They say there are some 365 islands in the Exuma chain, but no one has ever bothered to count them properly. The reefs, blue holes, and drop-offs are teeming with reef and deep-water fish and other marine life. With an island and its surrounding beaches and reefs for every day of the year, you’ll never lack for someplace new to explore. For snorkelers, the Exumas are a wonderland of flats, shallow reefs and beaches. You can snorkel almost anywhere. Just wade out a hundred yards or so, and plunge in.
Here are few great locations you might like to try:
- Pagoda Reef
Pagoda Reef is not far from Georgetown. The elkhorn coral, leaf and sheet corals here have evolved into a magnificent, pagoda-like grotto. The whole formation is populated by a great underwater family of parrotfish, sergeant majors, snappers, angels and crustaceans.
- Angelfish Blue Hole
Just outside Elizabeth Harbour, this hole is considered to be the number one dive site in the Exumas. It is tidal, which creates currents and vortexes in and out of the cave. The idea is to dive the hole at the quiet time between tides. Angelfish is a huge aquarium with with thousands of colorful fish. Note: never dive Angelfish without expert guidance.
- Crab Cay Crevasse
Not far from Angelfish, this is another spectacular blue hole. The crescent-shaped opening is just 15 feet below the surface. Here, you can dive to the sandy bottom of the cave where you'll see crabs, lobsters and anemones. Note: I strongly recommend you dive Crab Cay Crevasse with a qualified guide.
- Mystery Cave
Mystery cave is a network of caverns extending for miles beneath Stocking Island and the surrounding ocean. Starting at a depth of only 15 feet, the cavern system soon drops off to a heart-stopping 100 feet. Note: Never dive the Mystery Cave without a qualified guide.
