Andros Island

Andros is the largest island in the Bahamas and one of the least visited. It has no cruise ship port. Its interior – about 6,000 square kilometres of pine forest, mangrove, and wetland – is largely inaccessible. The Andros Barrier Reef, the third-longest in the world, runs along the eastern shore. The western side drops into the Tongue of the Ocean, a 1,800-metre deep submarine canyon. Between the reef and the canyon, this island produces some of the best bonefishing and diving in the Atlantic.

Andros is the reason bonefishing guides exist in the Bahamas as a profession. The shallow flats on the western side hold bonefish populations that have been attracting fly fishing specialists for decades. Small Hope Bay Lodge is the island’s best-known dive operation and has been running since 1960; the combination of reef diving, bone fishing, and blue hole exploration has sustained it without the mass tourism that reaches Nassau.

Diving

The Andros Barrier Reef has wall dives that drop sharply from 15-18 metres to depths beyond recreational diving range. The AUTEC (Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center) wall is one of the more dramatic in the Atlantic. Blue holes – submarine cave systems – occur throughout the island’s interior and offshore; some are accessible by boat, some require significant technical diving expertise.

Bonefishing

The western flats are premier bonefishing territory year-round. Guides work out of the main lodge areas and local operators throughout the island. Permit and tarpon are also present. The best fishing is on the flats at low tide when fish are visible; guided wading or skiff trips run approximately $500-700 per day per angler.

Getting There and Staying

Daily scheduled flights from Nassau to Andros Town and Congo Town on Andros Air. Flying time is about 20 minutes. From Nassau by ferry (MV Bahamas Daybreak), approximately 5 hours.

Small Hope Bay Lodge runs all-inclusive packages with accommodations, meals, and guided activities – bone fishing, diving, kayaking. Rates from approximately $300-400 per person per night all-inclusive. The lodge is family-run and has operated continuously since the 1960s. Tranquility Hill Resort offers self-catering options for those who want more independence.

ATMs are limited; bring enough cash. Medical facilities are basic and serious emergencies may require evacuation to Nassau. October through April is the best window for diving (clearer water) and bonefishing. Hurricane season runs June through September, though Andros sits slightly outside the most frequently hit track.