Sampson Cay Exuma a Marina Tucked Into a Private Feeling Cove

An estimated 239,000 cubic yards of material will be removed to carve two marinas into Sampson Cay’s shoreline — a scale that captures both the ambition and the environmental tension at the heart of this project.

Sampson Cay sits in the Exumas, a stretch of The Bahamas that includes the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, one of the oldest protected marine reserves in the Caribbean. The island is being developed by Yntegra, a private investment firm, with Rosewood Hotels & Resorts as the anchor operator. The plan calls for a Rosewood-branded resort, exclusive residences, a beach club, dining concepts, wellness facilities, and — at the center of it all — marina infrastructure tucked into a cove that feels deliberately secluded.

This article walks through what’s actually proposed, what the sustainability claims are based on, and where the trade-offs land. It’s written for travellers and investors who want the full picture — not just the renderings.

Below is a quick overview of the five main areas this article covers, so you can jump to what matters most to you.

The Marina Design & the Private Cove

The marina at Sampson Cay is the project’s centerpiece, and its dimensions tell you a lot about the intended experience. Two separate marinas — north and south — will be carved into the island’s shoreline, with the north entrance channel measuring roughly 200 feet and the south channel around 75 feet. A 100-foot service dock channel connects the two. Those are deliberate, restrained dimensions for a development of this scale: wide enough for superyachts, narrow enough to feel like a private cove rather than a commercial port.

The dredging required to create these basins is substantial. The environmental impact assessment, produced by Bahamas-based consultant Bron Ltd, estimates 143,000 cubic yards of material will be removed for the South Marina and 96,000 cubic yards for the North Marina — a total of roughly 239,000 cubic yards. That material includes benthos, coral, algae, and seagrass, which the EIA acknowledges will negatively affect marine life and seabed ecosystems.

The project covers most of Sampson Cay’s 124 acres, with 88 lots approved via an amendment to the Heads of Agreement. The development divides into three sections: North Ridge branded residences, North Marina hotel and residences, and South Marina branded residences. The eastern side of the island is approved for subdivision into those 88 lots. If your family is weighing a longer stay or investment property in the Exumas, the marina’s layout — with its separate basins and service channel — is designed to keep superyacht traffic away from swimming and beach areas, which matters when you’ve got kids who want to be in the water all day.

Sustainability Framework & Certifications

Sampson Cay is on track to achieve both LEED and Fitwel certifications. LEED evaluates energy efficiency, water management, materials, and site sustainability. Fitwel addresses the built environment’s influence on occupant well-being and community health outcomes. Together, they form the project’s core sustainability claim — and they’re unusual for a Caribbean development of this size.

Yntegra’s approach is structured around a framework that treats ecological responsibility as foundational, not as an add-on. The low-density design reduces pressure on the surrounding ecosystem while preserving the natural character of the Exumas. Landscape and infrastructure decisions are guided by international consultants specializing in environmentally sensitive site design. Renewable energy solutions are integrated to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, with at least 30 percent of energy requirements coming from solar panels and battery cells. Water management is designed to minimize consumption and protect both freshwater and marine systems. Land-use planning guides site grading, vegetation preservation, and the placement of built structures relative to beaches, wetlands, and reef systems.

Rosewood’s operational philosophy, called A Sense of Place, grounds the hospitality side of the project in respect for local environments and communities. The proximity to the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park — one of the oldest protected marine reserves in the Caribbean — makes responsible development a geographic obligation, according to the project’s environmental impact assessment.

Local Sourcing & Community Impact

The economic commitments attached to Sampson Cay go beyond construction jobs. During operation, 80 percent of the workforce will be Bahamian, with only 20 percent non-Bahamian. During construction, Bahamian landscaping companies will be contracted to stimulate the local economy. An estimated 150 units will be constructed to provide employee housing, which the EIA expects will increase local housing availability.

On the sourcing side, Rosewood Sampson Cay will supply 40 percent of its food needs from the Bahamas Agricultural and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) and other local farmers when feasible. That’s a meaningful number for an ultra-luxury resort — most comparable properties import the vast majority of their provisions. The on-site organic farm will supplement that local supply chain and give guests and residents a direct connection to where their food comes from.

Yntegra Group cites $1.8 billion in projected sales and a $2.5 billion economic impact from its Exumas portfolio. Prime Minister Philip Davis KC and Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper were briefed on the Rosewood partnership, and Allyson Maynard-Gibson KC serves as Yntegra Group’s attorney — signals that the project has high-level political backing.

Resort Amenities & the Family Experience

The amenity list at Sampson Cay reads like a small town’s worth of infrastructure. The project will feature a yacht club, gym, medical clinic, marketplace, organic farm, beach tennis, padel tennis, pickleball courts, library, and nursery. The Rosewood-branded resort adds dining concepts, a beach club, and wellness facilities. For families, the combination of a nursery and library means parents aren’t stuck planning around childcare — your kids can be occupied in a safe, supervised setting while you grab a clinic appointment or a padel tennis match.

If your crew is anything like ours, Michael would head straight for the padel tennis courts while Lily browses the marketplace for local crafts, and the organic farm gives everyone a reason to step away from the pool and see something growing. The low-density layout means none of these amenities feel crowded — the whole development is designed to keep foot traffic light and the natural setting front and center.

Environmental Trade-offs & the Controversy

The most direct critique of Sampson Cay comes from Eric Carey, an environmental consultant for Turtlegrass Resort and Island Club, who described the marina plans as “diametrically opposed” to the low-density, sustainable tourism model that the Exumas are known for. His concern centers on the dredging impact: removal of coral, algae, seagrass, and benthos from the seabed — habitat that takes decades to recover, if it recovers at all.

The EIA produced by Bron Ltd acknowledges that dredging will negatively affect marine life and seabed ecosystems. The entrance channels and basins will permanently alter the seafloor in those areas. For a destination that markets itself on pristine marine environments — the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park is right next door — this is a genuine tension. Yntegra’s position is that the low-density design, renewable energy commitments, and local sourcing outweigh the localized habitat loss, and that the project sets a new benchmark for sustainable luxury hospitality in the Caribbean.

The project is being developed in phases over six to seven years, with completion expected by 2031. That timeline gives researchers and regulators time to monitor the actual environmental impact against the EIA’s predictions. But for now, the central question remains unresolved: can a development that removes 239,000 cubic yards of marine habitat genuinely call itself sustainable? The answer depends on whether you consider the renewable energy, local sourcing, and low-density design sufficient compensation for the habitat you lose.

Navigating the Sustainability Conversation

If you’re weighing a visit or an investment at Sampson Cay, the sustainability question is the one you’ll need to sit with longest. The project has real strengths — LEED and Fitwel certifications are rigorous, the 30 percent renewable energy target is meaningful for an off-grid island site, and the 40 percent local food sourcing commitment is unusual in this segment. But the dredging impact is physical and permanent, and the opposition from local environmental consultants like Eric Carey isn’t coming from outside activists — it’s coming from people who work in Bahamian tourism and conservation.

If you’re still weighing which side of the island to sleep on, this interactive map of Exuma hotels and rentals makes it easier to compare properties against the marina, the beach, and the trailhead — so you can decide how close you want to be to the development while it’s under construction.

Before You Go — Sampson Cay & the Exumas

When will Sampson Cay be open?

The project is being developed in phases over six to seven years, with completion estimated by 2031. No firm opening date has been announced for the Rosewood resort or the marina facilities.

Can the public use the marina?

The marina is part of a private ultra-luxury development. Access will be restricted to residents, resort guests, and their invited vessels. The channels and basins are not planned as public infrastructure.

Is the dredging really that bad for the environment?

The EIA confirms that dredging will remove benthos, coral, algae, and seagrass from the seabed. Eric Carey, an environmental consultant working in the Exumas, called the plan “diametrically opposed” to the region’s sustainable tourism model. The habitat loss is localized but permanent in the dredged areas.

What’s the closest airport?

Sampson Cay is accessible via Exuma International Airport (GGT) in George Town, with connecting flights from Nassau, Miami, and other hubs. From there, it’s a boat or seaplane transfer to the island — typical for private-island developments in the Exumas.

Are there other family-friendly resorts nearby?

Yes. The Exumas have several family-oriented resorts and rental properties, many with direct beach access and kid-friendly programming. If you’re looking for a boating adventure near Treasure Cay Beach or a more laid-back alternative while Sampson Cay is under construction, there are plenty of options within a short boat ride.

What This Means for the Exumas

Sampson Cay represents a genuine experiment: can a $200 million ultra-luxury development with two private marinas earn LEED and Fitwel certifications while sitting next to one of the Caribbean’s oldest marine reserves? The answer isn’t settled yet — the dredging is real, the habitat loss is real, and the opposition is real. But the renewable energy commitment, the local sourcing targets, and the low-density design are also real. For travellers and investors who care about both luxury and sustainability, Sampson Cay is the kind of project that forces you to decide where you draw your own line. If you’re planning a trip to the Exumas and want to see what the region offers beyond this one development, snorkeling adventures at Cable Beach give you a sense of the marine environment the project is working to protect — and, in some places, alter.

References

Yntegra Group. “Rosewood Exuma Development Environmental Impact Highlights a Commitment to Sustainable Growth.” VCStar Press Release, 2025. ↗

DredgeWire. “$40M Exuma Project to Dredge 240K Cubic Yards Over Marinas.” 2025. ↗

MENAFN. “Rosewood Exuma Development Environmental Impact Highlights a Commitment to Sustainable Growth.” 2025. ↗

If you’re still mapping out your Exumas itinerary, the Lucayan legacy sites across the Bahamas offer a deeper look at the region’s pre-Columbian history, and the coral reefs near Tropic of Cancer Beach show you the kind of marine habitat that makes the Exumas worth protecting in the first place.