Swimming and scuba-diving
Sharks lurking in the warm waters off Long Island are amenable to swimmers but if teeth aren’t your thing explore shipwrecks or discover the stone ruins off Bimini, said to be the remains of the lost city of Atlantis. The underwater preserve of Pelican Cays Land and Sea Park are also open to divers.

Shopping
Dozens of colourful stalls at Nassau's bustling straw market produce a melee of crowds bartering over local goods. You can join them, or, for a sophisticated shop, splash some cash in the swish stores at Bay Street, a haven of designer brands.

Meet the locals
The Bahamas’ People-to-People scheme (www.bahamas.co.uk/activities/people-to-people) helps you learn about the cultures, music and oratory traditions of the islanders. You’ll be paired with Bahamian locals of a similar age to enjoy rocking-chair tales, church meetings, family lunches and local bands.

Golf
Bahamas’ oldest golf course, at Cable Beach, has beautifully kept fairways, or there are five other world-class courses on Grand Bahama Island to choose from. Exuma’s course (www.fourseasons.com/greatexuma/golf) was designed by golfer Greg Norman, while the Abaco Club (www.golfbahamas.com) boasts a Scottish links-style course.

Blue Lagoon Island
At Blue Lagoon Island you can interact with sea-lions displaced by Hurricane Katrina and frolic with bottle-nosed dolphins in waist-high pools – many played starring roles in the movie Flipper.

Fishing
Fishing trips to Bimini’s world-class sport-fishing waters run regularly or you can search for the elusive bonefish in Andros. At 1,800m (6,000ft) the fertile deep water trench dubbed Tongue of the Ocean is a prime deep-water spot for a major haul.

Sailing
The picture-perfect pristine cays and spectacular reefs of the Exumas archipelago are perfect for a leisurely sail. There’s also an upscale boating scene in the marinas, bays and regattas of Nassau/Paradise Island to enjoy.

Junkanoo festivities
Street processions and dance bands fill the streets, along with a lively party crowd, at the Bahamian Junkanoo festivities on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. At the Junkanoo Summer Festival in June and July island music rages for days on end (www.bahamassummerjunkanoo.co.uk).

Rum cocktails
There are few pleasures in life as simple as sipping rum-laden cocktails on Abaco Beach at sundown, watching the golden sky turn a dramatic pink-crimson. To add to the magic, fairy-lights illuminate the shore as dozens of boats gently bob out in the harbour.

Get married
Couples can tie the knot on the sands, atop a wooden jetty, in a church, aboard a yacht, amidst tropical gardens or wearing full scuba gear underwater.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.