Bahamas Shark Attacks (2025 Report)

The popular vacation destination known as The Bahamas has over 700 islands and cays extending 760 miles from Florida’s coast and close to Haiti. The Bahamas is the spot to be in terms of turquoise waters, white sands and culture. But with the occasional travel advisory involving sharks, tourists are wary.

How Many Shark Attacks Happen in The Bahamas?

There have been roughly 34 reported shark attacks in The Bahamas since 1580. While this seems, for some, minimal given the time span, the country still ranks ninth globally despite how rare the attacks are. 

The most recent attacks happened in February of 2025 when two women were attacked in Bimini Bay around 6:30 at night after they jumped off their boat into the water. One victim suffered a severed achilles while the other required 48 stitches.

What Kinds of Sharks Live/Migrate in The Bahamas?

The Bahamas are considered to be a shark capital, with around 40 species of shark. Some of which are the Caribbean reef, oceanic white tip, great hammerheads, tiger and bull sharks.

Caribbean reef sharks: Being the most common species in The Bahamas, it doesn’t matter the season; whenever you dive, you are guaranteed to spot a Caribbean reef shark. They reach around nine feet in length and can weigh around 155 pounds.

Oceanic white tips: Oceanic white tip encounters peak during April and May and they are often seen around Cat Island areas. They are a very curious species known to bump into divers gently. They can reach around 13 feet and 440 pounds.

Great hammerheads: Great hammerheads like to linger around Bimini Bay near the shallows, with sightings peaking in January and February when the waters are colder. The great hammerheads are the largest of hammerhead species; similar to oceanic white tips, they can reach an impressive 13 feet and 370 pounds.

Tiger sharks: Tiger sharks are one of the most common spotted sharks in The Bahamas. Tiger shark sightings peak in October through January and they are commonly spotted near Tiger Beach. They are easily distinguished by the stripes that run along their backs and sides.

Bull sharks: This common aggressor is usually spotted off the coast of Bimini near the mangrove forests where there is low visibility and brackish waters. They can reach nearly 12 feet and up to 500 pounds at most.

What Months Are Sharks Most Active in The Bahamas?

Sharks are seen year-round in The Bahamas, especially during the warmer months when the water has heated up. Generally, the months that will ensure you see a shark during activities such as diving are October through May.

How to Protect Yourself from a Shark Attack in The Bahamas

Swim in groups: Sharks are often lone hunters and are intimidated by groups. Swimming in groups will deter a curious or hungry shark from easily singling you out.

Avoid low visibility: Never swim in low visibility conditions, particularly dawn and dusk hours. When the visibility of the water is low, you become unaware of your surroundings and additionally, the sharks can not see as well, leading to accidental incidents. Sharks also prefer to hunt during dawn and dusk hours, leading to attacks due to high activity.

Stay away from fish: When the fish are jumping, it's a tell-tale sign that something is in the water. If the fish are leaping from the water, you should too to avoid being caught up in the chase. It is also a safe bet to avoid areas where there are fishermen, such as piers, because their bait may be chumming the water and bringing sharks closer to shore.

Avoid wearing neon and shiny objects: Sharks can see high-contrast colors much better than muted colors. It is also best to not wear sequins or shiny jewelry into the water because it resembles fish scales and can lead to a shark mistaking you for a midday treat.

What to do if You Witness a Shark Attack in The Bahamas

First things first, if you find yourself witnessing a shark attack, alert everyone. This includes those in the water, those on shore, any lifeguards in the area and emergency services.

Some people spring into action in emergency services and some freeze. If you’re one of the ones that spring into action, please resist getting into the water. Untrained professionals should not attempt to get into the water to reach the victim unless help is not nearby. 

If help is not close by and there is simply no other option and you’ve deemed it reasonably safe to try and reach the victim, then do so. Keep your eyes on the shark, don’t turn your back towards it and if needed, aim for the snouts, gills and eyes.

Once the victim is on the shore, apply pressure to all wounds, keep them and others calm, create a tourniquet for wounds if needed and try to keep the victim warm with objects such as towels to prevent shock until emergency services can talk over.

Conclusion: Shark Attacks in The Bahamas

Despite being ranked number nine globally in terms of shark attacks around the world, shark attacks are rare in The Bahamas. There is no need to move with any more precaution than you would in other coastal areas with sharks in mind. As long as you follow the mentioned tips and respect their home, you will have a successful and beautiful vacation on the sunny beaches of The Bahamas.