As the closest Bahamian port to the United States, Bimini is an easy and fun weekend run from South Florida for cruisers. And Bimini’s excellent sport fishing, snorkeling and scuba diving have given this pair of tiny islands an outsize reputation as a popular cruising destination.

Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina

Bimini is known as the sport-fishing capital of the world. Since 1936, this pioneering outfitter in Alice Town on North Bimini has hosted boats that ply the warm waters along the western edge of the Gulf Stream, where charter clients have bagged brag-worthy specimens of bonefish, billfish and tuna over the decades. The resort is just as well known for its dive center, founded in 1975 by Neal Watson, president of the Bahamas Dive Association. The resort’s lively Bimini Seafood Co. & Conch Bar is a popular spot for its weekly theme nights (including Lobster Sundays) and international sporting events on its big screens.

The Sapona Wreck

If only the weather-worn walls of the SS Sapona could talk. This wreck that’s now a navigational landmark for cruisers and a popular fishing, diving and snorkeling destination had originally been destined to serve as a cargo vessel during World War I, but its production ran longer than the war did. A Florida rum runner used the ship briefly as a floating warehouse in Bahamian waters during Prohibition until a hurricane ran it aground in 1926 just a few miles off Bennett’s Harbor in South Bimini. With a maximum depth of only 20 feet, the Sapona appeals to divers and snorkelers of all skill levels who frequently spot barracuda, triggerfish, large lobsters and many other species among the ship’s spooky, rusty remains.  joe’s conch shack There’s a reason there’s usually a line at this small, open-air conch shack between Bailey Town and Resorts World. The freshness and generous portions of the conch salad—usually handmade by Joe himself—make Joe’s Conch Shack a must-stop on any Bimini itinerary. Grab a Kalik beer—especially if you liberally apply the pepper sauce to the conch salad—and enjoy this refreshing island staple along with the harbor views.

Edith’s Pizza & Bahamian Food

Lobster pizza, using the sweet local style of Bimini bread dough for its crust, is the calling card of this island favorite on King’s Highway near Bailey Town. Pick up this distinctive pie for lunch or dinner any day of the week.

Dolphin House Museum

For 30 years, this “poem in stone” has provided a touch of whimsy and artistry in Alice Town. Local author and historian Ashley Saunders assembled this three-story museum from treasures collected on Bimini’s beaches and from recycled materials around the island. Colorful mosaics line the walls, populated by pods of dolphins like the one that first inspired Saunders’ creation. The artist himself is often on-site, providing guided tours to visitors and adding new scenes to his remarkable labor of love.

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Nadia Rolle says little has changed on Bimini since this time a year ago—which is a great thing. The Bahamas took a beating from Hurricane Dorian in September 2019, but Bimini was largely spared. While the Abacos archipelago is still working to clean up the disaster that Dorian created around Marsh Harbour in particular, over on Bimini, it’s business as usual, with boats arriving from the United States in about the same numbers as in years past.

“Everything is pretty much the same,” says Rolle, a senior executive with the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. “We’re the gateway—the first stop out of Florida. Things have been pretty good. It’s only when the weather is bad that we can see a difference.”

Bimini is about 60 nautical miles from Miami and has long been a first stop for Americans cruising to the Abacos or the Exumas. It’s also a place known for fantastic fishing. The season for blue and white marlin typically peaks in May and June, right around the same time Allison and bluefin tuna, along with grouper and snapper, tend to be lurking around.

Also in June is the boaters’ delight known as the Bimini Boating Fling. (There are actually two this year: June 17-21 and June 24-29.) It’s a guided crossing from Bahia Mar Yachting Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to the Bimini Big Game Club. Each flotilla can have as many as 30 boats, making them ideal for first-timers or for cruisers who simply prefer to cross in a group.

In fact, the crossings have been happening for a number of years, with some boaters returning multiple times. They know Bimini hasn’t changed—and that’s exactly what keeps them coming back for more.

Bimini Basics

Bimini is the closest region of the Bahamas to the US mainland, located about 50 miles east of South Florida.

Resort World Bimini Bahamas can accommodate yachts up to 100 feet length overall. The marina is directly in front of the Hilton resort and casino. Bimini Big Game Club can take boats up to 140 feet length overall, with one slip for a 160-footer. A dive center is among the offerings on-site. Brown’s Marina has slips for boats up to 150 feet length overall. It shares 200 feet of waterfront boardwalk with Bimini Big John’s Bar & Grill. Bimini Sands Marina can handle boats up to 100 feet in length. Mackey’s Sand Bar is on-site, known for seafood pizza. Bimini Bay Marina has dockage for yachts up to 200 feet length overall. The controlling depth at the marina is 12 feet.

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Yachting left out of North Palm Beach, Florida, and crossed the Gulf Stream aboard a Viking 52 Convertible. HMY’s Rendezvous was a fun-filled event, featuring snorkeling, a “Best Bloody Mary” contest, big-game fishing and beach competitions the whole boating family could enjoy.

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