Island Hopping Package

Island Hopping Package!!!!

With over 700 islands and cays the Bahamas has so much to over, travelers seeking to have experience more than one destination is one destination. Small Hope Bay Lodge and Staniel Cay Yacht Club has teamed up to offer you an experience of a lifetime. One vacation two destinations, one country. 

Fly to Andros, and experience the wonderful world, of diving or a nice relaxing day fishing the flats, or just relaxing on a Hammock at Small hope Bay. Then skip on over to Exuma to see the swimming pigs and enjoy the turquoise blue waters of the Exuma Cays.  

The Island Hopping Package includes: 

• Round-trip airfare between Fort Lauderdale, Andros and Staniel Cay
• Beachfront accommodations and all-inclusive amenities at Small Hope Bay Lodge
• Waterfront accommodations, private skiff and more at Staniel Cay Yacht Club.

Check out our Island Hopping Package on our website. 

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Some of our favorite photos from this summer . . .

We have a had a beautiful and hurricane-free summer at Small Hope. We are getting ready for our annual re-opening next week and the staff can't wait for the guests to come back. Here are just a few of our favorite photos from this summer . . . 

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Glamping and Blue Hole Dives, Andros, Bahamas

Just back from one of the most fun weekends I can remember! This past weekend Small Hope Bay Lodge owner, Jeff Birch, took some staff to South Andros for the weekend to do some blue hole dives. It was a great opportunity for some of us to get a chance to see some of the amazing natural beauty of the area as well as dive some of the most amazing caves and caverns in the world.

We called our friends down at Tiamo, a resort on South Andros, who are closed for the season. They happily invited us to use their resort as our camp site while we were down there. Not your typical campsite - we had use of the pool, showers and more, not to mention our amazing welcome night with great wine and champagne.

Our first morning we took the boat to the small dock and headed south by car to Stargate, an incredibly beautiful and ornately decorated cave dive. This is, hands down, one of the coolest dive any of us have ever done - amazing stalactites and wall formations. We even saw a blind cave fish!

Next up was El Dorado, an awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping, cave dive. El Dorado starts as you head into the mouth of the cave, visible from above water as well, through a tunnel filled with great wall formations and stalactites (quite a few blind cave fish too!). But then, you start to see light at the far end of this tunnel and you end up beneath a different lake, looking up through the green light.

We turned around and returned to our entry point. As this dive was only at a depth of 90' we had plenty of time to play around outside the mouth of the cave, checking out the debris, wall formations, and sediment. There was a vere eerie mist too!

After a very full (and cool) day of diving we all headed back to our campsite (and the infinity pool) at Tiamo. We rounded out a great day with some tasty tacos and, all exhausted and looking forward to our final dive the next day, went to bed very early.

On Sunday, after camp fire coffee and breakfast, we hopped in the boat once more and headed to the road and the last dive of the trip, Mohrdohr. This place is a bit further into the bush and we had to trek all the gear in. It is a beautiful walk though - views of 3 blue holes, tons of different butterflies, and at least 2 Great Lizard Cuckoos that stopped to check us out. The surface of this blue hole is almost as impressive as beneath the water . There is a land bridge that connects this blue hole with another so you can swim between the two. This dive, Mohrdohr, is technically a cavern dive as outside light is visible at all times. We had a depth of 110' here, but the most impressive part of this dive is coming out. It is a giant room, like a big cathedral, and when you turn around there is a huge column of light coming from the entrance, illuminating the sides and floor of the entire entrance. Breathtaking! 

Check out the video for Part 2 here!

After this, we hiked back out to the cars, then took the boat back to the camp site to pack all our stuff. We said goodbye to our friends at Tiamo and some of the boys headed back to Small Hope with most of the dive and camping gear on the boat, and the rest of us flew with Jeff, doing a couple fly-bys of the boat on the way.

All in all, an amazing weekend! Can't wait till the next time. Thanks boss! Pin It Now!

Summertime . . . and the living is easy at Small Hope, Andros, Bahamas

This is my FAVORITE time of year here at Small Hope Bay Lodge, Andros Island, Bahamas. The sun shines in the morning. The seas are like glass for the morning dives - so clear that from the boat, I can look down in to 30 feet of water and tell which corals and types of fish are down below. The afternoon brings incredible tropical showers then the day is beautiful and bright once more. And the glorious starry nights are made even more amazing by the lightning shows off on the horizon. The water is between 82 and 84 degrees, perfect for a swim, snorkel or dive, day or night. All in all - Perfect!

Photo by Petter Kaalstad

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My favorite dive ( . . . so far) at Small Hope, Bahamas

With the third largest barrier reef in the world just minutes away from the Small Hope Bay Lodge dock, and being virtually the only dive operation on that reef, there are literally dozens of really, really great dives at my fingertips. I have been enjoying my time underwater at Small Hope for a little over two years now and have gotten to experience some truly amazing dives. I've done mind-blowing wall dives - the drop from the reef into the "Tongue of the Ocean", basically a 6,000 foot drop straight down, with little to no current, making some really awesome wall cruises. I've done coral garden and shark dives - one of my favorite sites, Brad's Mountain combines the two, beautiful coral growth with cracks and crevices, all flourishing with tons of different fish, and pretty much guaranteed sharks every time. I've been diving in the Blue Hole of Andros - both ocean and inland blue holes, I have gotten to experience the full cave dive of the Guardian, as well as the Ocean Blue Hole, an incredibly beautiful cavern dive.

Well, the coolest, most jaw-dropping, kick butt dive so far? 2nd Level of the Blue Hole (into Backside of the Blue Hole). This is one of the custom specialty dives Small Hope offers. We went to the Ocean Blue Hole and timed the dive perfectly with the tides (very important). This is a "live" blue hole, meaning fresh water is sucked through underground caves as the tide goes out. 

2nd Level - This is a deeper circuit around the blue hole dive than the typical blue hole dive we take most of our guests on (usually done at 100'). 2nd Level goes down to about 140' and also passes through a smaller "room", creating a cave-like atmosphere for the first part of the dive. At the beginning of the dive you pass over the rim of the hole and start descending in to the surrounding crevice. Down below, you see a triangular entry. This is the first "restriction" and even though it looks really little divers have no problem getting through. This takes you to the "room" which is quite dark and about 5' high, 8' wide and maybe 6' deep in size. At the back of the room there is a passage down and to the left which takes you through a tunnel that continues to widen until you can see the upper levels of the blue hole. Now it starts to become so incredibly gorgeous. Big skylights letting the turquoise blue stream down through massive boulders strategically placed. Great rock formations, including one we call E.T.'s head (because from the right angle, its shape is just like E.T.'s). And great dark chasms below, where the light will never reach. It is the most awe inspiring dive I've been on.

Backside of the Blue Hole - The Backside dive usually goes to about 70 feet deep and goes over the top of the sinkhole and out the back where all the ancient streams and riverbeds lie. We time the dive so the tides have pushed tons of fresh water through and formed a halocline where the fresh water below is green and significantly cooler, and the salt water above is blue and warm. If you catch the tides just right, the line between fresh and salt water will be so distinct, you could cut it with a knife. In addition to all this, sediment that gets pushed with the fresh water forms what we call "whale snot" and drapes over the coral and looks like Halloween cobweb decor. It also floats around making this dive completely other-worldly as well as a one-of-a-kind experience.

On this particular dive, we timed it just right and at the end of our circuit around the 2nd Level of the Blue Hole we came up in to the Backside of the Blue Hole and finished the dive cruising in and out of green and turquoise waters, playing with the "snot", spotted a reef shark, a giant Nassau grouper, an Atlantic spadefish. All in all, the best of both worlds - unbelievable deep cavern dive, followed by eeire and awesome backside dive. SO GREAT! I love my life! Pin It Now!

Land Tour of Andros

Though I am not new to Andros and have visited several times throughout the course of my life, I have never really explored the island. I am currently working as an intern for the next few months and will be sharing some of my experiences here at Small Hope and around the area. I've only been here for a week so far, but on my day off I joined some guests (Cheryl and Jeff) on a land tour with Dennis. The agenda was to explore some blue holes, caves and check out the northern part of the island. On our way up to Conch Sound, we passed pine forests, schools, colorful houses, a Mennonite farm, and a handful of building projects that were left abandoned. It was certainly insightful to ride with our knowledgeable tour guide (and trusty divemaster)Dennis, who answered our questions with ease. When we reached the sound, we saw the flattened water which signified a blue hole underneath and we all got our snorkels on to explore.

Blue Hole at Conch Sound

Caves

What a sight! The cracks in the limestone fell deep and hundreds of fish were passing through as the limestone walls bent and curved in different directions. Several schools of fish of varying size swam beneath us as we floated at the surface. A large blowfish hovered in the open space while another hid behind a crack and slowly peered out everytime I moved a different way. As I watched a lionfish swim around, Dennis called me over and pointed to a sleeping nurse shark, which was exciting for me but  unfortunately it swam away before Jeff and Cheryl could make it over to see.



Unfortunately we set out on a relatively chilly day and the water was so cold I had goosebumps and we were all shaky. We returned to the car, cracked open some drinks, and further explored the island and saw some lovely beaches, Captain Morgan's caves in Morgan's Bluff, and met some locals after having experienced some car malfunctions. We missed out on Captain Bill's Blue Hole, but I'll check that out sometime soon when I have the time. All in all, we had quite an adventure and I look forward to more trips like this. Pin It Now!

Sex in a Pan

Never have you tasted anything so delicious.......

If you are like me and are constantly searching for something sweet and chocolatey to enjoy, then this is the recipe for you. Now don't get me wrong salty, savory foods have their place, I am the first dig into the salty potato chips but nothing beats the satisfaction you get when you satiate your craving for a deliciously sweet treat.

Sex in a Pan is heavenly and will no doubt become your new favorite dessert! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Sex in the Pan

Crust:

1 ½ cups Graham Cracker crumbs

2 tbsp Sugar

3 tbsp. Butter, melted

Filling:

8 ounce Cream cheese

2 tbsp milk

1/3 cup sugar

Large container cool whip

Topping:

2 packages instant chocolate pudding 4 serving size (or any flavor)

3 ½ cups milk

1.      Combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar and butter.

2.      Mix well and press into pan.

3.      Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes.  Set aside while it cools completely.

4.      Blend cream cheese, milk, and sugar, until smooth.

5.      Fold in ½ container of cool whip.  Spread this mixture into crust.

6.      Mix the second milk with the pudding and blend until it thickens and is of desired consistency

7.      Spread evenly over the cream cheese mixture.

8.      Spread remaining cool whip over pudding and put in fridge to set for 4 to 6 hours minimum.

9.      Garnish with grated chocolate or chocolate pieces.
 

Serve and enjoy!

 




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Christmas at Small Hope Bay Lodge

Small Hope Bay Lodge is now preparing for our New Year's Eve party and celebrating going in to our 53rd year!!! Can you believe it? 53 years is an incredible feat and we plan on commemorating it with a great party.

We just wrapped up a fantastic Christmas, filled with old and new friends and family. We got to enjoy some exceptionally sunny and warm days and spent the time diving Over the Wall AND a Shark Dive. Other guests took a field trip to Captain Bill's Blue Hole, played some beach football and relaxed on some of our coziest beach hammocks. What could be better than that?

Here is little video of how we spent our Christmas . . . 

And our wonderful Shark Dive . . . 

This will be our last blog of 2012. We send all of you our warmest wishes for the new year. Love from all of us at Small Hope and enjoy your New Year celebration!


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Small Hope, the Nature Conservancy and Lionfish!

This week at Small Hope we got to be involved in two different environmental efforts, one addressing the growth and health of our reef, and one focused on controlling the lionfish population that threatens the marine life here in the Bahamas and other Caribbean areas.

At Small Hope, we take the protection of the environment very seriously. We have enacted several ecological programs around the lodge for this reason. From our recycling program to the water saving procedures to our reverse osmosis water treatment, Small Hope has continued to develop plans and programs that help to safeguard the beautiful and unique environment of Andros Island, Bahamas.

Andros is home to the Andros Barrier Reef, the third largest barrier reef in the world. The reef is full of hard and soft corals, sponges and a variety of sea life. The reef itself is in good condition, but due to various global conditions and effects there is more algae on the reef in recent years. 

ANCAT (Andros Conservancy and Trust), which was formed with Small Hope Bay Lodge and of which Jeff Birch is secretary has developed a new coral farming program and this week Small Hope got to be a part of their efforts. Felicity, of the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos branch of the Nature Conservancy led the group which also included Kemit-Amon Lewis, the Coral Conservation Manager from the US branch, Stopher Slade of the St. Croix branch and Eric Buck of the St. Thomas branch. The group came to Andros with the goal of setting up Coral Nurseries. They set up 5 blocks of new-growth coral, each featuring three different types of coral in each block.  These Coral Nurseries will grow the coral and can be used for future coral transplanting to any damaged areas of the reef!

We were also lucky enough to host Indira and Nichola, who came to Andros as representatives of  the Bahamas Department of Agriculture to work on their study of lionfish. Lionfish are a venomous fish native to Indo-Pacific waters and considered an invasive species in the Bahamas as well as the rest of the Caribbean. The beautiful striped fish are known to have a voracious appetite, an indiscriminate palate (devouring many different species) and reproduce at a high rate. Many organizations and governments have started to take a more active role in the control of the spread of lionfish population.

Indira and Nichola came as part of a study evaluating the changes in populations of lionfish in various areas - places where they were being actively hunted, as well as control groups - and to report on their findings. 

The spiny fish are often killed with spear guns by scuba divers and are considered quite tasty. Our own chef, Don Goodman made up some tasty lionfish fritters from a catch brought in by a few of Small Hope's guests . . . 

 . . . Delicious! Pin It Now!

Andros Island Is Perfect for a Holiday Season Vacation

The holiday season is enough to wear you out! Hustle and bustle is the order of the day with shopping, social obligations and crowds everywhere; except here on Andros Island in the Bahamas. 

The only hustle and bustle we’ve experienced lately is on the reef as clouds of Creole Wrasse jockey for position with the Blue and Gray Chromis for the best position on the coral heads. And there was some commotion at the Shark Emporium as a dozen or so Caribbean Reef Sharks forgot their manners in the rush to get at the chumsicle on the other day. 

Otherwise, it’s been the usual routine of leisurely diving, lots of hammock time interrupted by the occasional island tour and cocktail hour (and conch fritters) at 6:30 daily. Sorry, but we don’t have any snow. Only lots of sunshine that never requires a shovel! Every day is a holiday on Andros Island at Small Hope Bay Lodge!

So, why not come down to the Bahamas for the holiday season? 

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A Small Hope Reunion

Together Again!

A Small Hope reunion was held this summer on the shores of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

      John Rice and Kay Baldwin have been coming to Small Hope Bay Lodge for many years now. John an avid bonefisherman and Kay a serious diver found themselves quite at home here on the bay. Over the years they have introduced us to many others; fishermen, divers, enthusiastic relaxers and the group has grown to the size it is now. This year everyone met in Michigan for a little reunion before they meet up again at Small Hope Bay for the holidays.

    Small Hope Bay Lodge is home away from home for this ever growing group and everyone has a fantastic time when they’re on the bay. Whether they are goofing off underwater, casting a fly out on the flats, enjoying an afternoon nap in the hammock on the dock or just chatting over conch fritters it is always great fun!

    And speaking of fun…everyone at Small Hope is very excited for the return of Margarita John and his famous Margarita Parties!  Better be sure to get your order in fast before they are all gone. Christmas and New Years are sure to be a blast with this group making yet another return visit.

 

Looking forward to December.....

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Friends and Family

Small Hope Bay Honors Two Very Dear Friends

 Small Hope has been around since 1960. It was built by Dick Birch and the Birch family still owns and operates the resort. Family has always been a fundamental part of life at Small Hope. The Birch family has grown and grown since Dick first arrived on Andros. And it continues to grow to this day. This is because once you come to stay with us you are part of the family here. We are lucky to be a part of so many people’s lives. Like all families we have our share of good times and bad, but we go through these times together.

Small Hope Bay Lodge recently helped to remember and celebrate two very dear friends. 



The Laing’s have been coming to Small Hope for decades. Patrick Laing was a diver, a father and a good friend. His daughter Elizabeth has come to fulfill his final wish of being laid to rest with Small Hope in The Tongue of the Ocean. His ashes and plaque will be placed near Whip Wire Wall and we hope his spirit will roam the ocean forever. Watch Patrick's final dive here and see as he is laid to rest in the Tongue of the Ocean Memorial Dive

Jim Spencer was another good friend of ours. He and his wife Lynndale made us a part of their lives and shared many happy moments here at Small Hope throughout the years. His ashes and plaque will be laid to rest in the ocean Blue Hole, one of his favorite places in the world. His wife, children and grandchildren all came to Small Hope to celebrate his life and say goodbye.

All of us at Small Hope feel so proud and privileged to have been a part of such special moments. That these men loved Small Hope and our beautiful ocean so much that they have chosen to spend eternity with us says it all. We are moved and so thankful to have touched the lives of these families.

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Tropical Storm Isaac

Tropical Storm Isaac visits Andros Island

Small Hope dock as the wind began to pick up

For those of us in the Caribbean, Tropical Storm Isaac has been a hot topic the last few days. The storm has kept us all on alert and as it changed course multiple times Small Hope Bay Lodge, like others in the Bahamas took the necessary precautions to ensure we were ready for Isaac’s arrival.

a little soccer before starting storm preparations

Nice one Tony

Early Saturday with conditions clearly unsuitable for diving, preparations began. A top priority was the safe transfer of our guests to Nassau while the staff worked tirelessly to ensure Small Hope was protected from whatever the storm could throw our way. With the cabins boarded up and sandbags in place, the dock sufficiently secured, and the boats safe and sound in Davis creek, Isaac arrived.

Protecting the lounge

Dennis, Davis and Claudius preparing for Isaac

The lounge 

 As the wind blew strong and the rain came down outside the staff of Small Hope Bay rode out the storm together in the lounge challenging each other to games of dominos, backgammon, jenga and the largest game of apples to apples Small Hope has ever seen.  Renauldo cooked us all a delicious meal, and the sound of Isaac outside was soon drowned out by the laughter and conversation inside!

The wind and rain continued throughout the night, but as the sun came up this morning we were happy to find that the damage done by the worst of Isaac was very minimal. 

A few palm branches and coconuts down but otherwise Small Hope fared very well through this storm. Today we are experiencing wind and scattered showers, the newest models for Tropical Storm Isaac show that the worst has passed us here on Andros Island. We are expecting conditions to improve over the next couple days, with the wind dropping considerably by Monday and Tuesday. Small Hope Bay Lodge will be closed Today, Sunday August 26 and then back in action Monday August 27.

High tide and big swells

Here comes Isaac

Small Hope Bay Lodge and all of Andros Island were very lucky not to have received harsher conditions throughout this storm. From all of us here at SHBL we would like to send out our love and best wishes to those who were more seriously affected and those who Isaac has yet to affect. For the residents of Haiti, Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic who were hit hard by Isaac, our thoughts are with you.

As Jeff Birch would say “Small Hope would like to send out BIG Hope” for the families affected by Tropical Storm Isaac! 

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Andros Marine Life

                                                                 From Nudibranchs to Hammerheads

 There is Always Something to see at Small Hope Bay

Whether you are snorkeling under the dock, kayaking in Davis Creek, fishing the flats on the West Side or diving 140 feet down Whip Wire Wall you are sure to see some amazing creatures here at Small Hope Bay on Andros Island.

   

   Given that Small Hope is located on the third longest barrier reef and just a 5 minute boat ride from the 6000ft drop that is the Tongue of the Ocean it is no surprise that you would see many things while out diving. Our divers marvel at the graceful spotted eagle rays that cruise past them out over the wall or the impressive hammerhead shark that swims by to smile at the camera. As the divers come up over the top of the wall it is always a treat to be greeted by a curious hawksbill turtle or 'Frank' our resident mutton snapper who loves the spotlight and is a huge camera hog. The shallow dives prove to be just as abundant in marine life and always give the divers something to get excited about. You could be searching for blennies and nudibranchs at Central Park in the morning and then find yourself caught in a school of chub or creole wrasse in the afternoon on your dive to Brad's Mountain. 

It is not just while diving that you will be thrilled by the life in the ocean. Simply snorkeling or kayaking Small Hope Bay and Davis Creek is a great way to experience the marine life in the Bahamas. Count how many sea stars you find in the bay or go see the checkered puffer fish that live in the creek. Perhaps give the Mangroves a snorkel as well. As a breeding and nursery ground for the fish that live out on the reef it is abundant with juvenile parrotfish, damselfish, surgeonfish and even the beautiful honeycomb cowfish.

 

Small Hope dock has been proclaimed by many as their favorite snorkel site as it is home to large schools of grunt and snapper. Not to mention lobster and of course our resident octopus! Watch out though, you may find yourself being followed by the ever curious barracuda.

 A pod of friendly bottle nose dolphin come by every now and then to say hello, just last month they joined a group on their discover scuba diving course. It was a great first experience for the divers to say the least.

   Just like the reef and the bay  the bonefish flats all around the island are always abundant in marine life. You are sure to find many fish such as permit, tarpon and especially bonefish. The flats will not disappoint. 

   

 The marine life in the Bahamas and specifically Andros Island is thriving. Laura, a Small Hope divemaster says that, "Never has there been a dive or a snorkel where I didn't see enough. I will never get tired of seeing red lip blennies, reef sharks, or Frank my favorite snapper".

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