim With Sharks Bahamas tour takes you to all the top tourist destinations in the area in one jam-packed day.
💡 Important things to note: Since you’ll be zooming over the open ocean on a powerboat, it’s a good idea to take plenty of sunscreen and protective clothing for the long boat ride.
If the weather conditions are rough, you’ll want something warm/waterproof to wear as well.
Here’s what a past guest said about this tour:
“An amazing day and memorable experience that won’t ever be forgotten. The boat and crew were superb throughout. Swimming with the sharks was totally mind-blowing – as were the pigs. Thanks!”
David_B ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅ What’s included in this tour:
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Snacks
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Alcoholic Beverages
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Lunch
-
Soda/Pop
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Bottled water
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Use of Snorkeling equipment
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Restroom on board
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Landing and facility fees
Photo Credit- 3Ns Vacation Services
Tour Rating: 4.5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Length: 6 Hours Check Rates Here
Go on this Pig Beach Excursion to Exuma tour, and you can tell your friends you swam in the shark-infested waters of Compass Cay.
You can forget to mention just how gentle and cute the nurse sharks are!
But you won’t get to the sharks immediately. Other fun experiences will lead up to them.
The first stop on this fun excursion is Pig Beach, where you can pose and snap photos with Exuma’s celebrity pigs.
Feed indigenous iguanas next, then visit Thunderball Grotto–one of the top snorkeling locations in the world (and one of the filming locations for James Bond’s 007 Thunderball).
Next, it’s time to fill your belly with delicious cuisine at Staniel Cay, with time to view a wrecked airplane on your way.
This airplane is in six feet of gorgeous turquoise water. Nurse sharks love taking a snooze beneath their wings.
💡 Note: This tour has a max of 14 travelers per group as opposed to other companies that take up to 30 people. That’s why it’s advertised as having more intimate groups.
Here’s what a past guest said about this tour:
“Everything was perfectly planned out and all the staff were amazing. We had a wonderful time. Our transport driver was amazing!!! We will definitely be coming back next time!”
Joy_C ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅ What’s included in this tour:
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Fresh Towels
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Use of Snorkeling equipment
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Snacks
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Soda/Pop
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Approved Food for Animals
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All Fees and Taxes
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Lunch
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Roundtrip Airport Transfers
Photo Credit- Aqua Shores – Luxury Powerboat Tours
Tour Rating: 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Length: 8 Hours Check Rates Here
Travelers loved this day trip from Nassau, Bahamas. This day tour hits all the top attractions in the area for one of the best experiences of your life.
Kick off the tour with a close-up encounter with rock iguanas, then a delightful interlude with wild nurse sharks.
You might have to get up your nerve to dip your toes in the first time, but it’ll be worth it!
After you swim with sharks, it’s time to visit Big Major Cay and the swimming pigs.
Finish off with lunch, then a relaxing interlude on a sandbar in the Atlantic Ocean.
💡 Note: You won’t have a long time at each location due to the length of transit needed for the boat trips between stops, but this is still the best way to see everything in one day.
“Loved, loved, loved this trip! Was looking forward to the pigs, but the sharks and iguanas were just as good! The lunch spot was fantastic – wasn’t expecting such a good location. And the sandbar beach swim afterward gave us some fantastic photo opportunities. 💖🦎🐷🦈”
Denise_K ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Lunch
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Alcoholic Beverages
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Bottled water
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Snacks
Photo Credit- Pieces of 8 Tours
Tour Rating: 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Length: 8.5 Hours Check Rates Here
Friendly nurse sharks, iguanas, famous swimming pigs, and 5 different cays await on this Exumas Whole Experience Tour.
Step aboard a luxurious speed boat and zoom over the deeper waters between islands.
Each stop has its own charm, whether it’s scratching a nurse shark’s belly, posing with cute baby pigs, eating a mouth-watering buffet, or either a visit to a sandbar or some private islands.
Although this tour is long, you’re sure to have the best time ever. You can always sleep in the next day, right?
Travelers loved how attentive and helpful the crew was on this tour.
They gave great information about each stop and pointed out all of the gorgeous cays the boat passed along the way.
💡 Note: The speed boat ride can be bumpy, but it’s the best way to get from island to island quickly.
“This was an amazing tour and the tour guides and captain were great. Yes, the speedboat was bumpy but there is nothing they can do about it. In order to get to the pigs and sharks on time they have to go fast. We made six stops in total and the water was so clear and the food from the buffet was great. Highly recommend. Thanks, captain T and Keyshawn for a great experience.”
Domonique_S. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Lunch
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Alcoholic Beverages
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Bottled water
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Snacks
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Complimentary use of towels
Swim With Sharks Bahamas FAQs
How Much Does It Cost To Swim With Sharks In The Bahamas?
Most full-day multi-destination tours for swimming with sharks in the Bahamas cost $430 but can go up to $750.
These tours include visiting the iguanas, the swimming pigs, and the nurse sharks of Compass Cay.
If you want to see other shark species, you may have to scuba dive. Note that shark diving experiences can cost from $130 to $450, depending on the location.
These prices don’t include transportation or rental equipment, so expect those additional costs.
Can You Swim With The Sharks In The Bahamas?
Yes–The Bahamas are an amazing place to swim with sharks.
The area is home to numerous species of sharks, including Caribbean reef sharks, bull sharks, great hammerhead sharks, silky sharks, and nurse sharks.
Nurse sharks are among the most accessible for those who don’t have dive experience.
Although you can swim with sharks year-round, December to April has the best diving conditions. However, it is also the busiest season.
If you’re looking for a quieter time of year, consider visiting from June to November. Note that this is hurricane season, so there is some chance of bad weather.
Where Is The Best Place To Swim With Sharks In The Bahamas?
If you’re looking for the best places to swim with sharks in the Bahamas, you have lots of options.
Compass Cay on Exuma is the perfect destination for swimming with nurse sharks, as there is an abundance of them there.
Many tours are available from Nassau on New Providence Island, which is conveniently near the United States.
If you are interested in a Bahamas shark diving experience, choose your location based on the kinds of sharks you want to see.
Tiger Beach on Grand Bahama Island is ideal for scuba diving with tiger sharks.
It’s located off the west end of the island and also boasts vibrant coral reefs, sea turtles, great hammerheads, and lemon sharks.
Cat Island is another great spot, ideal for seeing Oceanic Whitetips in the spring.
Final Thoughts: Swim With Sharks Bahamas
If you want the best “swim with sharks” Bahamas experience, I hope you’ve found the perfect tour option from this list.
Whether you want a 6-hour tour on a speedboat or an 8-hour all-inclusive option complete with alcoholic beverages and a delicious buffet lunch, the tours on this list should have you well taken care of.
Encountering friendly sharks is a great way to make your vacation even more special and memorable.
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