So long Casaurinas! Hello Sustainability!

Teva and Rob

We at Small Hope Bay Lodge continue our march toward greater sustainability. We make a constant and continuous effort in our practices here to improve our planet and protect this beautiful, and fragile ecosystem.

One of those efforts is to remove invasive plant species, such as the Casuarina Pines (also known as Australian Pine). These trees are pretty but their root system causes excessive erosion. We have removed a significant number of these trees from our North beach already.


And we recently had a guest from Winnipeg, Canada, and a talented and professional arborist, come for another visit and train our own Teva Kurth on how to properly remove these types of trees. A big thanks and round of applause to Rob and his wife, Stacy, who, in between dives and vacation relaxation, assisted and trained in removing some awkwardly placed trees. 



We even cut (and ensured it won't grow back) our giant Casuarina by our outside patio. We'll need some ideas of what to do with its skeleton - carving? firewood? decorate with fairy lights? 

See what a difference it makes . . . 

We are also planting local shrubs and ground cover, in addition to more coconut palms, which will help retain our beach and prevent erosion. Stay tuned for more of our plans for a more sustainable resort and future . . . 

 

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Our Specialty Dive - 2nd Level of the Blue Hole!

An amazing adventure. An unforgettable experience. 

At Small Hope we offer some truly unique diving experiences. From jaw-dropping walls, to inland blue holes. Check out our video of our dive at 2nd Level of the Blue Hole (a.k.a. King Kong's Blue Hole) for an amazing cavern experience with some beautiful rock formations. See our website for more details . . . 

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The Wonderful Nature and Birding Tours at Small Hope!

Nature? - check! Birding? - check! Island history? - check! We have tours for everyone here at Small Hope! Our extensive list of tours offered include (but are not limited tot) the following:

• Our most popular Blue Hole Tour - a half day tour that visits Rainbow Blue Hole, Maidenhair Coppice, Cousteau's Blue Hole, and Captain Bill's Blue Hole; 
• West Side Story - an full day trip by boat to the West Side of Andros Island. Great for nature and bird lovers alike!
• Kayak Tour of Davis Creek - a half day tour exploring the mangrove and creek right in our backyard. The tour ends with some snorkeling at the mouth of the creek.
• Birding Tour - Half or whole day guided tour to various spots nearby where our guides have spotted many varieties of birds.

 And speaking of birding guides . . . Our very own Dennis Burrows has completed his Bahamas National Trust/Audubon Bird Guide Training and is now an Audubon certified Bird Guide! Congratulations Dennis!!!!! We have known for some time of his great nature guide skill. We are proud of him on his certification!!!
Come and go on a tour with him to see for yourself!

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Amazing Photos from Our Guest, Alex!

A few months ago we had a group come stay and dive with us. Some of the group have actually been coming to Small Hope for over 30 years!!! Other members of the group were brand new to Small Hope and came specifically to do some underwater photos of their dives.

Check out these amazing photos . . .

You can see more beautiful photos by Alex at 

                                    www.shureunderwater.com
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Beautiful History of Small Hope . . .

In 1960, on Christmas day, Small Hope Bay Lodge opened the doors to our first guests. We started (and are still continuing 55 years later) as a small, personal lodge, with an emphasis on enjoying the natural surroundings we are blessed with, and developing lasting friendships while here.

The Birch family, that started Small Hope, has grown and evolved many times since that day, and continues to grow. But the things that never change - the laughter, the adventure, the fun, and the commitment to giving our guests a taste of the Real Bahamas!

Check out some of our history in photos . . .

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Check Out Our Videos from the Holidays

We had another phenomenal holiday season at Small Hope. Two excellent feasts, tons of delicious desserts, fantastic guests, bonfire, fireworks and more! Check out the videos and see for yourself!

 

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Get to Know the Staff: Meet Nicky!

Introducing . . . 

Nicky!!!

One of the key members of our Office Staff, Nicky is one of the first faces our guests see when they arrive at Small Hope. He is always helpful and quick to respond to all inquiries and emails. Whether our guests need a massage, want to book a fishing trip, or are ready to pick up their repeat t-shirts (each return guest gets their own t-shirt whenever they return), Nicky is the man. He is one of the familiar faces here everyone is happy to see!

Sporting New Years Eve hats

Fun facts about Nicky:

Real Name: Chad Nicky Hinsey

# of Years at Small Hope: 9

Family: His mother, Cinderella, and father, Thomas run the best Bahamian restaurant on the island, Taste & See. He also has 4 nieces and 3 nephews.

Favorite Thing to do Outside of Work: Listen to music

The Best Part About Working at Small Hope for Nicky: Meeting different people

Favorite Food: Any kind of fish
 
Favorite Color: Black




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