BIMINI, THE HAMMERHEAD & DOLPHIN PLAYGROUND
Bimini is a tiny chain of islands perched on the edge of the Great Bahama Bank, where shallow turquoise sandbanks drop into the deep blue of the Gulf Stream. This meeting point between warm, clear water and rich currents creates the perfect conditions for big animals: it’s one of the few places in the world where you can spend the morning eye‑to‑eye with great hammerhead sharks and the afternoon playing with wild Atlantic spotted dolphins on the same ocean stage.
The dolphin grounds here are world renowned for their resident pods: generations of Atlantic spotted dolphins that have grown up around boats and snorkelers. They come in to investigate, surf your bow wave, and dance around you in the blue. This isn’t a quick tourist stop; it’s long, unhurried time in open water, letting the dolphins decide how close they want to come, and boy oh boy they love to play.
Just 5 minutes from the port is the best place in the world to dive with great hammerhead sharks. These huge, curious animals glide slowly over the bottom, circling divers with their unmistakable silhouettes. This dive is unmatched around the world and you might be even luckier if a curious tiger shark shows up to make it even more electric.
And beyond dolphins and hammerheads, Bimini’s waters are alive with even more: caribbean reef sharks, sting rays, tiger sharks, coral reefs, turtles…
Highlights of the trip
Wildlife is in fact wild. Nature cannot be controlled. We will do our best during this trip to organise sufficient excursions to give wildlife encounters the highest possible chance of happening. But please remember that we cannot control if the animals want to see us. We will always strive for respect and simplicity first.
Accommodation
Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina
You’ll spend the week at Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina, a historic out‑island hotel in the heart of Alice Town on North Bimini. The resort sits right on the water, with boats, palm trees, and bonefish flats just a few steps from your room. It’s the perfect base for long days at sea and slow evenings watching the light fade over the marina. The beach is just across the island an easy 2 minute walk.
Our guests stay in comfortable, air‑conditioned rooms with either twin or king beds, private bathrooms, and everything you need to recharge between ocean missions. Most rooms open onto a balcony or patio overlooking the pool, gardens, or marina, so you’re always just a moment away from the sea breeze.
There’s Wi‑Fi for checking in with home, a pool for quick dips, and plenty of quiet corners to journal, edit photos, or simply rest.
Best of all, our dive partner Bimini Scuba Center is right on site. The boats depart from the marina just a short walk from your room, which means no long transfers or early‑morning logistics: you wake up, have breakfast, grab your gear, and step straight onto the boat for another day in Bahamas blue water.
Program
Day One
Arrive in Bimini and on Sunday we’ll start with a lunch together before our first ocean adventure. An easy but stunning one to give you the chance to settle in, check your gear and make sure you are ready for what is coming next 😎
Day Two to Six - Dolphins, Hammerheads and a lot more
After breakfast, we’ll head out by boat for our daily missions, such as:
- Wild Dolphin Safaris (4 days) – long sessions in the shallows, looking for playful Atlantic spotted dolphins and, when conditions allow, slipping quietly into the water with them. The goal is very, very close interactions, but always on the dolphins terms 😍
- Great Hammerhead Day (1 day) – a full day dedicated to Bimini’s most iconic shark, for certified divers or guests who choose a Discover Scuba experience. Yes, you don’t need to be certified to do this dive 🤯
- Shark & Wreck Adventures – Caribbean reef/bull shark/stingrays safaris, shipwrecks, and shallow reefs, depending on weather and group energy. There’s a lot more to see around Bimini and you’ll get to do it all 💪🏻
We’ll adjust the exact schedule based on conditions, visibility, and where animals are most active.
You’ll have time to rest but these are not easy days at the beach 😅 we’re out in the water every single day to maximize our chances of the best encounters possible. This will not be a week you will easily forget 🤿
Day Seven
The last day in paradise includes breakfast, check‑out from the hotel and goodbyes to your new ocean friends.
How to get to Bimini and Back
Bimini is really close to south Florida so the best way to get there is to fly or take a ferry from Miami/Fort Lauderdale. Because most of our expeditions have people coming from all over the world we don’t include transportation to Bimini, but from the moment you step on the island we’ll take care of you. There are 4 options to reach the island that best fit our trip:
Option 1 – American Airlines Flights from Miami:
This is a great option, super convenient if you are flying from home to Miami for this trip. American Airlines flies on Saturdays (also on Mondays and Wednesdays) from MIA to Bimini at 10 am approximately. With this option you arrive a day early in Bimini and you have 24h to relax before the expedition starts. The return flight will land in MIA at 12 on Saturday. It’s a 25 min flight and round trip starts around 300 usd.
Option 2 – Ferries from Ft. Lauderdale:
If you don’t want an extra flight you can ferry over to Bimini. Balearia Caribbean operates the ferry from Port Everglades (45min north of Miami) on Wednesday, Friday, Sunday. So you could take the Sunday ferry at 9am and make it for lunch and go back on the 6pm ferry on Sunday and make it to Florida for dinner. With this option you have an extra day and night in Bimini after the expedition. Round trip is around 250/300 usd.
Option 3 – Mixed Ferry + Flight:
This is the option with no extra nights and therefore the cheapest. You take the Sunday ferry at 9am and you arrive in Bimini for lunch with the group and you leave with American Airlines flight as the trip ends on Saturday landing in MIA at noon. Round trip starts around 300 usd.
Option 4 – Seaplane from Ft. Lauderdale:
This is the coolest and most expensive. Out of FLL private airport in Fort Lauderdale Tropic Ocean Airways operates seaplanes which land in Bimini. They fly every day, multiple times a day so you can choose the most convenient for you. Leaving from a private terminal and landing in the water is definitely a more convenient and super cool experience but the planes are small and luggage space is limited. Round trips start around 500 usd.
Bonny & gava
FREEDIVING INSTRUCTORS & AWARD‑WINNING VIDEOGRAPHERS
We started Bonny & Gava as two 25 year olds from Italy who fell in love with the underwater world and decided not to go back to “normal life.” Since then, we’ve spent most of our time chasing wild encounters with sharks, dolphins, whales, and everything in between — and turning those into small, curated expeditions for people like you.
Bahams has been on our dream list for years: crystal‑clear water, playful dolphins, and some of the most iconic shark encounters in the world. That’s why we built the exact trip we wish existed when we were still stuck behind our desks.
Before you join us, we’ll be here by email to help you:
- Choose flights and route your travel to Bimini
- Decide what gear to bring (or rent)
- Organize packing lists and any other travel details
So when you land in Bimini, your only job is to jump in and enjoy the magic ✨
What's Included
What's included
- 7 days / 6 nights accommodation at Bimini Big Game Club (shared rooms)
- Return transfers from port of arrival to the hotel
- 4 dolphin days, 1 hammerhead day, and a few other ocean safaris, don’t worry, you’ll do everything there is to do 😉
- Breakfasts and lunches
- Expert captains and guides
- Workshops and briefings on ocean safety and animal behavior
- Freediving and underwater photography workshops
- Email support before the trip for flights, packing, and logistics questions
What's not included
- International travel to and from Bimini
- Hotels before/after the trip
- Dinners
- Dive gear rental
- Travel medical insurance covering shark diving and water activities (mandatory)
- Tips for crew and guides
- Anything not explicitly listed as included
Pricing
3500 €
ROOM ARRANGEMENTS: Shared Twin or King bed rooms with private bathroom.
We will pair up participants in the shared rooms based on sex, age and interests to make it the best experience for everyone! Single occupancy is available at additional cost.
There is only 4 spots left! Don’t miss your chance because this is the only week we will do in 2027 😎
Registrations will be on first come first serve basis so make sure you submit yours sooner than later to not miss your chance.
Official bookings will open on Wednesday 6th May. But if join the waitlist you will receive 24hr early access to the bookings so you don’t miss out on this incredible trip.
Requirements
Ocean Comfort
Free diving or scuba diving certifications are NOT necessary to participate, but a very good level of swimming and comfort in open waters is essential to enjoy the experiences. If you are not scuba certified and you wish to participate you can still do the Hammerhead Dives as a Discovery Dive, check the FAQ below for more info.
Insurance
A dive insurance is mandatory for this trip, we recommend Dive Assure. You can check it out here.
Travel insurance is not mandatory but recommended.
Gear
Please bring your own gear if you own it (masks, fins, snorkels, wetsuits, cameras, weight belts..etc). Weights and tanks are included. The rest of the gear will be available for rental if needed.
Language
It is important for every participant to speak English at a basic level so that we can all have a fun time together without leaving anyone out.
Terms & Conditions
Deposit
- Reserve your spot with a deposit
Click “Book your spot,” choose your preferred week and pay a EUR 500 deposit to hold your place instantly. If for safety or fit reasons we can’t confirm you, we’ll refund 100% of your deposit. - Tell us a bit about you
Right after payment, you’ll answer a short set of questions about your experience in the water, your health, and what you’re hoping for.
This helps us place you in the group where you’ll feel comfortable, safe, and get the most out of the adventure. - Get your confirmation
Once we’ve reviewed your answers and finalized groups, we’ll confirm your week, send all the details, and your spot is officially locked in.
The deposit is non-refundable once you’re accepted and confirmed.
Book your spot HERE, let’s start the adventure 😎
Payment
The remainder of the payment after the deposit will be asked via invoice and payed via bank transfer as follows:
- 50% by October 15th 2026
- 100% by January 15th 2027
Cancellation
Our cancellation policy follows our payment plan. Once the deposit has been made, if you cancel:
- Before October 15th we will keep the deposit and not charge anything extra.
- After October 15th but before January 15th we will keep 50% of the expedition cost.
- After January 15th we will keep 100% of the expedition cost.
Should you cancel and we are able to find a replacement we will do our best to refund you.
Very Important Note for Everyone: this retreat is subject to a minimum number of participants. We will make sure we can confirm the trip to everyone as soon as possible but until then we recommend to refrain from purchasing non-refundable flights to avoid useless expenses.
F.A.Q.
What is the starting time of the trip?
The official beginning of the trip is lunch on Sunday. We’ll get to know each other as we explain what’s about to come over the next few days. Shortly after we’ll head right out for our first adventure in the water.
What is the ending time of the trip?
The trip will end with a breakfast on Saturday. You will have time to catch the American Airlines flight back to Miami if you choose this mode of transportation.
How do I get to Bimini and back?
Bimini is really close to south Florida so the best way to get there is to fly or take a ferry from Miami/Fort Lauderdale. Because most of our expeditions have people coming from all over the world we don’t include transportation to Bimini, but from the moment you step on the island we’ll take care of you. There are 4 options to reach the island that best fit our trip:
Option 1 – American Airlines Flights from Miami:
This is a great option, super convenient if you are flying from home to Miami for this trip. American Airlines flies on Saturdays (also on Mondays and Wednesdays) from MIA to Bimini at 10 am approximately. With this option you arrive a day early in Bimini and you have 24h to relax before the expedition starts. The return flight will land in MIA at 12 on Saturday. It’s a 25 min flight and round trip starts around 300 usd.
Option 2 – Ferries from Ft. Lauderdale:
If you don’t want an extra flight you can ferry over to Bimini. Balearia Caribbean operates the ferry from Port Everglades (45min north of Miami) on Wednesday, Friday, Sunday. So you could take the Sunday ferry at 9am and make it for lunch and go back on the 6pm ferry on Sunday and make it to Florida for dinner. With this option you have an extra day and night in Bimini after the expedition. Round trip is around 250/300 usd.
Option 3 – Mixed Ferry + Flight:
This is the option with no extra nights and therefore the cheapest. You take the Sunday ferry at 9am and you arrive in Bimini for lunch with the group and you leave with American Airlines flight as the trip ends on Saturday landing in MIA at noon. Round trip starts around 300 usd.
Option 4 – Seaplane from Ft. Lauderdale:
This is the coolest and most expensive. Out of FLL private airport in Fort Lauderdale Tropic Ocean Airways operates seaplanes which land in Bimini. They fly every day, multiple times a day so you can choose the most convenient for you. Leaving from a private terminal and landing in the water is definitely a more convenient and super cool experience but the planes are small and luggage space is limited. Round trips start around 500 usd.
Do I need diving certifications?
No, but a minimum fitness level and comfort while swimming in open water without assistance is required.
For snorkelling/freediving activities no certifications are required.
Scuba Diving: Included in the package is one Hammerhead Sharks Safari which is a scuba diving trip only. If you are not scuba certified you will be able to participate as a Discovery Diver. As part of the Discovery Dive you will have to do one pool dive in the prior days to learn how to be safe while diving and you will have a dedicated instructor during the Hammerhead safari (max 2 people per instructor) to accompany you in the water. This is included in the trip’s price.
This dive is very easy in terms of scuba diving level required as we stay stationary on the sandy bottom at only 10 meters / 30 feet deep so it is suited for beginners. But as it is the best dive in the world for Great Hammerhead Sharks it is also a thrilling dive for expert divers. This is the main diving attraction of the island.
All the activities are optional but if you choose not to dive with hammerheads unfortunately snorkeling is currently not allowed and you will not be able to get in the water for this activity.
Are there any optional extra activities?
Extra Scuba Diving opportunities will be available for certified divers. You can fit in an extra trip during the expedition or add one during extra days on the island.
Apart from that during a couple of mornings we will probably spend some time on the beach and you can rent a jet ski. Fishing is also available upon request.
Does the Bahams require a VISA?
Whether you need a visa for The Bahamas depends on your nationality and length of stay. U.S., Canadian, UK, and EU citizens generally do not need a visa for short tourist visits (up to 3–8 months depending on nationality). However, many other nationalities require a visa, which can be applied for via eVISA online services.
Is there wifi or signal in the accommodations?
Yes there is wifi in the resort. You will be out of it when we are on board.
E-sims are available in The Bahamas and they will cover almost all routes we will go to should you need to be connected at all times. Otherwise it’s never a bad idea to just log off the digital world for a few hours and dive deeper into nature 😉
Should I bring extra cash?
Credit card is widely accepted on the island so you will only need cash for tips. Bahamian dollars are 1:1 to American dollars so no need to change into local currency.
Their local banknotes and coins are quite pretty and ocean themed in some cases 🤗
What are the sleeping options?
You can either have a shared double or twin room (you can share it with a friend or partner travelling with you). Otherwise you can share it with someone else joining the retreat.
Room upgrades are possible but subject to availability so please inquire about this as soon as possible.
What if I'm travelling solo?
This is a great opportunity then! The majority of our guests are young (<40 years old) solo travellers looking to make awesome ocean friends. We also get couples who are up to have some fun with other like-minded people. All in all, we’ve always had AMAZING groups and EVERYONE has made incredible friendships during our group trips.
What if I am vegan? Or have allergies?
Please let us know of any dietary requirements and we will do our best to fit your needs.
Are drinks included in the full board meal plan?
The full board plan includes 3 meals per day, water and soft drinks. Alcohol will be at an extra cost.
Can I split the payment?
Yes absolutely! As explained here, we only ask for the deposit right away, then 50% is due by October 15th and 100% by January 15th. You can split this in how many payments fits you best.
If you need further assistance on this you can reach out directly to us at retreats@bonnyandgava.com.
Am I too beginner / advanced for this trip?
In general, the average level of our groups will be strong snorkelers who love the ocean but aren’t pro freedivers or shark divers. Some people will have more experience (certified divers, freedivers), a few will be closer to beginners, and most will fall somewhere in between.
The good news: experience level is not a problem on this trip.
For the dolphin days, everything happens at the surface. You’ll be snorkeling in clear, shallow blue with professional guides in the water, watching the dolphins choose how close they want to come. It’s incredibly fun and emotional whether you’ve done 100 ocean trips or this is your first real wildlife encounter.
For the hammerhead day, we’ll be with highly experienced local shark guides, following clear safety briefings and protocols. If you’re a newer diver, this is one of the safest and most controlled ways to see big sharks for the first time. If you’d rather skip the hammerhead dive, you always can – your trip will still be full of dolphins, reefs, wrecks, sharks, and Bahamas blue.
If you’re more advanced, you definitely won’t be “bored” or held back. Bimini might just be the best place in the world for shark and dolphin encounters: long sessions in open water, fewer people in the water, and animals that are truly wild. It’s a dream playground for photographers, freedivers, and anyone who loves observing behavior up close.
Even in the (very unlikely) case that someone couldn’t dive or freedive for any reason, it would still be an amazing week. Dolphins need to surface to breathe, the water is clear and shallow in many areas, and we’ve seen again and again that people have life‑changing experiences just snorkeling when the animals choose to come close.
Honestly, it’s a perfect environment for all levels: beginners who want to see sharks in a safe, guided way, intermediates who want to grow their confidence, and advanced ocean people who simply want to be in one of the richest big‑animal spots on Earth.
Still not sure?
Write to us at retreats@bonnyandgava.com so we can clear all your doubts!
