Bahamas
Country: Commonwealth of The Bahamas
Region: Caribbean / Western Atlantic
Key dive sites: Tiger Beach, Bimini, Cat Island, Exuma Cays, Dean’s Blue Hole, New Providence (Stuart Cove’s), Grand Bahama (UNEXSO), Andros Blue Holes, San Salvador, Long Island
Known for: Shark diving (tiger, great hammerhead, oceanic whitetip, Caribbean reef, lemon, bull), dolphin encounters, blue holes, wreck diving, swimming pigs
Overview
The Bahamas is one of the most significant destinations in the history of underwater photography, particularly for shark imagery. Comprising over 700 islands spread across roughly 100,000 square miles of ocean starting just 50 miles off the coast of Florida, the archipelago features exceptional water clarity and a strong tradition of marine conservation that has promoted healthy shark populations ([1]). The Bahamas has been a focal point for Wetpixel’s community since the site’s founding, with Eric Cheng leading annual shark expeditions aboard Jim Abernethy’s M/V Shear Water beginning in 2002 ([2]).
The destination’s importance to underwater photography extends well beyond Wetpixel. National Geographic assigned photographer Brian Skerry to spend ten weeks over nine months photographing Bahamas sharks for a March 2007 feature titled “An Eden for Sharks,” with accompanying photography by Mark Conlin ([3]). The article reached 60 million readers and helped establish the Bahamas as a premier shark photography destination.
In 2011, the Bahamas banned all commercial shark fishing across its approximately 630,000 square kilometers of waters, creating one of the world’s largest shark sanctuaries. The announcement came at the Marina Operators of the Bahamas annual general meeting following ten months of intensive campaigning by the Bahamas National Trust and the Pew Environment Group ([4]). A 2017 study published in Science Direct quantified the economic value: around US$113.8 million is generated annually by the shark diving industry for the local economy, though the study noted that Tiger Beach generates approximately US$2.7 million per year but only 2.4% of that expenditure was made in the Bahamas ([5]). In 2015, the Bahamas expanded its marine protected areas with 15 new parks and three park expansions, bringing total marine protection to over 11 million acres ([6]).
Dive Sites
Tiger Beach
Tiger Beach is located on the Great Bahama Bank north of the West End of Grand Bahama Island. It is a shallow site with white rippled sand and crystal-clear water that has become one of the world’s most famous shark diving locations ([7]). The site is known for reliable encounters with tiger sharks, including the famous individual known as “Emma,” described as approximately fifteen feet long, who has been visiting the site for years ([8]). In August 2011, Jim Abernethy noticed mating wounds on Emma, and Shark Savers confirmed she was pregnant. Given the 13-to-16-month gestation period of tiger sharks, she was expected to produce a litter of 35 to 55 live pups ([9]). Lemon sharks, Caribbean reef sharks, and nurse sharks are also commonly encountered, along with occasional hammerhead and bull sharks ([10]).
Nearby Tiger Madness is a shallower alternative site that provides protection from wind and is considered a good location for tiger shark encounters with fewer lemon sharks ([11]).
Epic Diving bases its Tiger Beach trips out of Grand Bahama’s West End ([12]). GoPro featured Tiger Beach in its marketing for the HERO2 underwater housing, with free-diving sequences filmed by Andy and Emma Casagrande ([13]). In November 2017, Wetpixel partnered with RED Digital Cinema and Gates Underwater Products to host a filmmakers workshop at Tiger Beach with Epic Diving, aimed at aspiring and experienced underwater cameramen ([14]). In 2020, Adam Hanlon and Alex Mustard discussed Tiger Beach photography techniques in a Wetpixel Live episode, sharing insights on maximizing the site’s creative potential ([15]).
Bimini
Bimini is renowned for great hammerhead shark encounters and Atlantic spotted dolphin snorkeling. The Bimini Biological Field Station (“Sharklab”), founded by Dr. Samuel “Doc” Gruber, has been a center for shark research since the 1990s, specializing in lemon shark biology and behavior ([16]). Doc was a Professor at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School for Marine and Atmospheric Science, a founder of the American Elasmobranch Society, and a recognized authority on shark science with over 170 scientific publications. He specialized in habitat selection and homing behavior of lemon sharks and spotted eagle rays ([17]). Annual juvenile lemon shark censuses involve volunteers catching, measuring, weighing, and tagging sharks in the mangrove forests around the island ([18]).
Great hammerhead diving at Bimini became a major photographic attraction after Stuart Cove and colleagues pioneered the technique of burying bait under sand to attract the animals in February 2013. John Bantin described the trip as “spectacularly successful” and wrote a feature for Diver magazine entitled “The Next Big Thing,” which it proved to be ([19]). Epic Diving operates hammerhead trips from the Bimini Big Game Club, with dive sites a short boat ride from the resort. Up to seven individual hammerheads have been observed at the site in a single session, along with nurse sharks and occasional bull sharks ([20]).
The Bimini Shark Encounter, operated by Wildeye, offered trips led by shark biologists Doc Gruber and Dean Grubbs with wildlife photographer Sune Nightingale ([21]).
Cat Island
Cat Island, located in the eastern Bahamas, is one of the few places in the world where oceanic whitetip sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus) can be reliably found. The site requires a 32-hour crossing from West Palm Beach. Oceanic whitetips were first located here by Jim Abernethy during an exploratory trip with Brian Skerry and National Geographic ([22]). Eric Cheng wrote that JASA had found oceanic whitetips in the Bahamas “three years ago after hearing reports from fishermen,” and that in 2007 a JASA expedition encountered “more than 20 oceanic white-tip sharks at once” ([23]). Daniel Botelho photographed oceanic whitetips and dusky sharks at Cat Island on assignment for Walt Disney Company, noting that snorkeling produces closer encounters than scuba diving ([24]).
Exuma Cays
The Exumas offer wreck diving opportunities with creative lighting possibilities, as demonstrated by Berkley White during the 2014 Bahamas Underwater Photo Week, where he produced images of wrecked aircraft with off-camera lighting ([25]). The Exumas are also home to the famous swimming pigs of Big Major Cay, which became popular underwater photography subjects. Eric Cheng described the experience: “Despite being on a shark expedition, I have to say that a day of pigs on the beach might be more fun than any day of sharking! There is nothing quite like being nearly trampled by a hundred-pound pig in two feet of salt water.” On his 2008 expedition, the group found three large sows and four piglets at the beach ([26]). Several of the pigs were found dead in February 2017, prompting an investigation by the Bahamas Humane Society ([27]).
Dean’s Blue Hole (Long Island)
Dean’s Blue Hole on Long Island is the world’s deepest known blue hole at 202 meters. It gained international attention in 2010 when freediver Guillaume Nery’s artistic “underwater base jump” video went viral. The video, filmed over four days by Julie Gautier, was described by Nery as “a fiction movie” rather than a documentary of an actual deep dive ([28]). Alex Mustard photographed Long Island during the 2014 Bahamas Underwater Photo Week, capturing Nassau groupers, coral reef drop-offs, and wreck diving on the Comberbach ([29]).
New Providence (Nassau)
New Providence island, home to the capital Nassau, features Stuart Cove’s dive operation, which offers organized Caribbean reef shark feeds. Eric Cheng photographed Caribbean reef sharks on the Ray of Hope wreck during Bahamas Underwater Photo Week in 2014 ([30]). Stuart Cove’s operation uses a different approach from liveaboard shark expeditions, with reef shark wranglers guiding the feeds on established dive sites.
In October 2014, underwater sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor unveiled “Ocean Atlas” off New Providence in Nassau. The 18-foot-tall, 60-ton sculpture, depicting a young Bahamian girl sustaining the ocean, was the largest underwater sculpture ever deployed. It was commissioned by the Bahamas Reef Environment Education Foundation (BREEF) and constructed entirely underwater in sections ([31]).
Grand Bahama (UNEXSO / Shark Junction)
UNEXSO (Underwater Explorers Society) at Grand Bahama is home to Cristina Zenato, a professional shark handler known for inducing “tonic immobility” in Caribbean reef sharks. Stephen Frink filmed Zenato calling a shark to her lap “like a puppy dog” during the 2014 Bahamas Underwater Photo Week ([32]). Ben’s Cavern at Grand Bahama offers inland cave diving ([33]).
Andros
Andros features blue holes, including Cousteau’s Blue Hole, which contains fragile algal formations. Berkley White photographed the blue holes and wrecks of Andros during the 2014 Bahamas Underwater Photo Week ([34]).
San Salvador
San Salvador, the easternmost island photographed during the 2014 Bahamas Underwater Photo Week, offers coral reef drop-offs, Nassau groupers, and macro subjects like the lofty triple fin (Enneanectes altivelis). An underwater sculpture memorializing Christopher Columbus provides a distinctive photographic backdrop ([35]).
Abacos
The Abacos, visited by Stephen Frink during the 2014 Bahamas Underwater Photo Week, feature the wreck of the San Jacinto and stingray feeding opportunities at Green Turtle Cay ([36]).
Marine Life & Photographic Subjects
The Bahamas supports an extraordinary diversity of shark species for underwater photographers:
- Tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) — The primary attraction at Tiger Beach; individuals like “Emma” have been photographed by hundreds of divers over many years ([37])
- Great hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna mokarran) — Bimini’s signature species; attracted by burying bait under sand, animals up to 6 meters long have been photographed at close range ([38])
- Oceanic whitetip sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus) — Found at Cat Island; once one of the most common open-ocean sharks, now critically depleted. Jacques Cousteau called them “the world’s most dangerous” shark. They approach divers without fear and are described as “one of the easiest sharks in the water to photograph” ([39])
- Caribbean reef sharks (Carcharhinus perezi) — Common at most sites; the subject of organized feeds at Stuart Cove’s and UNEXSO ([40])
- Lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris) — Abundant at Tiger Beach and studied extensively at the Bimini Sharklab ([41])
- Bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) — Encountered at various sites; the species responsible for the 2008 fatal bite at the “End of the Map” dive site ([42])
- Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) — Encountered off Bimini; best photographed by free diving as they interact more with snorkelers ([43])
- Nassau groupers (Epinephelus striatus) — Found throughout the islands; a campaign to ban Nassau grouper fishing was launched in 2011 ([44])
- Invasive lionfish — A significant ecological concern; CBS Evening News covered lionfish culling efforts in the Bahamas in 2009, with efforts to create a formal fishery to control the species ([45])
- Swimming pigs — Big Major Cay’s feral pigs became popular underwater photography subjects during shark expedition stopovers ([46])
Conservation
The Road to the 2011 Shark Sanctuary
In September 2010, SUNCO Wholesale Seafood Ltd. announced plans to explore exporting shark fin caught in the Bahamas. The company, based on Andros and trading with a Chinese firm via a New Jersey shell company, was already harvesting 5,000 sea cucumbers per day. The threat was acute because sharks had never been commercially fished in the Bahamas, which explained the healthy populations ([47]). Filmmaker Joe Romeiro responded by producing “Nina Salerosa,” a short film featuring Cristina Zenato interacting closely with Caribbean reef sharks, aiming to show sharks as “beautiful, graceful creatures” rather than aggressive predators ([48]).
The Bahamas National Trust, partnering with the Pew Environment Group, launched a campaign to create protective legislation. An online petition attracted nearly 6,000 signatures. Matt Rand, Director of Global Shark Conservation at Pew, emphasized the economic stakes: shark tourism activity brought $78 million into the Bahamian economy annually, with each reef shark estimated to be worth approximately $250,000 for tourism ([49]). In July 2011, the government banned all commercial shark fishing ([50]).
Economic Impact of Shark Conservation
A 2015 Cape Eleuthera Institute survey investigated the economic impact of shark diving charters since the 2011 sanctuary was established ([51]). A 2017 peer-reviewed study in Science Direct concluded that approximately US$113.8 million is generated annually by the shark diving industry. The study also found that around 60% of 452 divers surveyed would pay a conservation permit fee of between US$6 and US$50 ([52]). In 2015, the Bahamas announced 15 new marine parks and three park expansions, bringing total marine protected areas to over 11 million acres ([53]).
Best Practices & Conditions
Wetpixel shark expeditions established specific protocols for diving with large sharks. Before entering the water, divers receive detailed safety briefings: cover all skin head to toe, avoid white or bright colors, learn hand signals for shark behavior, and understand how to interact safely with different species. When tiger sharks are present, all attention shifts to the tiger shark while smaller sharks “blend into the background like reef fish or remoras” ([54]).
For hammerhead photography at Bimini, overweighting helps minimize movement and sand disturbance. Epic Diving runs an “open deck” policy that maximizes time on shallow sites — divers surface to switch tanks and return, allowing sessions of nearly five hours ([55]).
Winter conditions in the Bahamas can be rough, with strong winds significantly affecting shallow sites like Tiger Beach and Tiger Madness. Tropical Storm Debby disrupted the 2012 Wetpixel expedition with poor visibility and 10-15 knot winds that made diving impossible, forcing an early return to Florida ([56]). Summer expeditions offer warm, calm water and dedicated dolphin encounter days, though with a smaller chance of great hammerhead and bull shark encounters ([57]).
The oceanic whitetip expedition to Cat Island requires a 32-hour crossing and encounters are unpredictable. Water temperature appears to correlate with shark presence; abnormally warm water (84 degrees F and above) in July 2007 coincided with a complete absence of sharks and even game fish ([58]). May appeared to be the optimal month for oceanic whitetip encounters, with JASA arranging successful encounters in May for three consecutive years ([59]).
Wetpixel Coverage
The Bahamas has been one of Wetpixel’s most extensively covered destinations, with regular expeditions and editorial features spanning two decades.
Wetpixel Bahamas Expeditions
Wetpixel’s relationship with the Bahamas began with Eric Cheng’s first trip aboard Jim Abernethy’s M/V Shear Water in 2002, accompanied by professional marine photographers Jim Watt, David Fleetham, and Andy Sallmon. The group brought five Canon D60 Digital SLRs, four UK Germany D60 housings, and various other digital setups ([60]). In February 2003, Cheng visited Jim Abernethy in West Palm Beach before joining a 10-day shark photography expedition with Dive Magazine UK aboard the Shear Water, documenting the trip extensively on his personal website ([61]). Cheng returned annually, leading winter shark trips in 2003, 2004, and 2005 ([62]). The 2005 expedition was described by Cheng as “EPIC,” with coverage provided by Cheng, James Wiseman, Gadi Porat, and others ([63]).
By 2007, Wetpixel was running multiple charters per year — a July oceanic whitetip expedition ($4,000/person) and a summer sharks and dolphins trip ($3,250/person). Photography expertise on these trips was provided by Cheng, Tony Wu, and Alex Mustard. Both trips sold out quickly ([64]). In August 2007, JASA also offered an exploratory Gulf Stream Drift expedition, with participants drifting along the ocean surface in search of rare pelagic creatures by day and night, just a few miles from Tiger Beach ($2,340/person) ([65]).
The 2009 oceanic whitetip expedition was led by Alex Mustard ([66]). Trip leader Jason Bradley led the 2012 sharks and dolphins expedition, producing a detailed trip report that captured the group’s encounters with Emma the tiger shark and their struggles with Tropical Storm Debby ([67]).
By 2016, Wetpixel’s Bahamas expeditions had shifted to working with Epic Diving out of Bimini, focusing on hammerhead and tiger shark encounters ([68]).
Bahamas Underwater Photo Week (2014)
A landmark event conceived by Stephen Frink and supported by the Bahamas Diving Association and Ministry of Tourism. The concept was to deploy four photographers simultaneously across different islands to produce a photographic documentary of the underwater life of the Bahamas. The photographers were: Frink (Bimini, Cat Island, Grand Bahama, Abaco), Cheng (New Providence, Harbour Island/Eleuthera), Berkley White (Andros, Exumas), and Mustard (Long Island, Conception, San Salvador). Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Cristian Dimitrius documented the event with an ambitious tour of all four photo teams, and Wetpixel’s Adam Hanlon and Abi Mullens provided daily coverage ([69]). Dimitrius subsequently produced a short film about his travels between the teams ([70]). The full article was published in the Fall 2014 edition of Alert Diver ([71]).
The 2008 Shark Bite Incident
On February 24, 2008, Markus Groh, a 49-year-old Austrian lawyer, was bitten by a bull shark at a site called “the End of the Map” while on an expedition aboard the M/V Shear Water. He was bitten in the calf while scuba diving in approximately 75 feet of water, assisted to the surface by crew, and flown via Coast Guard helicopter to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, where he died. The Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s Office listed the mode of death as accidental, with blood loss as the cause ([72]).
The incident generated extensive media coverage and debate about cageless shark diving. Eric Cheng provided detailed fact-checking of media reports on Wetpixel, correcting misinformation — including Shark Diver’s claim that the bite occurred at Tiger Beach (it did not) and that a tiger shark was involved (it was a bull shark). Neal Watson, president of the Bahamas Diving Association and operator of a competing shark diving business, publicly criticized Jim Abernethy’s operation, calling him “irresponsible,” though his competing commercial interest was not disclosed in most press coverage. As Cheng noted: “No article so far has pointed out that Neal Watson runs a competing diving operation” ([73]).
Rob Stewart of Sharkwater appeared on CNN and the Today Show defending shark diving. The Shark Angels — Kim McCoy, Julie Andersen, and Alison Kock — released a statement noting that this was the first reported fatality during a commercially organized shark diving expedition, and that Abernethy had maintained a spotless safety record over 35 years, bringing “tens of thousands of divers into the water” ([74]). The incident was described by George Burgess, Director of the International Shark Attack File, as “the first time anyone has ever died in a shark-feeding incident.” Bahamian authorities ultimately did not ban cageless shark diving ([75]).
Jim Abernethy and the M/V Shear Water
Jim Abernethy, through his company Jim Abernethy’s Scuba Adventures (JASA), was central to the Bahamas shark diving experience documented by Wetpixel. The M/V Shear Water liveaboard operated out of Riviera Beach, Florida, with multi-day crossings to various Bahamian dive sites ([76]).
In April 2009, Abernethy and crew member Sean Payne freed a lemon shark with a rope buried roughly an inch under its skin that had been wrapped around its head for years and was cutting into its gills. Abernethy held the shark still while Payne cut the line; total time out of water was one minute and three seconds ([77]). In December 2009, Abernethy published his first book, “Sharks — Up Close,” with endorsements from Howard and Michele Hall (IMAX filmmakers) and David Doubilet (National Geographic) ([78]).
In January 2011, Abernethy was bitten by a Caribbean reef shark and hospitalized. He stressed that his injuries were minor and wrote from his Facebook page: “Today’s minor incident will not deter me. I will continue my mission to help protect these beautiful animals.” He was evacuated by helicopter to St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach and released after several days, giving a press conference wearing his “Stop Eating Shark Fin Soup” shirt and demonstrating full mobility ([79], [80]).
Hurricane Relief
The Wetpixel community mobilized twice for Grand Bahama hurricane relief. Hurricane Matthew struck the West End in October 2016, with Epic Diving organizing collection of survival items and donations ([81]). Hurricane Dorian in September 2019 was far more devastating, remaining stationary over Grand Bahama for over a day, causing deaths and widespread destruction. Epic Diving again served as a conduit for financial donations, with 100% passed directly to the local community. Drop-off locations for physical supplies were established across South Florida ([82]).
Notable Photographers
- Eric Cheng — Organized and led Wetpixel Bahamas shark expeditions from 2002 through at least 2010; photographed sharks, dolphins, oceanic whitetips, and swimming pigs extensively ([83])
- Jim Abernethy — Legendary shark dive operator; captain of the M/V Shear Water; discovered Bahamian oceanic whitetip sites; published “Sharks — Up Close” in 2009; bitten by a Caribbean reef shark in January 2011 but continued his shark advocacy ([84])
- Alex Mustard — Led the 2009 Wetpixel oceanic whitetip expedition; photographed San Salvador, Long Island, and Conception Island during 2014 Photo Week ([85])
- Stephen Frink — Conceived and organized the 2014 Bahamas Underwater Photo Week; photographed Bimini, Cat Island, Grand Bahama, and Abaco ([86])
- Berkley White — Photographed Andros and Exumas during 2014 Photo Week, specializing in blue hole and wreck photography with off-camera lighting ([87])
- Daniel Botelho — Shot oceanic whitetips and dusky sharks at Cat Island for Walt Disney Company; pioneered snorkeling approach for closer shark encounters ([88])
- Brian Skerry — Shot the National Geographic “An Eden for Sharks” cover story over ten weeks of diving in the Bahamas ([89])
- Joe Romeiro — Filmmaker who produced “Nina Salerosa” featuring Cristina Zenato, and filmed great hammerheads off Bimini ([90])
- Cristina Zenato — UNEXSO-based shark handler known for inducing tonic immobility in Caribbean reef sharks at Shark Junction, Grand Bahama ([91])
- Shane Gross — Published “Bahamas Underwater” book in 2021 with BREEF, donating copies to every school in the Bahamas; includes a foreword by Jean-Michel Cousteau ([92])
- Dr. Samuel “Doc” Gruber — Founder of the Bimini Biological Field Station; shark biologist who studied lemon sharks for over forty years; passed away in April 2019 ([93])
Timeline
- 2002-07: Eric Cheng publishes trip report from his first Bahamas shark expedition aboard Jim Abernethy’s M/V Shear Water, accompanied by Jim Watt, David Fleetham, and Andy Sallmon with five Canon D60s ([94])
- 2003-02: Cheng visits Jim Abernethy in West Palm Beach, then joins a 10-day shark photography expedition with Dive Magazine UK aboard the Shear Water ([95])
- 2005-04: Wetpixel Bahamas Shark Expedition 2005 described as “EPIC” — subjects include tiger sharks, great hammerheads, lemon sharks, and reef sharks. Coverage by Cheng, James Wiseman, Gadi Porat, and others ([96])
- 2005-06: Forum member bkuner posts Nikon D70 gallery from the Shear Water, noting a transition from Nikonos V to digital SLR ([97])
- 2005-07: Forum member debersole posts images from night diving with tiger sharks aboard the Shear Water, including diving with his 16-year-old daughter ([98])
- 2005-12: Half-price spots offered on December Bahamas expedition due to cancellations; Cheng notes he has been on three trips so far ([99])
- 2006-03: Wetpixel Bahamas 2006 shark expedition returns with video footage of tiger sharks ([100])
- 2006-11: Wildeye announces 2007 Bimini Shark Encounter with shark biologists Doc Gruber and Dean Grubbs ([101])
- 2007-01: Wetpixel announces two Bahamas charters for July 2007; both sell out within days. Photo expertise by Cheng, Tony Wu, and Alex Mustard ([102])
- 2007-03: National Geographic publishes Brian Skerry’s “An Eden for Sharks” Bahamas feature ([103])
- 2007-08: 2007 Bahamas expedition trip journals published; encounters with tiger, lemon, and Caribbean reef sharks. JASA also offers exploratory Gulf Stream Drift expedition ([104], [105])
- 2008-02: Markus Groh killed by bull shark bite at “End of the Map” dive site while aboard the Shear Water. Major media coverage and debate over cageless shark diving follows. Shark Angels issue statement; Rob Stewart appears on CNN and Today Show ([106], [107])
- 2008-05: Wetpixel oceanic whitetip expedition to Cat Island finds three sharks on arrival, with several days of diving; also visits Big Major Cay (swimming pigs) and returns to End of the Map for first time since the accident ([108])
- 2009-04: Jim Abernethy and crew free a lemon shark with rope buried under its skin ([109])
- 2009-05: Alex Mustard leads Wetpixel oceanic whitetip expedition to the Bahamas ([110])
- 2009-06: Eric Cheng photographs “Emma,” described as “probably the world’s most photographed tiger shark,” during Bahamas sharks and dolphins trip ([111])
- 2009-08: CBS Evening News airs segment on lionfish culling efforts in the Bahamas ([112])
- 2009-12: Jim Abernethy publishes first book, “Sharks — Up Close,” endorsed by Howard and Michele Hall and David Doubilet ([113])
- 2010-06: Guillaume Nery’s freediving “base jump” video at Dean’s Blue Hole goes viral ([114])
- 2010-09: SUNCO Wholesale Seafood Ltd. announces plans to export shark fin from the Bahamas, triggering conservation campaign ([115]). Joe Romeiro releases “Nina Salerosa” video featuring Cristina Zenato in defense of Bahamas sharks ([116])
- 2011-01: Jim Abernethy bitten by Caribbean reef shark and hospitalized; released after several days, vows to continue shark advocacy ([117]). Pew Environment Group values Bahamas shark tourism at $78 million annually ([118])
- 2011-07: Bahamas bans all commercial shark fishing across 630,000 square kilometers, following ten months of campaigning by Bahamas National Trust and Pew Environment Group ([119])
- 2011-08: Emma the tiger shark confirmed pregnant; Jim Abernethy had noticed mating wounds as early as June 2010 ([120])
- 2012-05: GoPro features Tiger Beach in HERO2 underwater housing marketing ([121])
- 2012-08: Jason Bradley leads Wetpixel Sharks and Dolphins expedition; Tropical Storm Debby forces early return but group encounters Emma the tiger shark ([122])
- 2013-01: Joe Romeiro films great hammerhead sharks off Bimini ([123])
- 2013-02: John Bantin pioneers great hammerhead photography at Bimini with Stuart Cove, resulting in “The Next Big Thing” feature in Diver magazine ([124])
- 2013-05: Daniel Botelho photographs oceanic whitetips and dusky sharks at Cat Island for Walt Disney Company ([125])
- 2014-05: Bahamas Underwater Photo Week deploys four photographers across the islands; filmed by Cristian Dimitrius and covered by Wetpixel. Published in Alert Diver ([126])
- 2014-10: Jason deCaires Taylor unveils “Ocean Atlas,” the world’s largest underwater sculpture, off New Providence ([127]). Cristian Dimitrius publishes his Bahamas Underwater Photo Week film ([128])
- 2015-09: Bahamas expands marine protected areas to over 11 million acres with 15 new parks ([129])
- 2016-03: Wetpixel Bahamas Hammerhead and Tiger Shark Expedition operates from Bimini with Epic Diving; encounters up to seven individual great hammerheads plus bull sharks ([130])
- 2016-10: Hurricane Matthew strikes Grand Bahama’s West End; Epic Diving and Wetpixel organize relief efforts ([131])
- 2017-02: Science Direct paper quantifies Bahamas shark diving industry at US$113.8 million annually ([132]). Several swimming pigs found dead in Exuma; investigation launched by Bahamas Humane Society ([133])
- 2017-11: Wetpixel, RED Digital Cinema, and Gates Underwater Products host Tiger Beach filmmakers workshop with Epic Diving ([134])
- 2019-04: Dr. Samuel “Doc” Gruber, founder of the Bimini Biological Field Station, passes away ([135])
- 2019-09: Hurricane Dorian devastates Grand Bahama; Epic Diving and Wetpixel community organize hurricane relief ([136])
- 2020-12: Adam Hanlon and Alex Mustard discuss Tiger Beach photography techniques in Wetpixel Live episode ([137])
- 2021-03: Shane Gross releases “Bahamas Underwater” book in partnership with BREEF, with foreword by Jean-Michel Cousteau, donating a copy to every school in the Bahamas ([138])
References
Wetpixel Live
Sources
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- Wetpixel article, Jan 21, 2007: Wetpixel Bahamas Sharks Dolphins Expeditions July 2007 ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 27, 2008: Oceanic White Tip Shark Expedition Trip Report ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 27, 2008: Oceanic White Tip Shark Expedition Trip Report ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 21, 2002: Bahamas 2002 With D60s ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 15, 2003: Echeng West Palm Beachbahamas 2003 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 28, 2005: Bahamas Shark Expedition Dec 12 21 2005 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 6, 2005: Wetpixel Bahamas Shark Expedition 2005 Report ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 21, 2007: Wetpixel Bahamas Sharks Dolphins Expeditions July 2007 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 7, 2007: Bahamas Exploratory Drift Expedition August 21 27 ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 24, 2009: Wetpixel Bahamas Oceanic White Tip Expedition 2009 Returns To Port ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 17, 2012: Trip Report Wetpixel Bahamas Sharks And Dolphins 2012 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 9, 2016: Live Updates Wetpixel Bahama Shark Expedition ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 26, 2014: Coverage Bahamas Underwater Photo Week ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 20, 2014: Video Bahamas Underwater Photo Week By Cristian Dimitrius ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 13, 2014: Bahamas Underwater Photo Week ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 29, 2008: Bahamas Shark Bite Aboard Shear Water Official Thread ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 29, 2008: Bahamas Shark Bite Aboard Shear Water Official Thread ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 25, 2008: Bahamas Shark Bite Statement From Shark Angels ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 29, 2008: Bahamas Shark Bite Aboard Shear Water Official Thread ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 24, 2005: Wetpixel Bahamas Shark Expedition ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 15, 2009: Jim Abernethy And Crew Free Tangled Lemon Shark ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 3, 2009: Announcing Jim Abernethys Book Sharks Up Close ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 27, 2011: Jim Abernethy Hospitalized After Lemon Shark Bite ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 29, 2011: Jim Abernethy Speaks To The Press About Shark Bite ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 13, 2016: Hurricane Matthew Grand Bahama Relief ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 4, 2019: Grand Bahama Hurricane Relief ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 21, 2007: Wetpixel Bahamas Sharks Dolphins Expeditions July 2007 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 27, 2011: Jim Abernethy Hospitalized After Lemon Shark Bite ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 24, 2009: Wetpixel Bahamas Oceanic White Tip Expedition 2009 Returns To Port ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 26, 2014: Coverage Bahamas Underwater Photo Week ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 13, 2014: Bahamas Underwater Photo Week ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 21, 2013: Daniel Botelho Sharks Of Cat Island ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 5, 2007: National Geographic Sharks Of The Bahamas ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 20, 2010: Nina Salerosa A Video In Defence Of Bahamas Sharks ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 26, 2014: Video Cristina Zenato Taming The Untamed ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 24, 2021: Book Release Bahamas Underwater By Shane Gross ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 25, 2019: Rip Samuel Doc Gruber ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 21, 2002: Bahamas 2002 With D60s ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 15, 2003: Echeng West Palm Beachbahamas 2003 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 6, 2005: Wetpixel Bahamas Shark Expedition 2005 Report ↩
- Forum thread: D70 Bahamas Gallery From The Shear Water ↩
- Forum thread: Night Diving With Tiger Sharks ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 28, 2005: Bahamas Shark Expedition Dec 12 21 2005 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 26, 2006: Wetpixel Bahamas Trip 2006 Images And Video ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 28, 2006: 2007 Bimini Shark Encounter Ready For Applications ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 21, 2007: Wetpixel Bahamas Sharks Dolphins Expeditions July 2007 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 5, 2007: National Geographic Sharks Of The Bahamas ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 1, 2007: Wetpixel Bahamas Expedition 2007 Trip Journals ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 7, 2007: Bahamas Exploratory Drift Expedition August 21 27 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 29, 2008: Bahamas Shark Bite Aboard Shear Water Official Thread ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 25, 2008: Bahamas Shark Bite Statement From Shark Angels ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 27, 2008: Oceanic White Tip Shark Expedition Trip Report ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 15, 2009: Jim Abernethy And Crew Free Tangled Lemon Shark ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 24, 2009: Wetpixel Bahamas Oceanic White Tip Expedition 2009 Returns To Port ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 5, 2009: Cheng Does Bahamas Sharks And Dolphins ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 25, 2009: Lionfish Cull In The Bahamas Cbs Evening News ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 3, 2009: Announcing Jim Abernethys Book Sharks Up Close ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 8, 2010: Guillaume Nery Underwater Base Jump At Deans Blue Hole ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 9, 2010: Bahamian Sharks Threatened By Shark Finning ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 20, 2010: Nina Salerosa A Video In Defence Of Bahamas Sharks ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 27, 2011: Jim Abernethy Hospitalized After Lemon Shark Bite ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 12, 2011: Pew Group On Shark Conservation In The Bahamas ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 3, 2011: Bahamas Announces Legislation To Protect Sharks ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 23, 2011: Emma The Tiger Shark Is Pregnant ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 23, 2012: Gopro Feature Free Diving At Tiger Beach ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 17, 2012: Trip Report Wetpixel Bahamas Sharks And Dolphins 2012 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 12, 2013: The Great Hammerhead By Joe Romeiro1 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 24, 2015: John Bantin Bimini Hammerheads ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 21, 2013: Daniel Botelho Sharks Of Cat Island ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 26, 2014: Coverage Bahamas Underwater Photo Week ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 20, 2014: Jason Decaires Taylor Unveils New Underwater Sculpture In Bahamas ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 20, 2014: Video Bahamas Underwater Photo Week By Cristian Dimitrius ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 20, 2015: The Bahamas Expands Marine Protected Areas ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 9, 2016: Live Updates Wetpixel Bahama Shark Expedition ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 13, 2016: Hurricane Matthew Grand Bahama Relief ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 3, 2017: Paper Quantifies Benefits Of Shark Diving To Bahamas Economy ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 21, 2017: Several Swimming Pigs Found Dead In Bahamas ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 14, 2017: Spaces Available Wetpixel Red And Gates Tiger Beach Filmmakers Workshop ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 25, 2019: Rip Samuel Doc Gruber ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 4, 2019: Grand Bahama Hurricane Relief ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 21, 2020: Wetpixel Live Tiger Beach For Photographers ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 24, 2021: Book Release Bahamas Underwater By Shane Gross ↩
- Bahamas 2002, with D60s (article) ↩
- ECHENG Bahamas Trip (article) ↩
- ECHENG West Palm Beach/Bahamas 2003 (article) ↩
- Shark Photography Expedition, Bahamas (article) ↩
- Wetpixel Bahamas Shark Expedition 2005 Report (article) ↩
- Bahamas Shark Expedition, Dec 12-21, 2005 (article) ↩
- Wetpixel Bahamas Trip 2006: images and video (article) ↩
- 2007 Bimini Shark Encounter ready for applications (article) ↩
- Wetpixel Bahamas Sharks/Dolphins Expeditions, July 2007 (article) ↩
- National Geographic: An Eden for Sharks (article) ↩
- Wetpixel Bahamas Expedition 2007 trip journals (article) ↩
- Bahamas exploratory drift expedition (article) ↩
- Bahamas shark bite statement from Shark Angels (article) ↩
- Bahamas shark bite aboard Shear Water, official thread (article) ↩
- Seeking testimonials for Markus Groh, Jim Abernethy, and M/V Shear Water (article) ↩
- Oceanic white-tip shark expedition trip report (article) ↩
- Jim Abernethy and crew free tangled lemon shark (article) ↩
- Wetpixel Bahamas oceanic white-tip expedition 2009 returns to port (article) ↩
- Cheng does Bahamas sharks and dolphins (article) ↩
- Bimini Biological Field Station “PIT” lemon shark census 2009 (article) ↩
- Lionfish cull in the Bahamas, CBS evening news (article) ↩
- Announcing Jim Abernethy’s book Sharks Up Close (article) ↩
- Guillaume Nery underwater base jump at Dean’s Blue Hole (article) ↩
- Bahamian sharks threatened by shark finning (article) ↩
- Nina Salerosa: A video in defense of Bahamas sharks (article) ↩
- PEW Group on shark conservation in the Bahamas (article) ↩
- Jim Abernethy hospitalized after shark bite (article) ↩
- Jim Abernethy speaks to the press about shark bite (article) ↩
- Help support the ban on Nassau Grouper fishing (article) ↩
- Bahamas announces legislation to protect sharks (article) ↩
- Emma the tiger shark is pregnant (article) ↩
- Night diving with Oceanic Whitetip sharks (article) ↩
- GoPro features free-diving at Tiger Beach (article) ↩
- Trip report: Wetpixel Bahamas Sharks and Dolphins 2012 (article) ↩
- The Great Hammerhead by Joe Romeiro (article) ↩
- Daniel Botelho: Sharks of Cat Island (article) ↩
- Coverage: Bahamas Underwater Photo Week (article) ↩
- Video: Cristina Zenato taming the untamed (article) ↩
- Jason deCaires Taylor unveils new underwater sculpture in Bahamas (article) ↩
- Video: Bahamas Underwater Photo Week by Cristian Dimitrius (article) ↩
- Bahamas Underwater Photo Week (article) ↩
- Survey: Shark tourism in the Bahamas (article) ↩
- The Bahamas expands marine protected areas (article) ↩
- John Bantin: Bimini Hammerheads (article) ↩
- Live updates: Wetpixel Bahama Shark Expedition (article) ↩
- Hurricane Matthew Grand Bahama Relief (article) ↩
- Paper quantifies benefits of shark diving to Bahamas economy (article) ↩
- Several swimming pigs found dead in Bahamas (article) ↩
- Wetpixel, RED and Gates Tiger Beach Filmmakers workshop (article) ↩
- RIP Samuel “Doc” Gruber (article) ↩
- Grand Bahama Hurricane Relief (article) ↩
- Wetpixel Live: Tiger Beach for Photographers (article) ↩
- Book Release: Bahamas Underwater by Shane Gross (article) ↩
- D70 Bahamas gallery from the Shear Water (forum) ↩
- Night Diving with Tiger Sharks (forum) ↩
- Wetpixel Live Ep. 119: Underwater Photographer’s Guide to Tiger Beach (unknown) ↩
- Wetpixel Live Extra: Tiger Beach 2016 (unknown) ↩