Hidden away beneath the surface of the Bahamian archipelago is a magical world millions of years in the making. The caves and blue holes of the Bahamas house some of the most spectacularly beautiful geological formations in the world. The species that reside in their watery depths are biological anomalies that thrive in dark waters saturated with hydrogen sulfide gas and low in oxygen. Above ground, the variety of bats and other creatures that make their homes in the caves are astounding.
Penetrate the tangle of Mangrove roots growing out of swampy muck and reveal a nursery that houses fish and invertebrates until they are big enough and smart enough to compete on the coral reefs. Up to 90% of the species of the Bahamas spend some part of their lives here. This is where baby sharks learn to hunt and young lobsters learn how to hide. The roots of these salt-water tolerant shrubs are also home for some remarkable creatures: from the tiny seahorse to the resilient tree crab. Even the iconic flamingo gathers here to feed on the crustaceans that give them their pinkish hue.
Beyond the iconic and pristine white beaches of the Bahamas, the sand flats are home to fierce iguanas, camouflaging stingrays, and beautiful bottlenose dolphins. Much of this sand is the surprising waste product of one resident. Parrotfish nibbling on coral produce one tonne of sand per fish every year. Sand here is so ubiquitous, that some creatures have evolved to hide in plain sight to survive. Others, like stingrays, use incredible electro sensitivity to locate the prey hidden away in the sand.
The seascape created by the Bahamian coral reefs and the creatures, which feed and hide here, is one of the most diverse and colourful on the planet. Every day the creatures here must emerge ready to forage and stake claim to their share of the reef. Schools of cleaner fish must risk foul fates in the mouths of the fish they preen. The long and slender trumpet fish becomes an expert at camouflage. Experience day and night on a coral reef colony, and find out who is best hidden away when the sun goes down and the come sharks out.
Open water makes up most of the area of the Bahamas and houses its most elusive species. Rarely seen species like the oceanic white tip shark, sperm whale and even the reclusive blainesville’s beaked whale make this area their home. The creatures that survive here must be able to swim far, fast, or deep as their search food, mates and safe haven, is perpetual. Schools of fish and flocks of birds exploit every advantage in this environment.
The 700 islands of the Bahamas harbour some of the most spectacular underwater wildlife in the world. Under water, they claim the deepest canyon, the steepest cliffs and hidden geological treasures. The interplay between sun, sand, water and coral has created unique ecosystems to feed and shelter animals distinctively adapted to survive in the Wonderland that is the Bahamas.
