Bahamas Aggressor – Exuma Cays and Pigs on a Beach Trip Report

In late October, a few friends and I boarded the Bahamas Aggressor for a week of scuba diving in the Exuma Cays, one of the most popular liveaboard diving regions in the Bahamas. Departing from Nassau, we visited a range of sites known for clear water, vibrant marine life, and memorable underwater encounters. The boat crew and dive staff were friendly, professional, and helpful throughout the week, helping create a smooth and enjoyable experience on board. This video captures some of the sea life we observed during the trip and offers a glimpse into what diving the Exuma Cays can look like from below the surface.

Although this trip was built around scuba diving, we also had the option to skip two dives and visit Pig Beach in the Exuma Islands, one of the most famous non-diving attractions in the Bahamas. Also known as Pig Island, the site is known for its resident swimming pigs and is a popular stop on many Exuma excursions. During our visit, we were lucky to see several young piglets staying close to their parents, which made the experience feel even more special. I filmed this clip with a SeaLife DC2000 and edited it in Final Cut Pro X.

Caribbean reef sharks were one of the most memorable highlights of the week, and we encountered them at several dive sites throughout the trip. Much of this underwater footage was filmed near the Austin Smith Wreck, a well-known dive site in the Exuma Cays where sharks often patrol the area around the wreck and the surrounding reef. Seeing these animals move so confidently through the clear Bahamian water was a major part of what made diving this itinerary so exciting.

On our final dive of the trip, we encountered a very large loggerhead turtle at the Lost Blue Hole, a well-known dive site in the Bahamas and a memorable stop on this Exuma Cays itinerary. Watching a turtle of this size move calmly through the blue water was an unforgettable way to end the week of diving. Moments like this highlight the appeal of scuba diving in the Bahamas, where dramatic sites and iconic marine life often come together on the same trip.

During a night dive near the Exumas, I came across Mithrax spinosissimus, commonly known as the channel clinging crab or West Indian spider crab. This Caribbean species is found in the Bahamas, South Florida, and other tropical western Atlantic waters, where it often hides among reefs and rocky structure. With its long, spiny legs and distinctive shape, it was one of the more interesting macro and crustacean sightings from the trip.