Snorkeling off of Guana Cay

[Birdlover]

Hello All: My sister and I and our families will be staying somewhere on Guana Cay next summer (haven't finalized arrangements) and would like to know more about the "beach entry snorkeling." We hope to get a house for 2 weeks on the ocean side. How far away from the beach is the Barrier Reef ? Are there any other places to stay that are easier to swim to a good reef ? The web sites we've seen so far lead us to believe that Guana has the best access. Thank you for any info.

[Jerry S]

http://www.************/index.html

[Watercolours]

There is snorkling off the beach of Guana and several of the other islands here. You will want a rental boat or go out several days on a dive boat to see the best that Abaco has to offer as far as reefs go.

[4X4medic]

There is alot of very good snorkeling off Guana Cay. We did alot off the north end of Guana and there is some pretty good stuff just right off the beach from Nippers. Go to my homepage and look at the pictures. Got a whole section of underwater pics I took in This MONTH! Have a great time and ask lots of questions and read up. If you do not have one get a Dodge guide. It is very helpful for the area.

www.our-adventure-travels.net (http://www.our-adventure-travels.net)

[P2Pooz]

There is a beautiful area, a ways out from Nippers. You have to clear lots of rocks close to the beach, and it is on the Atlantic side, so the waves can be pretty powerful. Also, I came face to face with a large barracuda, but he seemed pretty mellow. The beach area at Nippers is beautiful. I have attached a pic.
Have a great time!
Patti

[Abacoparrott]

My suggestion would be to approach the beach at Nippers. Turn right (east) and walk to High Rocks (about 3/4 mi.). Pitch your "stuff" on the beach and get in da water. At some places here (depending on the tide) the reef comes to within 40 feet of the shore. For really good stuff, cross over the first patch reef and venture out to the 2nd and 3rd reef......nice coral growth and fish. You can easily spend a day there. In the summer, the prevailing winds are southeasterly so the snorkeling SHOULD be calm. After your day at sea, stop at Nippers to drink and expound upon your "big fish" tales.......you will sleep very well that nite.......next day....call Troy at Dive Guana to take you to Fowl Cay. Ken

[hooksmee]

Also good snorkeling on Guana if you go to the RIGHT on the beach from Dolphin Beach Resort, walk about 5 minutes, look for the FIRST palm tree before you get to Nipper's, and there's a lot of beauty to behold about 40 yards off the beach. I, too, had an uneventful but relatively close(4 feet)sighting of a barracuda. It seems that the number of bigger fish close in increases as the water temperature does.

[PELLUCID]

Usually it is calm enough to enter the ocean side most days during the summer. But if it isn't, Fishers Bay is a good alternate snorkel spot.

You can enter near Dive Guana, and explore the rocky groin which protects the loading dock. Sometimes a lionfish is there. A little farther out are rocky spots with some debris that attract fish. If you can swim well, Delia's Cay has a nice rocky shoreline with more fish and some corals. To the right of the dock about 200 yards is a patch reef, and to the left about the same distance an old wreck.

At any point in Fishers Bay, you may see sharks, barracudas, eagle rays, turtles, jacks, and other large fish.

I would caution you to make yourself visible while you are in the water. Wear a yellow dive vest, or take a dive flag float, or both. Form a group and stay together. Unfortunately both locals and visitors cross the area at high speed, and they have been known to have a drink or two. Best to make sure they can see you.

[L0NG L00K 2]

If you are to swim off your boat, getting a "Diver Down" Flag and placing it on your boat is highly recomended. You can buy them at a local dive shop. BIGGER IS BETTER. Also dont swim far from your boat!

[brewcitylisa]

These are beautiful places right on the beach. You can snorkel and swim right from both the Shell House and the Beach House. Nippers is just to the north. You will not be disappointed! http://www.guanabeachhouse.com/

[Birdlover]

We're still in the early stages of planning: picking out the house to rent. Thanks for the specifics on where to go in and about the flags. Sorry to hear about the potential destruction of the reef.
Heidi