Bahamas Yacht Photos
The Bahamas as you see it from the deck of a private charter, across six galleries.
The Bahamas From the Water
Almost every photograph on this page was taken from a boat, and that is the point. The Bahamas looks different from the water than it does from a beach or a hotel balcony. Colour changes with depth, so a sandbar reads pale green at one hour and white at another, and the line where the shallow bank drops into the deep is visible from the deck long before you reach it.
These galleries are organised the way our charters actually run. The vessels we charter out of Nassau, the reefs and marine life you swim over on a snorkeling stop, the light at the end of the day, and the two Exuma landmarks people ask for by name: the sunken aircraft at Norman's Cay, and the swimming pigs at Big Major Cay.
If a photograph makes you want to go somewhere specific, tell us. Most of what you see here sits within a day of Nassau, and the rest is reachable on a three day charter or longer.
Luxury Yachts 8 photographs
Motor yachts we charter from Nassau, under way, at anchor and alongside. See the full luxury yacht fleet for what is currently available.
Catamarans 8 photographs
Wide decks, shade and shallow draft, which is what makes a catamaran suit Bahamian water. More on the catamaran fleet.
Snorkeling and Marine Life 8 photographs
Reef stops are a standard part of a charter rather than an extra. Our snorkeling guide covers the sites and conditions in detail.
Sunsets and Scenery 8 photographs
Late afternoon is the hour most guests remember, and a sunset charter is timed around it rather than around the clock.
Norman's Cay Drug Plane 8 photographs
The aircraft that went down in the shallows at Norman's Cay in the early nineteen eighties, in the northern Exumas. Context in our Exumas guide.
Swimming Pigs and Wildlife 8 photographs
Big Major Cay in the middle Exumas, plus the wildlife and coastline around it. What the stop is really like is on our swimming pigs page.
Where These Places Are
The galleries above cover a lot of water, and the distances matter when you are planning. Rose Island and Green Cay sit roughly fifteen miles from Nassau, about thirty five minutes, which is why they carry most half day and full day charters. The Nassau guide covers that ground.
Norman's Cay is in the northern Exumas. Big Major Cay and Staniel Cay are further south again, around seventy five miles from Nassau. Both are reachable on a long day on a fast vessel, but they suit a multi day charter far better, which is the honest answer we give most people who ask.
The Abacos, including Green Turtle Cay, are a separate cruising ground north of Nassau and are arranged differently. Some guests fly one leg to save time, which the seaplane page explains, and a few arrive by sea, covered on Miami to the Bahamas.
Questions About These Photographs and Places
What you can actually see, and what depends on the day.
Can we visit everything shown in these galleries on one charter?
Not in a single day. The Nassau area galleries and the Exumas galleries are about seventy five miles apart, so a day charter covers one or the other. A three day charter reaches the Exumas landmarks and still leaves time in the water. A week covers most of what is on this page comfortably.
How far is Norman's Cay from Nassau?
Norman's Cay sits in the northern Exumas, closer to Nassau than Staniel Cay is. It is reachable on a long day charter with a reasonably quick vessel, and it is a comfortable stop on any multi day trip heading south down the chain.
Can we snorkel at the sunken aircraft at Norman's Cay?
Yes. The aircraft lies in shallow clear water, which is what makes it a snorkeling stop rather than a dive site. Visibility and current vary with conditions on the day, so the captain will judge whether it is comfortable when you arrive.
Where exactly are the swimming pigs in these photographs?
Big Major Cay, an uninhabited island in the middle Exumas, a short run from Staniel Cay. It is roughly seventy five miles from Nassau harbour, so plan on a full day at minimum and preferably a multi day charter.
Will we definitely see wildlife on our charter?
No, and we will not promise it. The pigs at Big Major Cay and the nurse sharks at Compass Cay are reliably present. Turtles, rays and reef fish are common but depend on conditions, season and luck. Anyone guaranteeing a specific animal is guessing.
Is the water really the colour shown here?
On a bright day over shallow sand, yes. The colour comes from sunlight reaching pale sand through shallow water, so it is strongest at midday in settled conditions and flatter under cloud or when wind has stirred the shallows.
What is the best time of day for photographs from a yacht?
Two windows. Late morning through early afternoon gives the strongest water colour because the sun is high enough to light the bottom. The last hour before sunset gives warm light on the boat and the coastline. Midday is harsh for people and excellent for water.
Can we bring our own camera aboard?
Yes, and most guests do. Anything going in the water needs a waterproof housing, and it is worth keeping phones in a dry bag on tender runs. Salt spray reaches further across a deck than people expect.
Can we fly a drone from the yacht?
Ask us before you travel. Drone use is subject to Bahamian regulations and to the policy of the individual vessel and her captain, so it is not something we can approve in advance on a web page. Raise it at the time of booking and we will find out for your specific charter.
Which yachts appear in the luxury yacht gallery?
The gallery represents the type of motor yacht we charter from Nassau rather than one specific hull. For vessel by vessel detail, including what is aboard each one, see the fleet page.
Can we charter a catamaran like the ones in the second gallery?
Yes. Catamarans are among the most requested vessels we handle, particularly for families and larger groups, because of the deck space and the way they sit flat at anchor. Availability changes constantly, so ask us what is free on your dates.
Can we stop at a sandbar for photographs?
Yes, and it is one of the better stops on any charter. Sandbars surface as the tide falls and disappear again as it rises, so your captain will plan the timing around the tide rather than the clock if this matters to you.
Can children take part in the snorkeling shown here?
Usually yes. Crew choose shallow protected sites when there are children aboard, flotation aids are generally available, and nobody is obliged to get in. Tell us the ages when you enquire so the day can be planned around them.
Can we request a specific place from these galleries?
Yes. Tell us which photograph or place caught your eye and we will tell you honestly what length of charter it needs and whether the conditions in your travel window suit it. Itineraries are agreed with the captain rather than fixed in advance.
How do we arrange a charter to the places on this page?
Send us your dates, your group size and which of these places you most want to see. We will come back with the vessels genuinely available, what each one costs, and an honest view of how many days it takes. Start on our contact page.
Come and See It From the Deck
Photographs only go so far. Tell us which of these places matters most to you and we will put together a charter that reaches it, on a vessel that suits your group.
Private crewed charters from Nassau, with itineraries planned around tide, weather and what you actually want to see.
Water colour and visibility are best in settled weather, so flexible dates help.