Bundle Your Adventures and Save!!!!

Andros is an ideal getaway for all adventure seekers! Whether you are interested in scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, nature tours, or learning the art of Batik - we've got it all!

And at Small Hope Bay Lodge, the more adventurous you are, the more you can save! Check out our new Specials!!!!

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It's Always Shark Week at Small Hope Bay Lodge!!!

Whether you have been scuba diving for ages and love to encounter these beauties, or you're new to diving or snorkeling and want to check another thing off that bucket list - this is the spot!

Sharks get a bad reputation but are wildly misrepresented as crazed killers. All of our shark encounters see them for what they are - beautiful and graceful wild animals, just cruising around their home.

Some of our new divers and snorkelers are shocked (and pleased) to find out the sharks have little to no interest in them at all. They just come in to see who's making all those bubbles . . . Pin It Now!

Things To Do on Andros Island, Bahamas . . .

Just because we are off the beaten track doesn't mean that there isn't plenty to do! Andros is an island adventure for the lucky few who come here . . .

Here are just a few of some of our favorite island experiences:

1. Scuba Diving - We are situated right next to the Tongue of the Ocean, a mile-deep trench. Needless to say, we got some great wall diving. But we've also got several blue hole dives, a shark dive, coral gardens, caverns, and wrecks! Excellent diving from beginners to masters!
2. Fishing - Andros Island is considered the Bonefish Capital of the World. Miles of pristine flats and waterways make this a bonefishing dream destination. But we've also got fantastic reef and deep-sea fishing too!
3. Nature Tours and Birding - Andros is also known as "the Big Yard" because we have miles and miles of pristine national parks and forests. We have hundreds of inland blue holes, lots of local and migratory birds, all in a gorgeous setting . . .
4. Sampling our favorite island dishes - Every Bahamas island has their own local flare, and Andros is no different! Come sample the Chicken Souse, or the "Fire Engine" Corned Beef. How about some Stew Conch, or Guava Duff? It's all here, and it's all delicious.
5. Listening to some Bahamian music - Nothing completes the island experience better than listening to a local Bahamian band play their favorite tunes! At Small Hope, we have a band play on our "Bahamian Nights", then we have a beach bonfire!!!!

Bonus:

6. Crab Fest! - June on Andros means a great party! Crab Fest brings people from all over the Bahamas, as well as other countries. The festivities include live music, games, crafts, and crab cooked over 20 different ways . . . .Mmmmm!

Come to Andros and build your own adventure . . . 

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Happy World Oceans Day!

We are so fortunate to be on such lovely waters . . .

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Dolphins playing with the boat . . .

It's been a great month for divers at Small Hope!

First they got a rare glimpse of a whale while diving one of our caver sites. Then, just a few days ago, a pod of dolphins played with the dive boat on it's way out for the first dive of the day. Great video of the pod. The dolphins look like they're having a blast . . .

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Whale Spotted on Dive!

It was definitely a special dive at Diana's Dungeons the other day! Our divers had the very rare pleasure of spotting a whale on their dive. The gentle giant passed right over them!!! Check out the video . . .

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Diving the Backside of the Blue Hole!

Check out this incredible, and one-of-a-kind dive . . .

See more about diving Blue Holes here

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A Memorial, and Saying Goodbye to a Good Friend . . .

We lost a good friend recently. Carol Heimann has been coming with her husband and two kids to Small Hope for several years. The four of them are passionate divers and they loved diving as a family with us.

In December of 2015, Carol lost her battle with cancer. As per her wishes, her friends and family gathered here at Small Hope to spread her ashes at one of her favorite dive sites, the Blue Hole.

All of us at Small Hope are very touched and honored to share this moment with her family. And we are glad she will always be in a place she loved so much.

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A Great New Video from Small Hope . . .

This videos says it all about Small Hope! And the music is from Jeff Birch's step-father, Duke Hanna, singing about Small Hope itself! Hope you enjoy . . .

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The Kids are Doing Great and Learning to Dive!!!!!

Just a progress report on the local Andros kids who are working together with the community and Small Hope to become certified scuba divers:

The group has now grown to 23 kids! There are moving right along and are about halfway through their book work, and have also completed some of the confined water skills and their first Open Water dive!!!!

We are so proud!

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Working with the Community, and Teaching Kids to Dive!!!!

Small Hope has a long and proud history of working to help the lives and livelihoods of the Andros people. Starting way back when Dick Birch started the resort in 1960 and continuing to this day.

So when the local law enforcement came to Jeff Birch and asked if Small Hope would help in teaching a group of local kids to scuba dive, he said YES! This group of kids got to learn how to fish last year and this year it's swimming, snorkeling, and diving!

The group contains 21 kids, ages 15-18. The goal is to get all of the as PADI certified Open Water divers. Jeff feels this is an important task so that the kids will start to understand the delicate ecosystem they live in, as well as gain a true appreciation and value for this beautiful island they call home.

The group started off very auspiciously! On the first day they got in the water a group of dolphins came by the dock to see what was happening! They are learning the water skills now, as well as watching our slide shows about the reef and aquatic life of Andros.

We wish them all luck and look forward to watching them progress in to great scuba divers!

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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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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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Sassy: 4 1/2 Years of cuteness!

 In May of 2011, Sassy and Scuba, came to live at Small Hope Bay Lodge. They immediately were a hit with guests and staff alike. Not surprising, considering how adorable they were/are! Just about everyone was tempted to put them both in their suitcases and smuggle them home.

Sassy and Scuba are what we call "Potcakes". A Bahamian term essentially meaning mutt.

 Despite very different appearances and highly contrasting personalities, Sassy and Scuba are brother and sister, litter-mates. Sassy is very mellow, intelligent, and rather lazy. Scuba is highly energetic, athletic, and very sweet though not the "sharpest tool in the shed". It was determined after a short while that Scuba was probably better suited for life up at Jeff's (owner/manager of Small Hope) home.

 Sassy has proven to be a WONDERFUL dog! She loves welcoming the new guests arriving by taxi, monitoring what all the staff members are up to, checking to see who gets to give her illicit snacks each day, and watching over cocktail hour and dinner time on the patio, letting us all know that she, too, likes conch fritters!

She even comes on some of the morning dive trips. She is always very concerned when people jump into the depths, but she is immensely relieved and overjoyed to see us all return to the boat safely.


 Sassy is absolutely, 100% part of the family, as well as the staff. She sees her role here as part watchdog, part groundskeeper (picking up any food dropped), and part fisherdog (she chases those little fish but hasn't caught one yet).

We love her to bits. She makes everyday a little bit better and we are so glad this is her home.

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