About Bimini

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 » History of the Island

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North Bimini and South Bimini, the two biggest islands, lie just 50 miles east of Miami, and the entire string of the Biminis stretches for 28 miles.

The history of Bimini dates back to Ponce de Leon's visit to the area in 1513, during his quest for the Fountain of Youth. A spot said to be the fountain can be seen near the airport in South Bimini and is of great pride to locals - many claim to have been revived by the medicinal power of the water throughout the islands. It is said that the Healing Hole, a special pool on South Bimini, holds magical powers of rejuvenation and healing. Another spot that is said to possess a mystical element is Memory Ledge. Some say that if you lie on your back at Memory Ledge you will see flashbacks of your life.

With its fabulous fishing and special waters, it's no wonder that Hemingway was "lured" to Bimini. On Bimini the famous author fished, drank, brawled and wrote his way through several seasons. Islands in the Stream and To Have and Have Not were both written on Bimini while Hemingway was staying at the Compleat Angler: he was one of the hotel's first guests in the mid 1930s.

Not surprisingly, in addition to fishing Bimini offers tremendous scuba diving opportunities. Sapona, located off the coast of South Bimini, is a landmark heap of a sunken ship that was built by Henry Ford during the First World War. Another spot to explore is Piquet Rock, a large wreck of a Spanish ship, complete with rocks and cannonballs. And rumour has it that the fabled Lost Continent of Atlantis is located off the shores of Bimini. Estimated to be between 5,000 and 10,000 years old, this dive site rests nearly 40 feet below surface level. Carvings in the 300-foot long rectangular rock formations appear to be either a network of highways or part of a collapsed wall.