Tiger Sharks and Great Hammerheads Trip Report 2024

Tiger Beach and Bimini, Bahamas
November 30 - December 7, 2024

Trip Report: Day One - December 1, 2024

We’ve arrived in the Bahamas! The crossing was a bit bumpy, but we made it.

Our day started early at West End, Grand Bahama, where we checked in with customs around 8 AM. From there, we headed straight to the Tiger Beach area with two dives planned for the day: a check-out dive at Turtle Reef and a swim-around at Fish Tales, Tiger Beach.🏖️

*Tiger Beach is a huge area, and Fish Tales is our dive site within the Tiger Beach area.

First Dive: Turtle Reef
Unfortunately, this one didn’t go as planned. When we arrived, visibility was horrible, thanks to low tide. We waited for nearly an hour to see if conditions would improve before giving it a try. I lasted all of ten minutes. The water was cold, and the visibility didn’t get much better. Definitely not the best start, but that is nature.

Second Dive: Fish Tales
Our second dive of the day was at Fish Tales, where we had much better visibility. 10-15 reef sharks and 4 or 5 lemon sharks were already swimming around. Always nice to see sharks. By the time we arrived, however, it was already getting dark. A few of us jumped in. I managed a quick 20-minute dive, captured some video on the GoPro, and called it a night.

Day one of diving was okay—a chance to get wet, see some sharks and shake off the travel fatigue, and test out our gear. Not the most memorable day in the water, but it laid the groundwork for what’s to come.

Tomorrow, we’ll start chumming and hopefully have better luck with the conditions.

The winds are expected to pick up. The rain clouds were rolling in fast at the end of the day, so it’ll be interesting to see how many dives we can squeeze in tomorrow.

Fingers crossed for good conditions tomorrow!

Trip Report: Day Two - December 2, 2024

Weather Day. We woke up to swelly seas and whitecaps as far as the eye could see. The captain gave it a shot, trying to make it to Tiger Beach, but the conditions were just too rough. Reluctantly, we turned the boat around and headed back to find calmer waters.

Even in the more sheltered areas, the wind is relentless, pushing the boat around and making it clear that today wasn’t going to be a dive day.

The forecast looks promising, though—the wind is expected to die down, and conditions should improve. Fingers crossed for better weather tomorrow so our guests can get the experience they’ve been looking forward to.

The best part of our day today was the sunset. Thanks to the cloudy sky we had an amazing sunset.

For now, it’s a day of movies, editing, and taking it easy as we wait for the ocean to calm down.

Looking forward to good luck and great seas on Day Three!

Trip Report: Day Three - December 3, 2024

Dive #1: Fish Tales
We started the day at Fish Tales, where conditions were still a bit rough, but the visibility was good enough to dive.

The dive began with lemon and reef sharks circling, but no tiger sharks at first. Then, after about 30 minutes, Gabriella arrived, and shortly after Heenly arrrived. Two very big resident tigers.

These are 13-14 foot tiger sharks. Very big girls. Jake was on the box and he put on a show for the guests.

Gabriella was with us for the majority of the dive, and everyone was thrilled to see her up close.

The dive had some challenges, though. The currents made it hard for our guests to stay in one spot. One guest ran low on air, so Jake helped him surface while I took over the bait box.

Unfortunately, I was low on air also and didn’t have enough weight on me, so I got a little floaty, which made it a bit tricky for me to work the box safely and stay down.

Despite the challenges, it was a fantastic first dive for everyone. Getting to dive after yesterdays shut out made our guests happy, but seeing the tiger sharks up close was the highlight of the day for everyone, and I was happy that we got tigers on the first dive of the day.

Dive #2: Low Visibility Challenges
By the time we began our second dive, low tide was rolling in, and visibility was dropping fast. We had two tiger sharks in the area, but with the murky water, I spent most of the dive keeping a close eye on everyone to ensure their safety.

When visibility is low, I’m constantly moving around to make sure everyone is okay. Thankfully, the dive went smoothly, and everyone handled the conditions well.

But towards the end of the dive, the visibility got worse and worse. At that point I told Jake that we should call it, and asked whoever was still diving to get back to the boat.

As I was heading to the down line for my safety stop, a new tiger shark arrived. This one looked different from the other two, and even in the murk it didn’t take long for me to recognize her—Emma, the queen of Tiger Beach, had returned.

We had two more dives planned for the day, but with the swells growing and visibility getting worse, we decided to cancel the dives and head for calmer waters.

Tomorrow is our final day at Tiger Beach. I am hoping for better conditions and another great day of diving for everyone!

Fingers crossed we have a great day tomorrow.

Trip Report: Day Four - December 4, 2024

Our Final Day at Tiger Beach

We kicked off our last day at Tiger Beach with a morning dive at Fish Tales, and conditions couldn’t have been better. The swells had calmed, visibility was great, and though it was a bit cloudy, we still had patches of sunshine—perfect for natural light photography.

I was the first one in the water, which is always special. Just you, the ocean, and its wildlife… it’s a feeling that never gets old.

At the bottom, I encountered a chilly thermocline that created a hazy layer in the last few feet. The slow current meant stirred-up sand lingered longer than usual. With no tigers in sight yet and the other divers still getting ready, I decided to explore the reef.

While exploring, I found a barracuda hovering at a cleaning station. Unlike most barracudas that dart away when approached, this one stayed put, allowing me to snap a few shots. Though it didn’t let me photograph it head-on—always keeping itself in an escape-ready position—it looked incredible with its striking tiger-striped pattern.

As I returned to the group, Emma appeared, swimming gracefully over the reef. It’s always exciting to see her. Having Emma, the old queen of Tiger Beach, join the dive is an honor. She was sporting fresh mating scars—hopefully a sign of a successful pairing. If so, she might be carrying babies next season when we return.

Dive #2: Tigers Galore

For our second dive, the action started before we even hit the water. Right when I jumped in, I spotted Gabriella swimming below and called out “two tigers” as the guests prepared to jump in. By the time I descended, another tiger—Jitter Bug—had joined, making it three. Shortly after, Henly, Gabriella’s usual travel buddy, arrived, bringing the count to four tiger sharks.

It was incredible to see Henly and Gabriella together again—they always seem to travel as a pair. It made me wonder if Jitter Bug travels with Emma?

The dive was fantastic, though visibility gradually became an issue as low tide set in. By the end of the session, the water was noticeably murkier, but it didn’t take away from the excitement of having four tiger sharks interacting with our group.

We wrapped up the morning with an incredible dive session, but by 1 PM, the captain decided the visibility was too murky for another dive.

With that, we began our journey to Bimini.

Tomorrow, the adventure continues as we set out in search of great hammerheads.

Tiger Beach has been unforgettable as always, but now it’s time to experience the next chapter of this incredible trip!

Trip Report: Day Five - December 5, 2024

Welcome to Bimini

We woke up in Bimini to absolutely stunning conditions—bright sunny skies, flat calm seas, and that perfect turquoise blue water. It was like waking up in a dream. Spirits were high as we started the day with an early search for spotted dolphins.

The captain found a pod of bachelor dolphins. They’re not as playful as the moms and calves, but still awesome. We tried three jumps with them. The first jump didn’t go well—they avoided us—but the second and third jumps delivered some fun encounters.

Not great because they didnt stay with us for very long, but still cool.

My favorite moment happened during the third jump. After a hard swim to catch up to the pod, I was rewarded with a playful dolphin staying close for a couple of minutes. To my surprise, the dolphin decided to relieve itself right in my direction, clearly aware of what it was doing. I started laughing, and I talked to the dolphin, “saying ok dude, I see what your doing. I would still like to swim some more with you.” A bit woo-woo. But I admit I did.

Thankfully the dolphin stuck around for another few minutes swimming around me and I managed a few images I was excited about.

This dolphin encounter was the perfect way to kick off the day— and a much-needed bit of exercise after several food-filled, days on the boat. The food on the DD is amazing!

Dive #1: Four Great Hammerheads!

Our first dive of the day started with an absolute bang. Within five minutes of chumming, four great hammerheads appeared. The conditions couldn’t have been better—flat calm seas, warm water, and bright blue skies.

During the dive, a bull shark also joined the action, and then Joker, the resident tiger shark, made an appearance. It was an epic session, lasting an hour and a half at just 30 feet deep. The sharks were incredibly active, and I had a blast experimenting with different types of shots—low angles, up high, verticals, and extreme close ups. With so much shark activity and perfect conditions, it was fun trying out new shot ideas.

Cris took the bait box for most of the dive, but when he needed to change tanks, I took over and had a few fun passes with the sharks. Feeding them one last time for the 2024 season felt bittersweet, but what a way to close out the year.

Dive #2: Slower but Still Solid

After my long first dive, I decided to grab lunch and take a bit of a surface interval while a few other divers refilled their tanks and headed straight back in. Once I finished lunch, I dropped in to see what was happening.

By this time, most of the hammerheads had left, leaving just one—Gaia, their massive resident female—who would periodically come in for snacks before disappearing into the periphery. The bull shark was still hanging around, but Joker and the other hammerheads had moved on.

The visibility was starting to drop, making the water look a bit cloudy, but it was still decent overall. While the second dive wasn’t as good as the first, it was still a solid session with an amazing shark and a great way to wrap up the day.

Tomorrow is our final day, and we’ll have one more chance to soak in everything.

Going to make the most of it!

Trip Report: Day Six - December 6, 2024

Final Day of Diving

Today is the final day of our trip, and we couldn’t have asked for better conditions. The ocean greeted us with flat calm seas and crystal-clear water—the kind of perfection divers dream of.

Chris got to work chumming, and it didn’t take long to attract the first shark. About 10–15 minutes in, a great hammerhead appeared. I dropped in about 30 minutes later, and by the time I got in the water, a second hammerhead had joined.

Shortly after, a third hammerhead showed up, and it was game on!

The visibility was incredible, making the first dive of the day perfection. The currents were pretty strong, which posed a bit of a challenge, but it didn’t detract from the experience. I stayed down for about an hour and a half, spending time with three friendly and elegant hammerheads.

These sharks are absolutely stunning—so classy and photogenic. For any photographer, they’re a dream subject.

When I surfaced, a few divers were already heading back in for their second dives. Conditions were so perfect that I almost felt guilty getting out of the water. It was one of those moments where you want to stay down until your tank is bone dry.

On this dive, I played around with different angles and compositions, experimenting with my photography. It was fun and kept me engaged as the time seemed to fly by.

Final Dive of the Trip

After lunch, we suited up for our final dive of the trip. Two great hammerheads greeted us, including Gaia, who finally made an appearance. She’s such a massive shark—truly a sight to behold. There are tales of even larger hammerheads in the area, but I’ve yet to meet them.

Here’s hoping for that encounter in the future!

This was a strict one-hour dive, as we needed to pull anchor and begin our journey back to Florida. We’re trying to stay ahead of incoming weather to ensure a smooth crossing over the Gulf Stream.

This trip has been nothing short of a monster success. Over the past week, we’ve shared amazing encounters with tiger sharks, dolphins, and great hammerheads. The conditions, the wildlife, and the wonderful group of people made this experience truly magical.

To everyone who joined us this week—thank you for being part of this journey. It’s been an unforgettable adventure, and I feel so blessed to have shared it with you.

Life is good. Until next season, Tiger Beach and Bimini!