Bahamas Aggressor II

Exuma Cays and Southwest Eleuthera (Nassau - Nassau) 8D/7N

The Exumas consist of a series of more than 350 small islands and cays stretching from just 35 miles south of New Providence to the anchor islands of Great and Little Exuma to the south. The Exumas are a 120-mile long chain of islands within the Out Islands chain. The Cays are the most exotic of the Out Islands, a collection of tiny jewels nestled in the aquamarine and sapphire of the most beautiful waters you've ever imagined, with a mesmerising combination of walls and lush, shallow reefs.

Nassau

• Lost Blue Hole - The edge of this large blue hole lies in 40 feet of water, surrounded by coral heads, stingrays and many schools of fish. There is a lobster-filled crevice at 80'. In the sand surrounding the hole, divers will find many small fish such as banded jawfish, seminole gobies and tobacco fish. There are usually 1 or 2 nurse sharks here and in the spring a large school of blacknose sharks inhabit the bottom of the 200' hole. This is the place where the first lionfish were spotted in the Bahamas.
• Periwinkle Reef - This is a shallow reef that mates with fish. Local operators in Nassau feed fish here, so sergeant majors and angelfish approach divers looking for a handout.

Exumas

• Amberjack Reef - A 50-foot patch reef with a prolific fish population. You'll see reef sharks and up to 10 large groupers. This dive also has many interesting small creatures such as pirate blennies and garden eels. During the safety stop, divers will be surrounded by a school of 100+ horse-eye jacks hanging below the yacht.
• Austin Smith Wreck - A 90' Bahamian Defence Force cutter that was in 60' of water and sank in 1995 when it was towed to San Salvador to be scuttled as a dive site.
• Barracuda Shoals - This shore reef has huge schools of fish as well as many small creatures on the reef and in the surrounding sand.
• Blacktip Wall - Hammerhead sharks have been frequently spotted on this wall. This reef is also where Ned Deloach (co-author of Reef Books) found the very rare lemon goby.
• Cathedral - This site is part of the Dog Rocks Reef. This reef starts at 35' and drops down to 50' before dropping directly into Exuma Sound. Cathedral is a large swim through where the light bounces from the top to the bottom, reflecting off the thousands of silversides that occupy the swim through. This swim-thru has many grouper and mackerel feeding on the silversides. On the wall are large stands of black coral and orange elephant ears and tube sponges. Pelagics, eagle rays and sharks are often seen from the wall.
• Cracked Coral Head - This massive coral head rises 40' above the bottom. Several large passageways make it look like it has been cracked.
• Jeep Reef - Named after a coral-encrusted jeep that lies near the morning, this site is in the middle of Exumas Land & Sea Park and is home to a healthy population of fish. It's also one of the most beautiful reefs you'll ever see. The current that flows through this inlet keeps the reef's coral very healthy.
• Pillar Wall - One of many excellent wall dives. It starts at 30' and drops to 50' before dropping down 5,000'. There are many caves and crevices. There is a large colony of yellowhead jawfish in the rubble inside the reef.

Southwest Eleuthera

• Cave Rock - A large coral mound in 50 feet of water surrounded by several smaller coral heads. There are several caves where you can swim from one side to the other. The great variety of corals and fish will amaze you. Hammerhead sharks have often been spotted here.
• Monolith - Large coral mounds protrude from the sand at the edge of the wall. They start at 100' and rise to 55'. There is a colony of garden eels in the sand next to the mounds.

Little San Sal (Half Moon Cay)

• Cave Reef - This 40' shallow patch reef has several large passages cutting through the centre.
• Empress Pinnacles - This wall dive features 30' high pinnacles poking out of the sand at the edge of the wall. Pelagics are often seen in the clear water in front of the wall. There are large stands of black coral on the sides of the pinnacles.

Marine life: Sharks, eagle rays, stingrays, groupers, drop offs and reefs with a rich underwater world and several macro creatures