Grand Bahama stands as a gem among Atlantic and Caribbean diving for its thriving shark populations, dolphins, wrecks and healthy reefs that offer travelers a diversity of experiences all in one destination.

Grand Bahama is most famous the world over for Tiger Beach, one of six places on the planet with resident tiger sharks—mostly females spanning 10 to 13 feet in length. It resides on a stretch of the Little Bahama Bank, a shallow rise that comes just 20 feet from the surface. Filled with sand flats, sargassum patches and reefs, this spot receives ample sunlight on most days to the delight of underwater photographers. Because of this bank’s offshore location, it draws in more than just tigers. “We’ve been out there and encountered tiger, hammerhead and reef sharks all on the same dive at Tiger Beach,” says Michael Tadros, one of the owners of Reef Oasis Dive Club, a scuba operator located inside the Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach, an upscale all-inclusive resort on the island.

For North American divers, this is the easiest-to-reach destination for these big-animal encounters, located just 26 nautical miles off the West End of Grand Bahama. Several local operators, including Reef Oasis Dive Club and Neal Watson’s Bimini Scuba Center based on the island of Bimini, offer this area as a day trip picking up from Freeport or West End.

Grand Bahama is also known for some of the healthiest populations of Caribbean reef sharks—so much so that divers will likely encounter at least one at every site. “When you talk about the Bahamas, you’ll always be talking about sharks,” Tadros says. “Nowhere else in the world do sharks approach divers so closely and calmly.” They’re an extra thrill on a reef or wreck, but can also be experienced during a dedicated shark dive. Local operator UNEXSO offers these up-close encounters several times a week. Any certified diver can book this experience, provided they complete at least one dive through UNEXSO prior to the shark dive. During the shark dive, trained handlers take turns feeding from different spots so that all divers gain up-close views of these powerful animals.

UNEXSO also offers something unique: It is one of only three facilities in the world that has open-ocean dives with dolphins. Divers first spend time with dolphin trainers to learn the commands the animals respond to. Then the dive boat heads to a dive site in open water, with the dolphins following behind. The best trick: Place your palm flat in front of you, and the dolphin will place its rostrum into the palm and spin a circle.

Another highlight for many divers is Grand Bahama’s collection of wrecks. One of the most requested is Theo’s Wreck, a 230-foot steel-hulled freighter lying on its side and split in two. The exposed interior gives divers the chance to see inside without penetrating the ship. It’s also an easy way to lay eyes on the green morays, loggerhead turtles and Nassau grouper that tuck into the ship’s crevices and passageways.

In the mix as well is Papa Doc, a 70-foot shrimping boat that played a role in the Haitian war against dictator Papa Doc Duvalie; ammunition can still be found in the sand around the wreck. Etheride, a 75-foot ferry, is now primarily a home to green sea turtles. Then there’s the 177-foot Sea Star, an Italian freighter lying in two pieces providing habitat to grouper and schooling snapper.

Rounding out the list of what’s on offer are the reefs. Grand Bahama serves up both shallow and deeper reef dives, from 20 to 80 feet. Sites such as Picasso’s Galley and Rainbow Reef are known for a patchwork of color, from the turquoise and red of parrotfish and squirrelfish to the green of moray eels and pops of pink from lettuce sea slugs.

A favorite site of Karen Rolle, one of the owners of Sunn Odyssey Divers, is Eden Banks. “You can go there every day and see something different,” she says.

No matter what kind of diving you’re looking to do on your next vacation, Grand Bahama has an experience to match and an operator that can accommodate. The island is home to three PADI Five-Star Centers: Sunn Odyssey Divers, UNEXSO and Reef Oasis Viva Bahamas. UNEXSO and Sunn Odyssey Divers also serve as PADI Instructor Development Centers, offering instruction from your first-ever Discover Scuba dive experience to becoming an instructor and turning pro.

Learn more at grandbahamavacations.com/diving