Bimini is the closest part of the Bahamas to the United States mainland, the westernmost islands in the archipelago sit roughly 50 miles east of Miami, close enough that South Florida boaters cross on a weekend without much planning. That proximity defines everything about the island: the culture, the visitor mix, the pace of development, and the kind of experience on offer.
The Character of Bimini
This is a small island. North Bimini, where nearly all the hotels, restaurants, and activity is concentrated, is about 7 miles long and barely half a mile wide at its widest point. South Bimini is quieter, more residential, and home to a small airstrip and a shark diving operation. Alice Town, on North Bimini, is the closest thing to a town center: a single road lined with a handful of restaurants, bars, dive shops, and marinas.
Bimini is not a destination for variety or for those who want a packed itinerary. It is a destination for people who want very good fishing, very good diving, genuinely clear water, and a pace that has not kept up with the rest of the Caribbean. The island has a cult following among Florida boaters that is entirely deserved.
The major development on the island is Resorts World Bimini, a large resort and casino complex that opened in phases from 2013. It introduced significant infrastructure, a proper marina, hotel rooms with consistent quality standards, a few restaurants, but also changed the island's character in ways that older visitors sometimes mourn. There are now two Biminis: the resort side and the original Alice Town strip. Both coexist without much friction.
Ernest Hemingway Connection
Hemingway spent considerable time in Bimini during the 1930s, fishing and writing. The Compleat Angler Hotel, where he stayed, was destroyed by fire in 2006. The connection is real, not manufactured, Bimini was a genuine part of his life during that period, and the fishing culture he participated in is still recognizable today.
What Bimini Does Well
Sport fishing. Bimini sits on the edge of the Gulf Stream, which brings blue marlin, wahoo, tuna, and mahi-mahi into range without a long run. It is among the best blue marlin destinations in the Atlantic. Bonefishing in the flats on the island's leeward side is also serious.
Diving and snorkeling. The water clarity is exceptional. The Bimini Road, a formation of large rectangular limestone blocks on the sea floor sometimes called the "Road to Atlantis", is the signature dive, whatever you think of its origins. The shark dives run out of South Bimini are considered among the best in the Bahamas.
Simplicity. There is not much to do except fish, dive, eat conch, and sit at a bar. For the right traveler, this is not a limitation.
What to Know Before You Go
- North Bimini has no cars; golf carts are the standard transport. This is a feature, not a limitation.
- The island has limited supply of almost everything. Food, fuel, and accommodation costs reflect the logistics of getting goods across 50 miles of open water.
- The crossing from Florida by private boat traverses the Gulf Stream, which can produce rough conditions. Check the weather window carefully before crossing.
- Resorts World Bimini has a casino, the only one in the family of Bahamas islands outside Nassau. It operates as a resort amenity rather than a gambling destination.
- Bimini is genuinely small. Two nights is enough for most first-time visitors; a week is for dedicated anglers and divers.