Family Fun

It was a fun and loud week at SHBL as families took advantage of their February break from school and escaped the winter of New England for the tropical warmth of the Bahamas.

The Burton and the Stephan families came down together for the second year in a row.

The Anagnostopoulos family has been coming to Small Hope for over 16 years. Paul and Cynthia have been bringing their children, Luke and Rose to the Bahamas since they were small children. Now Luke is old enough to be helping out the SHBL Divemasters on the dock and Rose can be seen all around the Lodge, drawing and chilling out with her mom!

This is the second year that all three families have been at the Lodge together and the kids were all excited to spend the week with their Small Hope friends. Phoebe, Louise, Eric, Jill, and Julius all got certified. All of the kids spent tons of time on the beach, in the hot tub and in the games room playing Ring Around The Table Ping Pong (which consisted of them running around the table while playing a continous game -- it was hilarious!) Pin It Now!

Dave and Sonya, guests that visited us from Alaska did an unusual thing -- they left a souvenir instead of taking one home. Dave engraved this walrus tooth and presented it to Jeff as a thank you for their great week at Small Hope Bay Lodge. Pin It Now!

Birds of Paradise

The New Jersey Audobon Society, led by Brian Verrachio has come to SHBL to explore the island's diverse bird life! During their first hour on Andros, they saw THREE Great Lizard Cuckoos and a Black Coiled Oriole.

Carolyn Wardle of the Bahamas National Trust (pictured) says that Andros is home to many wonderful species of birds, including:

- Cuban Emerald
- Bahama Yellowthroat
- Bahama Swallow
- Thick-billed Vireo
- Greater Antillean Bullfinch
- West Indian Whistling Duck
- Bahama Mockingbird

Brain said that birding at Small Hope was pure joy in a relaxed sense. "What an experience here at Small Hope!"

The New Jersey Audobon Society


Brian Verrachio, Avis and Bob Kniffin, Alison Peebles, Carol Bishop, Pat Pire and the other members with Jeff Birch Pin It Now!

Training at Small Hope Bay

Members of four families set out to learn how to dive and to learn more about diving during their trip to Small Hope Bay Lodge. We have all four member of the Burton family, who did their book work back home and came to Andros to do all of the water work required for Open Water certification (you can do the same by doing Elearning with PADI!). Three other kids, Louise, Eric and Jill are doing all their homework and water work here and will leave as Jr. Open Water Divers! Pam and Huge are continuing their diving education by pursuing their Advanced Open Water certification, which requires 5 different specialty dive experiences!

While the smaller kids and moms are diving, beaching, shelling, snorkeling and relaxing, the older kids are swimming and getting certified...and the dads are off fishing and diving too!

Take advantage of our free Advanced Open Water and Nitrox certifications and free casting lessons. Contact our office for details. Pin It Now!

Why Would You Want To Be Anywhere Else?

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Plunge Into The Past

Dear Jeff Birch,

We enjoyed the "Plunge Into The Past" tour, with the information given along the way. The well-marked nature trails were a real pleasure as were the lovely beaches.

The peaceful and friendly environment gave us a very relaxing and refreshing wedding occasion.

Sincerely,

Geoffrey and Elizabeth

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Merci!

Patrick and Karine visited SHBL from France last week, did some amazing diving (including the Stargate Blue Hole!)and had a great time socializing with the other guests. This is what they had to say about their stay at Small Hope Bay Lodge.

Merci à toute l`équipe de SMALL HOPE BAY LODGE qui nous a permis de vivre une semaine de vacances inoubliable.


Ce que nous avons particulièrement apprécié ici ?


la formule sans télévision ni téléphone qui invite à la détente et encourage la socialisation autour du bar à la fin de la journée,
la formule ‘all inclusive’ même si notre foie en a un peu souffert,
l`hospitalité et l`accueil particulièrement chaleureux de l`ensemble du personnel local ou international,
les plongées spéciales parmi lesquelles ‘stargate blue hole (ma plongée favorite), shark emporium et Over the wall’,
la limpidité et la température de l`eau même à cette période de l`année (24 degré jusqu`a 60m !)’,
la diversité de la faune sous-marine et la beauté des coraux



KARINE et PATRICK Pin It Now!

Balloon Boys

Small Hope Bay Lodge was the location of the "Balloon Boys" 25th Annual Dive trip. Marlow, Dan, John and Ted have been traveling the world together for 25 years, diving in exotic locations and bringing their brand of joy and good humor to all the corners or the world.

The four friends are the coordinators of the Great Forest Park Balloon Race in St. Louis, Missouri. They also are the purveyors of fun to any country they go to since they bring toys (like kites!) to give to local children on every trip they take.

This is what the guys had to say about SHBL:

"The 25th Annual Balloon Boys Dive trip - wonderful dives, high times on the shores, good, soft landings!"

"In 25 years of diving, this was the best."

Thanks, guys and we hope to see these high fliers again sometime soon! Pin It Now!