Dive Review of Neil Watson/Old Bahama Bay in
Bahamas/West End, Grand Bahama

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Neil Watson/Old Bahama Bay: "Tiger sharks galore", Jan, 2023, by Frederick R. Turoff, PA, US ( Top Contributor 36 reports with 17 Helpful votes). Report 12354.
Photos Submitted with this Report Click on an image to see an enlarged version and captions
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	I chose this trip since I had been on the Bahamas Master liveaboard 14 months earlier that was hit by a freighter during an overnight crossing to Tiger Beach, which ended that trip. I opted for a land-based operation as it fit my brief schedule. Rather than stay at the hotel directly, I used AirBnB to rent a room there for much less. The room was an easy walk from the restaurant and the boat docking site. I opted for two days of diving. We gathered each morning at 8a for an 8:30 departure to Tiger Beach, which took 1:40. Along the way the captain gave us a comprehensive dive briefing on what to expect. I lucked out, as day 1 had only 2 other divers and day 2 had only 6 others, so we got personal care. Once we arrived at the dive site, we were greeted at the surface with numerous gray reef and lemon sharks. Once all was ready below, we each donned 24 pounds of weight to keep us on the bottom easily. I weigh 120, so it sure had that effect on me. Each of the two days we had 7 large tiger sharks swimming around us. Water temp was around 78F, and I used two 3mm suits to keep warm. Our dives were shallow, only 35', and lasted over 1:40 each day - only one dive per trip. The guides handled the tiger sharks easily, and it's a small thrill to see one open its mouth as it is diverted from the bait box, realizing that mouth could easily fit half of me in it. In addition to the tigers, we had lemon and gray reef sharks in large numbers swimming around us, although the lemons preferred to lay on the bottom. Once the dives were finished and all were back on board, emptying the bait boxes gave us a view of a feeding frenzy. The crew did a fine job and my fellow passengers greatly enjoyed the trip.
Websites	Neil Watson Old Bahama Bay
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	USVI, BVI, lesser Antilles, Bonaire, all three Caymans , Coco Island, Revillagigedos, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Bahamas, Indonesia, Philippines, Micronesia, Red Sea
Closest Airport	Freeport	Getting There	PHL to CLT then FPO, or through MIA
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm
Water Temp	77-79°F / 25-26°C	Wetsuit Thickness	6
Water Visibility	40-60 Ft/ 12-18 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	no
Enforced diving restrictions	stay with the group leaders
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	None	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals	N/A	Tropical Fish	N/A
Small Critters	N/A	Large Fish
Large Pelagics	N/A
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's	N/A	Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	No camera room, but the room I stayed in was easily within walking distance, so I carried my camera back and forth. Crew treated our cameras well. I was able to do video as well as stills.

Subscriber's Comments

By Bill mashek in CA, US at Sep 25, 2023 17:54 EST

good report, we will be going to shark beach with neal Watson January 2024

By report author: Frederick R. Turoff in PA, US at Sep 26, 2023 12:58 EST

You'll enjoy the experience.

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Dive Review of Neil Watson/Old Bahama Bay in Bahamas/West End, Grand Bahama

Neil Watson/Old Bahama Bay: "Tiger sharks galore", Jan, 2023,

Photos Submitted with this Report

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subscriber's Comments

Dive Review of Neil Watson/Old Bahama Bay in
Bahamas/West End, Grand Bahama