SV Windrifter42

The Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park is one of 26 national parks managed by the Bahamian National Trust. It is considered the most pristine and most beautiful area of the Exumas. There are no commercial development within the park’s 22 miles – you can also not fish, take shells or conch, or dispose of any garbage within the park boundaries – the pack it in, pack it out idea. What this means is that the park has basically never been fished and it more like what things were like before development came to the Bahamas. And I can tell you there is a difference. The water is even more beautiful than at Norman’s Cay (and I thought that couldn’t be beat). The water is so clear you can watch 4-5 ft fish just swimming under your boat. In order to keep things pristine you have to go without any services. There are not public facilities, showers, fuel, food or other supplies. The park headquarters does sell ice, guide books and underwater cameras – the rest you are on your own.
They do throw happy hour on the beach every Saturday evening – its byob and snacks to share – but they supply the ice. We arrived just in time to put the boat on the mooring, get the dinghy in the water, make a quick batch of hummus to share and get over to happy hour. We met fellow boaters going both north and south – and got to talk to some of the Bahamian Defense Force guy who patrol the park. They get to spend one month here on rotation to make sure everyone abids by park rules. He said it’s a great place to get stationed – a lot less stressful than Nassau – you get to patrol one of the most beautiful places in the Bahamas, meet nice boaters and enjoy amazing sunsets. He said it was like being on R & R- but sadly you only get assigned here every 3 years or so.