Pelican Cays Land and Sea Park

Cruising in Pelican Cays waters presents an exciting opportunity to swim, snorkel, and scuba dive on the coral reefs of the Pelican Cays Land and Sea Park. A sister to the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, in the Exuma chain, Pelican Cays lies about 20 nautical miles south of the Moorings base at Marsh Harbour and covers roughly 2,100 acres. The entire area inside and outside the park boundaries is remote and beautiful, a largely undisturbed swath of the Abacos where you can enjoy yourself in a setting that remains mostly unchanged from the days when pirates based out of Nassau prowled these waters centuries ago.

Sandy Cay is well worth visiting. At high tide, the sea covers the low beach between its north and south ends and transforms it into two cays capped with sand dunes and dune grass. To the east is an extensive reef system that breaks the swells of the Atlantic, and on its inner edge the snorkeling is superb, revealing an array of tropical fish and hard and soft corals as beautiful as any in the Bahamas. All along the park’s ocean side are undersea caves, drop-offs, and intriguing coral and rock formations that make for interesting scuba diving. The anchorage site on the west side of the island has a rocky bottom. Make sure the anchor is well set. The moorings on the east side of the cay are for small boats only.

The Pelican Cays are another great stop, though the anchorages can be a bit uncomfortable due to the surge from ocean swells breaking on the nearby reefs. Once the anchor is safely set, you’re off to explore the deserted beaches, most likely in seclusion. The swimming and beach combing is excellent in the Pelican Cays.

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