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Snorkeling In The Bahamas
Long Island
Divided by the Tropic of Cancer, weather conditions are most enjoyable year-round. Surrounded by the turquoise blue of the Exuma Sound on the lee side and the deep rich blue of the Atlantic on the east, Long Island boasts high cliffs and rolling headlands, peaceful coves and secluded beaches. Offshore on the Atlantic side and on the Caribbean side, look for a wide variety of hard corals, soft corals and abundant fish life in crystal clear water!
Snorkeling Sites
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Poseidon's Point:
easy entry over rock or from beach, from 2-10' to about 30’ out at the edge, an exciting array of large brain coral and elkhorn formations. One of the few places you can see big
tarpon swim through the reef. A good spot for night snorkeling. A very safe area, perfect for beginners, too!
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Coral Gardens:
1/2 mile from Stella Maris, right at the shoreline, lies this lovely reef in depths of up to 30' with top breaking surface everywhere. Valleys, caves and overhangs, all display a breathtaking array of all types of coral, dominated by elkhorn and staghorn coral fields. Angelfish, trumpets and small barracuda are plentiful,
crawfish, big individual Nassau grouper, and hawksbill sea turtles appear in fair numbers. Although dived from a boat, too, this is usually a from-shore dive.
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Beginner's Snorkeling in the Rock Pools: and it's for experienced, too -- try it!
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Flamingo Tongue Reef: accessible by boat only, is an excellent spot for hard corals, gorgonians, and flamingo tongue shells. Explore the garden eel colony. Barracuda and reef school fish, squirrel, grunts, yellow tails are abundant. Excellent crab life, especially at night. A protected area in typically prevailing breezes, set against the beautiful scenery of the Cape Santa Maria Beach.
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Rainbow Reef: 3 easy entries from the beach or over rocks, or from the next small beach bay. Completely protected in most weather situations. Good coral formations, sponges and small schools of grunts, snappers. An excellent chance of seeing passing eagle rays!
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Columbus Harbour: the spot off which Columbus anchored and came ashore by long boat October 16th, 1492. Walk 300 yards to shallow, protected 1-mile beach bay. Depths from 3-25'. See blue giant parrot fish, Spanish lobster and all types of hard coral.
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Columbus Monument and The Caves: just north of Columbus Harbour, on cliffs from 100' high, sits the monument commemorating Columbus' Landing and his brief trading with the natives of "Yuma", Long Island. Below, a few steps from the road, a small beach, completely protected. Ride the tidal 'drifts' or snorkel from the mouth of the narrow bay. See fish similar to those at Columbus Harbour, plus The Caves, about a dozen or so, permitting easy snorkel, exploring, and perhaps, finding a hidden pirate's treasure!
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Long Bar: boat only - located on the northwest lee side. Absolutely superb! View a wonderful variety of coral and fish. Snorkel among hard corals, a beautiful stand of pillar coral, big basket sponges, and large seafans.
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Stella Maris offers daily self guided snorkeling from shore, or twice weekly by boat, FREE of charge.
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And that's not all? No-no! To be traveled by boat, there are some fifteen miles of east coast shoreline, offering myriads of coral heads and reefs...in the lee, there are some ten acres of "the Small Reef" and shallows, all inviting easy and safe snorkeling (some subject to weather conditions). |
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