The Bahamas is made up of over 700 islands some 50 miles off the Florida coast and just north of Cuba.  It is actually located in the Atlantic Ocean and not in the Caribbean as commonly thought.  Here's the map.

The main islands are:

• Grand Bahama
• New Providence Island — dominated by the capital Nassau
• Paradise Island — home to the gigantic Atlantis casino resort

The Bahamas has been in the news . . . in February 2008, an Austrian scuba diver was killed following an attack on a cageless shark diving trip.  Read the Reuters' news report here.

If you're tempted to dive with sharks, please do your research first.  We're not here to pass judgement but the president of the Bahamas Diving Association, considers this to be a dangerous practice.  Read more here.

Since the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission banned shark feeding off its coast, dive operators are using the seas off the Bahamas.

A good place to get a balanced view is the Marine Safety Group.  Visit their website here.

However, don't be put off by all this.  The diving in the Bahamas is spectacular and there are sites for the beginner through to the most experienced.  
 

Loads!!  Here are some of the highlights:

Grand Bahama - Dive with dolphins, Theo's wreck, Shark Junction, Devil's Backbone
Bimini - Dive with dolphins, Sapona wreck  
Abaco - Adirondack wreck which was a civil war gun runner
New Providence - various wrecks
Walkers Cay to watch sharks feeding
Cave Diving in Exuma - While not for everyone, the caves found at Hurricane Hole provide a unique diving opportunity

• The smaller islands are best dived using a liveaboard.
• There is no guarantee that you'll see dolphins, the sea is frequently rough and the diving is not cheap!
• A yellow fever vaccination certificate is requires from travellers over 1 year of age travelling from infected areas.