Snorkel· Rose Island· Bahamas — North

Rose Island Beach Reef (north shore snorkel)

25° 5.3′ N · 77° 14.0′ W

The reef-fringed north beach of western Rose Island, where the excursion boats from Nassau anchor: dense coral close to town and white sand ashore.

AbacosNassau & the Berry Islands

Practical

ActiveCaptain position for the anchorage off the beach. Route from Nassau: go round Rose Island Rocks until north of 25°05.600'N, run east keeping the charted reef to starboard, then turn south toward the 3.6 m (about 12 ft) patch and run straight in toward the shore; 6 ft+ holds close to the beach. Excellent shelter in prevailing SE trades; untenable in north winds. Watch where the tour boats stop to find the best coral. Beach landing only, rocks on the beach, look for sand. Caveats: a 2022 reviewer reported tour boats, loud music, jet skis and constant rolling in a 10-knot easterly; sharks are fed here by operators (see Rose Island North Anchorage). A 2011 cruiser called the north-shore reefs the densest coral they had seen close to Nassau and found about 12 ft almost to the beach at mid-high tide, but the reef is too shallow to linger over at low tide.

Best for

Best coral snorkeling within easy reach of Nassau

Season

Settled S-SE winds

Nearby