Blue Holes, Coral Gardens & Wonderful Wall Dives in Andros Island: Get Off-The-Beaten-Track Diving in the Bahamas
Emily C, Jacqui and Rachel are here to help give you the inside track.
This itinerary gets you off-the-beaten-track in the Bahamas to explore the tropical paradise that is Andros Island. Just a 15-minute flight west of Nassau, Andros feels a million miles away from the high-rise hotels of the Bahamian Capital. Blue holes, coral gardens wrecks, stunning walls, caverns and sharks are all reasons that the island is home to some of the best diving in the Bahamas.
Itinerary at a Glance:
- Explore more than 60 dive sites, that are all easy to reach from your hotel
- Stay at a family-run lodge, home to experts who have been exploring the Andros barrier reef since 1960
- Dive on one of the world's longest barrier reefs - it's the second largest in the Atlantic and is home to an amazing variety of coral and geological formations
- Explore on land, finding beautiful Blue Holes
- Dive in colourful coral gardens that are perfect for beginners and experts alike
- Go on stunning wall dives on the continental shelf, where the depth plunges to 6,000 feet
- Dive with the area's healthy and abundant population of Caribbean reef sharks
Why Book with Original Diving?
When To Travel
All of the holidays we create are completely tailor-made to you
Day 1: International flight
Your Andros Island diving adventure starts early this morning, as you head to the airport to catch your direct flight to the Bahamas. The flight takes around ten hours, arriving in the Bahamas the same day.
When you arrive in Nassau, jump into a registered cab for the ten-minute drive to your hotel then settle into your room before getting dressed for dinner. Your hotel is particularly famous for its restaurant, so you can expect a delicious dinner.
Day 2: Onward to Andros
Early this morning, the reception will call a cab for you to make the short journey back to the airport in good time to catch your flight. Your light aircraft flight takes 15 minutes and once you've landed, you'll be met and transferred to the lodge, which takes just ten minutes.
Take your time to get settled into your cabin, which is set just back from the beach. After a delicious lunch, you can either head out on your first dive or relax, soaking up this remote location.
Days 3-6: Diving the Andros Barrier Reef
You have the next four days to enjoy all that the Andros Barrier Reef has to offer. With over 60 dive sites regularly included in the diving schedule, there is so much to explore here. The huge variety in the reef topography and abundant marine life make this a very special place to dive.
Small Hope Bay Lodge was opened in 1960 by the Birch family, and was the first dive-dedicated resort in the Bahamas. When Dick Birch visited Andros in 1959, just after he had tried scuba diving for the first time, he saw the potential of the bay and its proximity to the reef, making it the perfect spot for a diving resort. Some 60 years later, the resort is visited by divers from all over the world, and with only 21 beachfront cottages it is personalised diving at its best.
During these four days you can choose to do up to three dives a day (two-tank dives in the morning and single tank dives in the afternoon), with the possibility of night dives too. Most sites are within 15 minutes of the resort dock, so diving here is easy and relaxed. With such variety to choose from you can enjoy a coral garden, wall, blue hole and shark observation dive all in one day!
After a day of Andros Island diving is done, enjoy a cold beer and conch fritters at the bar, as everyone gathers around to discuss the days diving and compare notes.
Additional Activities
- World-class bone fishing, reef fishing, deep sea fishing!
- Head out on a kayaking tour
- Snorkel from the shore
- Head out exploring on one of the lodge's bikes
- Explore historical sites such as Captain Henry Morgan's Cave
Day 7: Exploring the Andros Island
Today, you'll be spending the day on dry land, heading out from the resort to explore some of the wonders on the island of Andros. The island is a paradise for twitchers and naturalists.
Set out with your knowledgeable and experienced guide, for a birding tour in Blue Hole National Park, which is home to four differing ecosystems - wetlands, dense dark coppice, pine forest and an abandoned firm. Thanks to the park's varying environments you'll be able to see a real variety of birds as you explore different areas of the park.
After a spot of birding it's time to head to three inland Blue Holes, where you will learn about the local folklore, including the legend of Lusca. Thought to inhabit the Blue Holes, Lusca is a mythological creature that is half shark, shark octopus.
After a day of adventures on land, it's time to head back to the
hotel for a relaxing evening on the beach.
Day 8: Home Time
Sadly, today marks the end of your Andros Island diving holiday. Your 15-minute light aircraft flight back to Nassau will arrive in good time for you to catch your international flight. If you have time, head back to Compass Point to enjoy your final Bahamian dinner.
Your international flight back to the UK takes around eight hours, arriving the following morning.
All of the holidays we create are completely tailor-made to you
A Rough Idea of Price
This Itinerary
If you would like to book the exact itinerary mentioned above, with economy flights, during mid-season and staying in our preferred room category at our preferred hotels.
From
£3,838pp
Bells & Whistles
If you are looking for something extra special and would like to add business or first class flights, stay in top room categories at some of the most luxurious hotels we work with, and add more activities and guiding.
From
£4,815pp
Emily C, Jacqui and Rachel are our experts for this itinerary and as seasoned travellers they have the inside track on the most memorable adventures.