Snorkel· Great Abaco (Marsh Harbour)· Bahamas — North
Mermaid Reef (Marsh Harbour)
26° 33.2′ N · 77° 3.5′ W · approximate
A shallow reef off Pelican Shores at the north edge of Marsh Harbour, the town's go-to snorkel: schools of snapper, big green moray eels and trumpetfish, reachable on foot from town or by dinghy.
Practical
Position approximate: Frommers places the reef off Pelican Shores directly west of Marsh Harbour Marina, which also describes it as a short walk from the marina; we placed the point in the water off the Pelican Shores shore. Waterway Guide lists a Mermaid Reef anchorage just outside the harbour entrance with good holding in sand in more than 8 ft. Snorkel gear rentals are offered at Abaco Beach Resort (Sea Horse Boat Rentals). Some sites say anchoring and fishing are banned on the reef; we could not confirm that with the Bahamas National Trust, so do not anchor on coral regardless.
Best for
An easy snorkel without leaving Marsh Harbour