EXPERIENCES - MacDuff's

DIVING, SPEAR-FISHING, PADDLE BOARDING, SNORKELING, AND KAYAKING ARE ALL AVAILABLE AT A MOMENT’S NOTICE.

DIVE THE SUNKEN AIRPLANE

If you’re looking for an extraordinary excursion, be sure to dive the sunken airplane that sits in the shallow water just off of Norman’s Cay. This aircraft was piloted in World War II and is rumored to have later been used as a smuggler’s plane in the cay’s most notorious era. The historic remains are easy enough to snorkel and scuba diving is available for seasoned explorers.

DAY TRIP TO SHIP CHANNEL CAY

Ship Channel Cay is the northernmost island in the Exumas and a short boat trip away. It is a must-see for those seeking the company of the archipelago residents: the hogs that greet visitors (and occasionally steal drinks) or the gentle nurse sharks and stingrays that inhabit the shoals. Ship Channel Cay is one of the smaller banks of the Exumas, offering catamaran rides, reef snorkeling with vibrant marine life, and a quaint spot to stop for a drink.

SHROUD CAY

Shroud Cay has earned a reputation for being particularly striking. The small, unoccupied island is home to a network of tidal creeks that crisscross the cay, through which small boats may leisurely idle and glimpse colorful fish and crustaceans in a natural outdoor aquarium of sorts. The white and red mangrove estuaries are ideal for paddle boarding and known for the frequent appearance of sea turtles.

BIG MAJORS CAY

While visitors may not have heard of Big Majors Cay, they are likely familiar with the infamous “Pig Beach,” the island in the Exumas that is home to around twenty pigs and piglets. No one knows exactly how the pigs came to reside on the island, but they are known to be exceptionally friendly, frequently joining visitors in activities like snorkeling and basking on the sun soaked sand.

STANIEL CAY & THE THUNDERBALL GROTTO

The next island over from Big Majors is Staniel Cay, which is home to the Thunderball Grotto. This immense limestone cave, accessible only by swimming under a rock at the edge of the cave, is named for the James Bond film in which it is featured. The waters are home to lobsters, angelfish and butterfly fish, abundant with aquatic life waiting to be explored.

WARDERICK WELLS

Warderick Wells is the headquarters of the Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park, chosen for its central location. Here you will find the Exuma visitor’s center, which is open daily and offers artifacts, displays, and gifts to those passing through. Near the park’s office sits the impressive sight of a fifty-three ft. beached whale skeleton. More than seven miles of nature trails traverse the island for guests interested in a robust hike along the surging blue sea.

ALLEN’S CAY

Allen’s Cay is a U-shaped island in the Northern Exumas and is home to more than a thousand rock iguanas, a subspecies of the endangered Bahamian rock iguana. Protected by law, the large iguanas welcome visitors who bear gifts of fruit, especially mango. The lizards are a formidable and impressive sight, growing up to four and a half feet long.

STINGRAYS AT SHIP CHANNEL CAY

Stingrays are a majestic sight in the cerulean shallows surrounding Ship Channel Cay. Despite their namesake, they are quite friendly. Visitors can feed the rays by hand and get close enough to pet them. The stingrays grow up to a few feet in diameter, swimming right up to the shore. Time with the rays might be limited, however, as they tend to vacate the area when the cay’s nurse sharks arrive.

SHARK FEEDING AT SHIP CHANNEL CAY

Few can say that they have hand-fed a shark. Schools of gentle-natured nurse sharks are accustomed to visitors and frequently swim in the clear sand-banks looking for food. Guests can wade in the surf with local “shark wranglers” who use fish to attract the nurse sharks. Those who want an even more intimate experience can snorkel the nearby reefs, which are populated with nurse sharks, Caribbean reef sharks, and even the occasional bull shark.

PADDLE BOARDING, REEF SNORKELING & DIVING FOR CONCH AND LOBSTER

The Exuma island chain is well known for its ideal paddle boarding sites. Enthusiasts return to the tranquil turquoise waters of the smooth Caribbean sea that are second to none.

The reefs around the Exumas are renowned for their beauty and ease of access, offering an up close and personal view of the uniquely diverse reef ecosystems: bright and textured corals, great sea turtles, serene stingrays and fish of all shapes, colors and sizes.

Diving for conch and lobster is not only fun, but rewarding. Lobster season runs from August to March and while some have never considered catching, let alone eating conch, it is a tasty and distinct Bahamian delicacy. Several vendors offer deep sea fishing expeditions for marlin, tuna, and the tropical wahoo, and many places on the islands are happy to cook up your catch of the day.