Berry Islands Bahamas

Just to the northeast of Andros, on the northeastern edge of the Great Bahama Bank, lie the Berry Islands, a stirrup-shaped chain of 30 cays and numerous smaller islets. The Berries offer beautiful opportunities for both divers and snorkelers.

The two largest, Great Harbor Cay and Chub Cay, are where most of the Berry Island residents live, and are the centers for activity.

Although Chub Cay was severely damaged by Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the hotel, marina, and restaurants are being completely re-built, and offer the same amenities as before.

The Berry Islands have long been prized for sport fishing. Lately, diving has begun to catch on, and divers are finding a new and relatively unexplored territory.

Since Chub Cay is located on the edge of the Bahama Bank, shallow dives among the area's many reefs are plentiful, and with the Tongue of the Ocean just a stone's throw away, the rare experience of diving along sheer walls is also standard fare.

There is a deep-water canyon at Chub Cay where you can find a variety of colorful reef fish and open water marine life. Staghorn coral are numerous in the shallow waters near Mamma Rhoda Rock.

The Chub Cay Wall, which starts at 80 feet and drops to 4000 feet, provides divers with a magnificent look into the deep. The Canyons is located in 45 feet of water and has a variety of swim-throughs, tunnels and large coral arches. Another popular site is the Eel Garden which starts at 40 feet of water over white sand with hundreds of garden eels, southern stingrays and parrot fish. A rollover covered with coral heads continues down to about to about 75 feet.

The Berry Islands are part of the Bahama Out Islands, or Family Islands as they are often called. The Bahama Out Islands have been a recipient of Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine Reader's Choice Award in 1996 and 1997.