Bimini Seaplane Basin

Approach and Entry

The Seaplane Basin is accessed from the main Bimini channel, branching off into the mangrove-lined basin on the east side of North Bimini. The entrance is narrow and requires attention to depth, but once inside the basin opens up with room to swing.

Approach in good light with your depth sounder active. Verify current conditions with local knowledge or recent cruiser reports, as the entrance can shoal. Explorer Charts and active piloting are essential.

Holding and Protection

The bottom is deep sand with excellent holding. Anchors set quickly and hold firmly, giving cruisers confidence when the wind pipes up. The surrounding mangroves and cay topography provide protection from all compass points, a rarity in Bimini.

This is the anchorage of choice for riding out cold fronts. While other Bimini anchorages are exposed to west or northwest winds, the Seaplane Basin remains calm. Plan to arrive before conditions deteriorate; the narrow entrance is not a place to negotiate in heavy weather.

What to Expect

The Seaplane Basin is a functional refuge, not a destination anchorage. The mangrove-lined shores offer good birdwatching and protection from bugs thanks to tidal flushing, but there is no beach or shoreside development.

Cruisers typically use the basin when weather dictates, then return to Alice Town or continue on when conditions settle. It is an essential tool in the Bimini cruiser's playbook, and knowing its location and approach pays dividends when fronts roll through.

Getting there

The Seaplane Basin is reached from the main Bimini channel on the east side of North Bimini, branching into the mangroves. The entrance is narrow and should be approached in good light with active depth monitoring. Arrive before weather deteriorates to navigate the entrance safely.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Bimini Seaplane Basin a good cold front anchorage?

The basin offers protection from all directions thanks to surrounding mangroves and cay topography. Combined with excellent holding in deep sand, it is Bimini's safest place to ride out frontal passages and strong northwest winds.

Is Bimini Seaplane Basin hard to enter?

The entrance is narrow and requires attention to depth. Approach in good light with active depth monitoring and verify current conditions with recent cruiser reports. It is not a place to enter in heavy weather.

Is there anything ashore at the Seaplane Basin?

No. The basin is mangrove-lined with no development or beaches. It is a functional refuge for weather, not a destination anchorage. Alice Town is about a mile away by water.