Current Island, Eleuthera, Bahamas

Current Cut

Current Cut is a narrow channel between Current Island and the main island of Eleuthera, where tidal exchange between the open Atlantic and the Bight of Eleuthera produces some of the strongest currents in the Bahamas — flow rates can exceed seven knots at peak tide. Divers ride the current as a high-speed drift through the channel, covering hundreds of meters in just a few minutes while passing through a wonderland of coral heads, gorgonians, and sponges in 12 to 18 meters of water. The rapid transport brings frequent encounters with eagle rays, schools of horse-eye jacks, barracuda, and Caribbean reef sharks that take advantage of the nutrient-rich flow. Conditions absolutely require precise tidal timing and advanced training; the current cannot be fought. Visibility is typically very good. One of the most exhilarating drift dives in the Caribbean, frequently cited in best-of lists. The dive is over fast — typical bottom time is 10 to 15 minutes due to the speed of transit — and proper boat positioning at both ends of the channel is critical for safe pickups. Operators based at Current Island and Eleuthera run the dive on the strict slack-and-flow schedule dictated by the tide tables.