Adventure Activities

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GUIDES

How to Try Free Diving Instead of Scuba for the First Time

You’re floating face-down over a white sand bottom, the surface thirty feet above you, no tank strapped to your back, no regulator in your mouth — just one breath and the quiet hum of your own heartbeat. That’s the moment freediving separates itself from scuba. You swap complicated gear for a single skill: staying calm underwater on the air you already have. The Bahamas is the best place on earth to try it, largely because of Dean’s Blue Hole, which plunges 663 feet into limestone bedrock. This article covers how to go from zero breath-hold experience to your first

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Chasing Dolphins in the Wild Instead of at a Marine Park

Captive dolphins in marine parks live, on average, shorter lives than their wild counterparts, confined to tanks that are a fraction of the size of their natural territories. The more we learn about their intelligence — complex vocalizations, self-awareness, lifelong family bonds — the harder it becomes to justify a ticket to a show. That’s why our family has shifted our approach entirely: we now chase dolphins in the wild, and the Bahamas is one of the best places to do it right. Eight of 13 dolphins at a former Bahamas swim-with attraction have died since 2018 — a

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How to Spend an Afternoon Sponge Fishing Like the Old Days

On a clear afternoon in the early 1900s, a sponger would lean over the side of a sloop, peer through a water glass — a bucket with a glass bottom — and spot a wool sponge on the seafloor 10 feet below. With a 12-foot pole tipped with an iron hook, he’d tear it loose, squeeze out the gray gurry, and toss it into the boat. In 1917, the Bahamas exported over a million pounds of sponges, ranking it the third-largest producer globally by 1935. That industry collapsed after hurricanes, overfishing, and a 1938 fungus, but the tradition of

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A Guide to Off Roading Through the Abacos Backcountry

You’ve seen the turquoise water and the bonefishing flats. But the Abacos has a rough interior too—pine forests, limestone roads, and abandoned settlements that few visitors ever reach. Off-roading through the Abacos backcountry opens up a side of the Bahamas that moves at a slower, dustier pace. This guide covers what to expect, how to prepare, and where to look for a tour that fits your style. More than 700 islands make up the Bahamas, but the Abacos region alone has hundreds of square miles of undeveloped interior—much of it accessible only by four-wheel drive. Emily’s Take Off-roading in

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How to Book a Guided Bonefishing Trip on South Andros

The instant your skiff glides into the shallows of South Bight, the first thing you notice is the colour of the bottom — bone-white marl stretching for acres, the same pale limestone that gives bonefish their name. South Andros sits at the southern end of the Bahamas archipelago, and the lodge at Andros South gives you access to hundreds of square miles of these flats. This article walks through exactly how to book a guided bonefishing trip there — what packages cost, how to lock in your dates, what the lodge provides, and what you need to bring yourself.

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How to Spend a Day Sailing Between Private Sandbars

Over 700 islands and cays exist in the Bahamas, most unvisited by typical tourists. A private yacht charter unlocks the hidden sandbars and secluded shores beyond the reach of ferries and crowds. Emily’s Take A full-day (6-8 hour) private charter from Nassau can comfortably reach Rose Island, Green Cay, and Allen’s Cay. For the more remote Exuma sandbars like Norman’s, Shroud, or Compass Cay, you’ll need a multi-day charter or a fast RIB. The key is matching the itinerary to the boat speed and your group’s tolerance for time on the water. Best for Small groups wanting privacy Families

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A Guide to Horseback Riding Along Bahamian Beaches

You’re standing ankle-deep in warm turquoise water, one hand on the reins, the other gripping your phone for a photo your kids will roll their eyes at later. The horse takes another slow step forward, and the Atlantic stretches out flat and blue to the horizon. This is the version of the Bahamas that doesn’t require a boat — just a good stable, a calm horse, and a willingness to get your feet wet. The two-hour guided beach ride at Coral Harbour runs well over 100 USD, and spaces fill fast — especially at sunrise. Emily’s Take Yes, horseback

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Chasing Sea Turtles While Snorkeling the Exuma Cays

Last fall, I found myself sitting chest-deep in the warm water of Hooper’s Bay, when a dark shape materialized out of the glare and drifted straight toward me. It was a sea turtle — curious, unafraid, and clearly expecting a snack. That moment, just a few strokes from shore in the Exuma Cays, was the kind of encounter that redefines a family trip. If you’re planning a Bahamas vacation with kids who love marine life, snorkeling with sea turtles in the Exumas is one of the most memorable things you can do — but it requires a little more

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How to Try Stand Up Paddleboard Yoga in the Bahamas

The first time I saw someone float through a sun salutation on a paddleboard off a pink-sand beach in Eleuthera, I thought they’d fall in within about ten seconds. They didn’t. The board stayed steady, the water barely lapped, and the whole thing looked more like a meditation than a balancing act. That’s the thing about stand up paddleboard yoga in the Bahamas — the conditions make it easier than you’d expect. The retreat programs at Pineapple Fields Resort on Eleuthera run all-levels SUP yoga sessions that start from the assumption that you’ve never been on a board before.

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Chasing the Perfect Wave on a Bahamas Surf Trip

Gregory Town on Eleuthera’s Atlantic side doesn’t look like a surf town at first glance — no neon board shops, no crowded lineups. Then you round the bend at Surfer’s Beach and see the consistent A-frame peaks peeling across a three-mile stretch of sand, and it clicks. The Bahamas, with over 3,000 islets scattered across 100,000 square miles of ocean, catches winter swells that most people assume only happen in Hawaii or Fiji. This article covers the best surf spots across Eleuthera and the Abacos, who each break suits, and how to plan a trip that actually works —

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