Fly/Dive Trips to The Bahamas

There are some 700 islands in the Bahamas.  During the 1970’s, drug runners built runways on many of the ‘out islands’ to help with their drug running businesses.  The drug runners are largely gone now, but most of their runways remain.  And on many of the out islands, small scuba diving resorts sprung up next to the old (but now often improved) runways, offering a unique fly/dive opportunity for GA pilots like me, complete with authentic laid-back island culture.  And unlike the vibe often found in Nassau and Freeport, the locals on the out islands actually like you, and truly appreciate your patronage.  

Below are a few island-side photos from my fly/dive trips to the Bahamas.  Most of the photos are from my favorite stops on Cat Island (Hawk’s Nest), Harbor Island, Andros Island (Small Hope Bay Lodge), Long Island (Stella Maris Resort) and Crooked Island.  

My typically M.O. was to refuel and depart for the Bahamas from Fort Pierce, FL (KFPR).  I’d fly my Cessna T337 directly to a dive resort, or to an airstrip nearby, then enjoy a few days of scuba diving before moving on to the next island.  Often I’d make morning dives at one island, fly to another island for lunch, then fly on to a third island for afternoon dives.  One can do this safely because when flying small unpressurized GA aircraft, all the inter-flying is done at just a few hundred feet above the water, so there’s no concerns about decompression sickness.

Harbor Island is famous for its pink sand beech, and for not allowing vehicles (golf carts only!), which was very nice.  I liked to make non-diving stops here and just relax at a B&B.  On Crooked Island, I’d stay at Crooked Island Lodge & Marina, where there was great wall diving just offshore.

You can Click on any photo below to launch a slideshow starting at that point.  If you’re interested, you can see a few of my island flying photos, here; and/or some underwater diving photos, here.  

If you have any questions or problems, or if you want to chat about fly/diving the Bahamas, just Contact Me.