Well, the only AA flight out of here today has been cancelled, so...time for the report.
We stayed in the Marsh Harbour (MH) area, and I dove on May 8, 9 and 11. Due to the distances between the cays, it would be difficult to stay in one area (MH, for ex) and dive another area (Green Turtle Cay, for ex, which is a 1.5 hour boat ride from MH). Main dive sites accessible from MH area are Guana Cay and Fowl Cay Preserve.
Above and Below Abaco is a good op; Kay Politano is very accommodating and cooperative. Kay will not take the boat out if seas are too high/rough, and that seems to be a not-uncommon situation -- missed th last few days due to high winds. We had eight passengers (7 divers) of first day, and that is too many for her boat since the gear-up area is fairly small. Other days had fewer divers, and gearing up was much easier. Water entry is either backroll over the side, or giant stride off the rear, between the two outboard motors; either is fine.
The diving is on the reefs on the Atlantic side of the outer cays. Water temperature was 78 degrees. Dive profile generally was to descend over reef, swim to sea-side of reef, descend to near the sand (about 50?, and do a u-shaped dive out from the boat mooring and then back again, with the last bit over the reef. The shallow dives allow for an easy one hour or more bottom time.
First two dives were at the north end of Great Guana Cay, at Cuda Alley and Tarpon Tunnel. These sites are about a 45 minute boat ride from MH, and are fairly close together. The first dive wasnÃÕ especially interesting, though we did see several barracudas. The second dive featured some very long swimthrus and large caverns (similar to Coz, but much longer and bigger than most in Coz). Saw three lionfish in swimthrus on second dive locals hate them as much as the Floridians do. The terrain of the reefs is their most interesting aspect, since there is no a huge quantity of fish life.
Four dives, on two days, at Fowl Cay Preserve (no fishing or taking allowed in this small preserve), a 20 minute or so boat ride from MH; dive sites included The Towers and the Aquarium. We saw three or four friendly reef sharks and an equal number of large groupers on each dive one grouper was probably three feet long. The groupers will come right up to you, and the sharks will get within ten feet or so. Naturally, with such great photo ops, my camera picked the first Fowl Cay dive to flood. One very pregnant shark came on both dives the first day. Also visited by several passing individual eagle rays on about every dive, and by one small turtle. A one point, a group of crevalle had made a bait ball, and when a shark approached it, they chased it off!! Some of the usual reeffish, but not loads.
The Fowl Cay Preserve reefs also feature interesting terrain with some very long swim-thrus.
On non-diving items, you can rent a boat if you want to explore the different cays short ride from MH area to either Elbow Cay or Man Oøar Cay, but about an hour to Treasure Cay (north of MH) and well over that to Green Turtle Cay. We used RichÃÔ Rentals for a 27 boat; that's probably a good size if the wind kicks up very much. Gasoline is dear -- $4.30 a gallon or so, and the boat used quite a bit. Ferries run regularly to many nearby cays (Man Oøar, Guana and Elbow Cays, at a minimum), and are a less expensive choice than boat rental.
Lofty Fig is a good and convenient place to stay, has a secured wifi connection, and is across 2-lane blacktop street from Mangoes Restaurant and the dock used by Above and Below Abaco. Conch Inn was not great very loud (due to open-air bar that goes to past 11PM) and with the squeakiest beds that IÃ×e ever seen. Island Breeze Hotel is okay, and has an unsecured wifi access. Nippers (on Guana Cay) is a fun place on the beach on the Atlantic side, good drinks and a fried lobster appetizer that is great. WallyÃÔ (MH) serves a good meal, as does Abaco Beach Resort (MH) and Caf La Florence (MH).
We stayed in the Marsh Harbour (MH) area, and I dove on May 8, 9 and 11. Due to the distances between the cays, it would be difficult to stay in one area (MH, for ex) and dive another area (Green Turtle Cay, for ex, which is a 1.5 hour boat ride from MH). Main dive sites accessible from MH area are Guana Cay and Fowl Cay Preserve.
Above and Below Abaco is a good op; Kay Politano is very accommodating and cooperative. Kay will not take the boat out if seas are too high/rough, and that seems to be a not-uncommon situation -- missed th last few days due to high winds. We had eight passengers (7 divers) of first day, and that is too many for her boat since the gear-up area is fairly small. Other days had fewer divers, and gearing up was much easier. Water entry is either backroll over the side, or giant stride off the rear, between the two outboard motors; either is fine.
The diving is on the reefs on the Atlantic side of the outer cays. Water temperature was 78 degrees. Dive profile generally was to descend over reef, swim to sea-side of reef, descend to near the sand (about 50?, and do a u-shaped dive out from the boat mooring and then back again, with the last bit over the reef. The shallow dives allow for an easy one hour or more bottom time.
First two dives were at the north end of Great Guana Cay, at Cuda Alley and Tarpon Tunnel. These sites are about a 45 minute boat ride from MH, and are fairly close together. The first dive wasnÃÕ especially interesting, though we did see several barracudas. The second dive featured some very long swimthrus and large caverns (similar to Coz, but much longer and bigger than most in Coz). Saw three lionfish in swimthrus on second dive locals hate them as much as the Floridians do. The terrain of the reefs is their most interesting aspect, since there is no a huge quantity of fish life.
Four dives, on two days, at Fowl Cay Preserve (no fishing or taking allowed in this small preserve), a 20 minute or so boat ride from MH; dive sites included The Towers and the Aquarium. We saw three or four friendly reef sharks and an equal number of large groupers on each dive one grouper was probably three feet long. The groupers will come right up to you, and the sharks will get within ten feet or so. Naturally, with such great photo ops, my camera picked the first Fowl Cay dive to flood. One very pregnant shark came on both dives the first day. Also visited by several passing individual eagle rays on about every dive, and by one small turtle. A one point, a group of crevalle had made a bait ball, and when a shark approached it, they chased it off!! Some of the usual reeffish, but not loads.
The Fowl Cay Preserve reefs also feature interesting terrain with some very long swim-thrus.
On non-diving items, you can rent a boat if you want to explore the different cays short ride from MH area to either Elbow Cay or Man Oøar Cay, but about an hour to Treasure Cay (north of MH) and well over that to Green Turtle Cay. We used RichÃÔ Rentals for a 27 boat; that's probably a good size if the wind kicks up very much. Gasoline is dear -- $4.30 a gallon or so, and the boat used quite a bit. Ferries run regularly to many nearby cays (Man Oøar, Guana and Elbow Cays, at a minimum), and are a less expensive choice than boat rental.
Lofty Fig is a good and convenient place to stay, has a secured wifi connection, and is across 2-lane blacktop street from Mangoes Restaurant and the dock used by Above and Below Abaco. Conch Inn was not great very loud (due to open-air bar that goes to past 11PM) and with the squeakiest beds that IÃ×e ever seen. Island Breeze Hotel is okay, and has an unsecured wifi access. Nippers (on Guana Cay) is a fun place on the beach on the Atlantic side, good drinks and a fried lobster appetizer that is great. WallyÃÔ (MH) serves a good meal, as does Abaco Beach Resort (MH) and Caf La Florence (MH).
