Andros & Blue Holes – Bahamas

Andros is the largest island of the Bahamas, lying beside the Tongue of the Ocean, a trench over 1,800 m deep. A barrier reef, the third largest in the world, runs more than 160 km down its east coast, less than a mile offshore in most places, with swim-throughs and coral formations up to 11 m high; the wall plunges into the Tongue of the Ocean just beyond. Andros has more blue holes than anywhere else – by one count about 175 inland and 50 offshore. OCEAN blue holes are dived from boats; INLAND blue holes (such as Stargate and El Dorado on South Andros) are freshwater/tidal cave systems for qualified cave divers only. This region covers Central Andros (Small Hope Bay Lodge) and South Andros (Kemp's Bay, Andros Beach Club); Dean's Blue Hole is on Long Island and not included here.

Facts

• Best season: Dive year-round; hurricane season Jun–Nov
• Water temperature: Roughly 24–29 °C (general Bahamas figure; no Andros-specific source found)
• Reef & wall: Barrier reef sites in 6–27 m (20–90 ft); the Tongue of the Ocean wall begins about a mile offshore
• Ocean vs inland blue holes: Ocean blue holes: boat dives with guides. INLAND blue holes (Stargate, El Dorado, Twin Holes, Blue Holes National Park): freshwater/tidal cave systems, cave/technical certification and an experienced guide required
• Permits: Blue Holes National Park is managed by the Bahamas National Trust; I found no verified permit scheme or fee for diving the inland holes
• Getting there: Scheduled flights to Central and South Andros from Nassau and Florida (check airline); Small Hope Bay Lodge and Andros Beach Club arrange transfers

Season

• Best months: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
• Acceptable: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
• Water temperature: 24–29 °C

Diving all year; hurricane season June–November. Water temperature range is the general Bahamas figure; I found no Andros-specific source.

Dive sites (22)

South Andros – Kemp's Bay

• Benjamin's Blue Hole (ocean) – advanced
• Chimney & High Point Cay blue holes (ocean) – advanced
• Labyrinth – 6–27 m, intermediate
• Pyramids – 6–27 m, intermediate
• Roggie's Wreck – 20 m, intermediate
• Smith's Hill Wall – 21 m, advanced
• The Garden – 6–27 m, beginner
• The Garden Wall – advanced

Inland blue holes (freshwater / tidal)

• Blue Holes National Park (inland blue holes) – advanced
• El Dorado Blue Hole – INLAND freshwater – advanced
• Sanctuary Blue Hole – Lucayan burial cave – 34 m, advanced
• Stargate Blue Hole – INLAND, freshwater/tidal cave – 15–104 m, advanced
• The Guardian Blue Hole – near Small Hope Bay Lodge – advanced
• Twin Holes – INLAND blue holes – advanced
• Uncle Charlie's Blue Hole – INLAND (North Andros) – advanced

Central Andros – Fresh Creek & Small Hope Bay

• Brian's Last Hoorah – beginner
• Diana's Dungeons – advanced
• Jeff's Ladder (coral nursery) – beginner
• Marion Wreck – intermediate
• Ocean Blue Hole (Small Hope Bay) – advanced
• The Shark Emporium – intermediate
• Whip Wire Wall – intermediate

Operators (2)

• Small Hope Bay Lodge – resort, Small Hope Bay, Andros (Central Andros)
• Andros Beach Club / Andros Diving (South Andros) – resort, Kemp's Bay, South Andros

No GPS positions are published for these sites: ocean sites are placed near the operators' bases and inland holes at the nearest named settlement, for orientation only – never for navigation. Depths and many details are missing from the sources and are left blank rather than guessed. Inland blue holes are dangerous overhead environments: dive only with cave training and an experienced guide.