6 Crazy Things to Try While Visiting the Bahamas
The Bahamas is one of the top destinations in for Ocean fun. It is known for its decadent beaches, lush flora, and seemingly endless supply of booze. However, if you go there, you will see there is much more to this island paradise than rum soaked beaches. There are actually quite a few crazy and cool things to do there besides sitting on the beach in a bikini, which is also great.
Pig Beach at Big Major Cay
You may or may not be a fan of pigs, but you will love the ones living out on Big Major Cay. They are feral pigs and are the islands main inhabitants. No one knows exactly how they got out there but many speculate a shipwreck is the cause of their existence there. Either way, they are now a part of the tourism industry as an attraction for foreigners looking for something crazy to see. How do they eat, you may wonder? The tourists feed them.
SS Sapona
If the deep blue water of the Bahamas are not enough for you by themselves, then what they contain may be. If you scuba dive, you can experience a nice treat by diving around a sunken ship in Bimini, the final resting place of the SS Sapona. Its history is not one of glory but of unrealized potential. It was built to aid in the war efforts, but was finished after the war ended. Some time later, many pieces of it were sold for scraps. Its greatest claim to fame is it was once target practice for the US military. Now, it is a playground of sorts to all manner of local fish and scuba diving tourists from around the works.
Queen’s Staircase
From 1793 to 1794, slaves worked endlessly to construct this 66-step staircase out of limestone. Located in the Fort Fincastle Historic Complex in Nassau City, it is believed by many that this staircase was a direct link between Fort Fincastle itself and Nassau City. So when you get there, you can stroll the stairs once traversed by royalty. Keep in mind though that there are only 65 steps visible due to a paving project that buried the first stair.
Nurse Sharks of Compass Cay
Sharks get a bad reputation, at least the more docile ones, like the nurse shark. At Compass Cay in the Bahamas, you can swim with and even feed nurse sharks. Compass Cay is a private marina that caters to sea-seeking tourists. Its main draw are the numerous nurse sharks in its bay. Tourists can wade out into open sea and interact with a school of nurse sharks without fear of getting munched. There’s no cage, no pool, and no tank.
The Musician
Over 12 feet below the surface of the sea, you will find a musician. There’s something special abut this musician, and not simply because she lives below the sea. She is a stainless steel mermaid sitting with a stainless steel baby grand piano, forever ready to play tunes for the deep. Sometimes it’s hard to see her, due to the fact that the ocean currents sometimes kick up enough sand to obscure her presence. If you look hard and long enough, though, you will see her. Her creator? Sculptor Jason DeClaires Taylor, who was commissioned by none other than the magician David Copperfield, who owns some private islands in the Bahamas.
The Sea Lions of the Blue Lagoon
Many people have seen sea lions, but not many have had the chance to actually hang out with them and touch them. At the Blue Lagoon, a popular and essential beach spot in the Bahamas, visitors, accompanied by tour guides, can actually interact with sea lions. This includes hugging them. Before doing so, the tour guides and professional handlers give tourists an orientation and safety talk to prepare them for what is generally a thrilling experience.
Once you get to the Bahamas you will find many more exciting adventures to experience. The ones listed above are just to get you started, although by themselves, they are great choices of how to spend your time in this lush and enchanting country.
