Bimini

The Bahamas’ western gateway, about 50 miles off South Florida: sport fishing, diving and easy island time.

Bimini is a small group of islands — chiefly North Bimini and South Bimini — that sits closer to Florida than any other part of the Bahamas, roughly 50 miles east of Miami. Alice Town on North Bimini is the main settlement, and the island calls itself a big-game fishing capital; Ernest Hemingway spent time here in the 1930s. Divers visit the concrete-hulled wreck of the SS Sapona and the underwater stones known as the Bimini Road.

Main settlementAlice Town, North Bimini

AirportSouth Bimini (BIM)

FerryHigh-speed ferry from Fort Lauderdale (check schedule)

Best forFishing, diving, boaters, quick getaways

Highlights of Bimini

Sport fishing

Bimini’s deep Gulf Stream waters are known for marlin, tuna and sailfish; flats for bonefish.

SS Sapona wreck

A shallow, partly exposed concrete ship off South Bimini, popular for snorkeling.

Bimini Road

A line of flat underwater stones off North Bimini — natural rock formation or legend, it’s a popular dive.

Hemingway history

Alice Town’s bars and marinas trade on the writer’s Bimini years.

Beaches

Radio Beach and quieter stretches on North Bimini.

Dolphins & sharks

Tour operators offer wild dolphin and shark encounters — choose responsible operators.

Getting There

By sea: A high-speed passenger ferry runs from Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale) to Bimini on a published schedule, and many boaters cross in their own vessels. Bimini is also visited on some short cruises — see Bahamas cruises.

By air: South Bimini Airport (BIM) has flights from South Florida and Nassau. Compare fares on AirfaresForLess.com.

Where to Stay

Stay at the resort-and-marina complex at the north end of North Bimini, or at smaller inns and marinas in Alice Town. Browse the Bahamas Hotel Guide or ask a specialist.