Tommy Hobson Fresh Beat Band Star Visits Small Hope Bay

Fresh Beat Band Star Tommy Hobson Visits 

Small Hope Bay Lodge!

Fresh Beat Band star Tommy Hobson, visited Small Hope Bay Lodge a month ago. Originally known as The JumpArounds, The Fresh Beat Band is an American preschool show has been airing on Nikelodeon since 2009 and has received many awards since its premiere. Tommy plays a character named "Shout", who is a member of a band called "Fresh Beats". The band is made up of four members, Twist, Kiki, Marina and Shout. Shout is the keyboard man and vocalist. The concept of each episode begins with the band singing about a problem that the band will soon comes across. Throughout the episode, the band manages to solve the problem. At the end the band sings their closing song, which includes what the problem was and how they dealt with it.

Hobson has also made many television appearances. Most notably he has starred in Free Enterprise and Clubhouse Detectives. Hobson started acting at the age of 6 and received a B.A. in theater from Yale University. 

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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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Diving with sharks, on Andros, Bahamas

One of our favorite and most popular divers here at Small Hope is our shark dive. At a depth of 50 feet divers can watch Caribbean reef sharks swimming around, feeding on a slow-release "chumsicle". It is a great way for new and experienced divers to overcome any irrational fears they may have about these beautiful and graceful animals.

Check out this video of one of our shark dives!

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It's a Small (Hope) World After All . . .

Last month we took our vacation. Living in a tropical paradise like Andros, Bahamas many people wondered where we could go that would be more beautiful. But vacation is always good and meeting new people and visiting new places are some of my very favorite things to do in the world. 

Vacation!

Boquete, Panama

We decided to visit a little of Central America. Flights directly to Panama from Nassau made it even easier. So we visited Panama and Costa Rica, each for one week. In Panama, since we are not really city people, we went to a beautiful little town called Boquete, near the volcano Baru, and in the lush green mountains. It was incredilble! Living on the beach, it was a refreshing change to get up in to the mountains.

Then we went to Costa Rica. Having used the site before, I looked for property rentals on vrbo.com. Picking a region completely at random then scanning photos and rates we found a lovely little Indonesian-style casita in the Puntarenas area on the Pacific side. Looking

My reading spot

more closely at the property information I was very surprised when I read the owner information. It said the owners, Mac and Sharon, "met on the island of Andros, in the Bahamas and feel in love "underwater" in the blue seas". Living on Andros for two years now, I know there are very few dive centers on the island and the most probable place they could have met was right here at Small Hope Bay Lodge!!! I emailed them about renting their property and tolde them we were both divemasters at Small Hope. It turns out Mac was actually a former divemaster too! He worked here in 1979 for one season. Sharon came to Small Hope as a guest and that's how they met. 

What a small world!Well, as it seemed too big a coincidence to ignore and we booked our week in Costa Rica at their place. And I am so glad we did. 

 

My porch

 The grounds at Bali Rica, are the definition of tropical, lush beauty. We spent a most relaxing week simply enjoying our spot, Casa Rica, the grounds and the surprisingly stellar restaurants in the little town. And it was great talking to mac and Sharon about Small Hope, what's changed, what will never change, Margo and Alex, Moose, Brendal, Irene and all our mutual acquaintances.

All In all, an absolutely wonderful vacation! 

Mac and Sharon, Bali Rica, Costa Rica

 I highly recommend contacting them if you are interested in visiting Costa Rica! That is, when you are not visiting us at Small Hope Bay Lodge!!!


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Small Hope Bay Lodge's Positive Impact on Young Diver

Gabriella is a young girl who came to Small Hope Bay Lodge last summer with her parents. Both mom and dad were divers and being that she was 10 years old she decided it was time she became a Junior Open water Diver. Ella worked hard during her stay and within a short time she was certified! She was able to go on many dives with her parents including two dives to Shark Emporium.  This dive was particularly fun for her. It was her first time seeing sharks and diving with them was something she was curious about and something that had a big impact on her life. 

When Ella returned home she took part in an educational program done by the organization PeaceFirst. While the fundamental lessons of the activities she took part in would be very beneficial to children of her age, Ella was quite dismayed by the misrepresentation the activity made about sharks, which she had come to love so much. The activity painted sharks as vicious and likely to harm/kill people. Below is her response to these activities. Ella took it upon herself to voice her opinions to the organization and in turn they have decided to change their curriculum. 

Ella is aware, as many of us are, that shark populations are facing more trouble than ever before. As well she can appreciate that as apex predators they are extremely beneficial to our ocean's ecosystems. Many factors are contributing to their declining numbers, however humans are at the top of that list. The motivation behind Ella's mission to change the curriculum at PeaceFirst is simply that we need more people to care and stand-up for sharks. If everyone knew the truth about sharks, that they are not blood-thirsty, man eating machines, but instead beautiful, curious and impressive creatures, ones that are vital to the survival of our seas, they might, like Ella take a stand and protect them. 

We are very proud of the work Ella has done. Being courageous enough to stand up for what you believe in at such a young age is quite impressive. May we all learn from Ella's experience and do our best to advocate for those who can not advocate for themselves. 

Please read Ella's letter to PeaceFirst below and well as the response she received from them.

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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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Andros Island Is The Place For Celebrations!

When a special time, a special place and the special people in our lives come together, it's a celebration. Recently Small Hope Bay Lodge was honored to share in the celebration of Julia DeNamur and Sean Bishop's wedding ceremony. 

The bride and groom, wanting no muss or fuss decided that a beachside wedding would be the perfect way to say "I do", and Small Hope Bay Lodge with it's relaxed and carefree atmosphere  was exactly what they were looking for. 


Sean and Julia arrived at the lodge a few days before the ceremony to relax and enjoy their island paradise. They 
went biking, diving, beach combing and even enjoyed a relaxing massage by the beach. The folks arrived a few days later and before they knew it the big day was upon them. 

A simple and intimate celebration was what they were looking for and it is exactly what they got.  The ceremony was beautiful and even had Sean tearing up after they said "I do". A lovely reception followed with the parents and their new found friends from Small Hope. To top off a perfect day the bride and groom gave a wishing lantern to every couple in the resort to release off the dock. Everyone made their wish and watched as their lantern was taken up and away, a truly beautiful sight. 

 Small Hope Bay Lodge was very honored to be able to share this special day with Sean and Julia. From all of us here we would like to wish them all the best for the future and the happiest of lives together. As a return trip has already been scheduled we are very excited to see everyone back again next year for Thanksgiving! 

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A Great Day of Diving in The Bahamas

 

We Saw a Manta Ray!

 The day started out great when our dive staff and a few of our guests were treated to an amazing sighting out on the dock. While gearing up to go and dive our signature "Over the Wall" dive a manta ray came cruising by to say good morning.

 

We Went Over the Wall! 

If the manta ray sighting wasn't enough our divers then had an awesome time diving Over the Wall. There is nothing like nitrogen narcosis while sitting on an ancient beach and looking down at the 6000ft drop of the tongue of the ocean! A curious reef shark decided to join us at 185' to check out the view. A truly magnificent dive!

 

Plane Wreck! 

To top it all off our divers were lucky enough to be the first to officially dive our brand new site "The Landing Strip". This is a project that the staff of Small Hope Bay Lodge worked hard on this summer and it is great to see the guests enjoying it. Everyone got a little goofy and posed for some great pictures with the wreck! 

 

 

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