This dive site is the Austin Smith, also known as the HMBS Flamingo, a 90-foot Bahamian Defense Force Cutter that was decommissioned in 1995. Intended as an artificial reef, it accidentally sank en route to its designated spot, now resting upright in 18 meters (60 feet) of water in the beautiful Exuma Cays. Its structure provides an excellent canvas for exploration, offering swim-throughs and photographic opportunities of the wreck.
The wreck has become a vibrant ecosystem, teeming with diverse marine life. Divers can frequently encounter nurse and reef sharks patrolling the structure, along with the possibility of majestic eagle rays and graceful sea turtles. The wreck is also home to abundant schooling fish such as snapper, angelfish, grunts, and grouper, while anemones add splashes of color to the structure.
The Austin Smith offers excellent diving year-round, with generally warm waters and superb visibility characteristic of the Bahamas. Its shallow depth makes it ideal for divers of all experience levels, including beginners, and its accessibility combined with prolific marine life also makes it a fantastic site for freediving and snorkeling, allowing for extended bottom times and relaxed observation.
