Berry Islands Attractions

The Berry Islands cluster, curved in the shape of a new moon, lies in the center of the northern Bahamas. With a cumulative area of 12sq.mi/31sq.km, the Berry Islands are comprised of 30 cays, dominated by Chub Cay at the southern end of the chain, and Great Harbour Cay at the northern end. Several cays in the Berries such as Bonds Cay and Coco Cay are privately owned and maintained.

The small cays attract big-game fishers, and marinas located on Chub Cay and Great Harbour Cay offer diving and fishing services. With a population of only 700, the Berries boast solitude along with unspoiled beaches, the Sugar Beach caves, and the Hoffman Cay; a 600ft/183m blue hole inhabited by oysters. A lighthouse built in 1863 is found on Great Stirrup Cay, with a ship-wreck just off shore.

The Berry Islands were originally home to a settlement of freed slaves, designated by King William IV of England in the 1830s. The settlement, called Williamstown, was formed on Great Stirrup Cay and failed due to inappropriate conditions for farming. The islands remained virtually uninhabited until the 1960s when elite U.S. socialites built a club on the Great Harbour Cay. Chub Cay was rebuilt in 1992 after Hurricane Andrew.

There are two small airports: GHC (Great Harbour Cay) and CCZ (Chub Cay).

Chub Cay, Bahamas

Chub Cay lies at the south end of the Berry Island chain. The settlement of Chub Cay had to be completely rebuilt after Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Chub Cay is best known for its proximity to the "Tongue of the Ocean", an area where big-game fish can be found. Hence, the main attractions on Chub Cay are deep-sea fishing and scuba diving, along with swimming and sunning.

The underwater attraction of Mamma Rhoda Rock lies just south-east of Chub Cay. It is a submarine garden featuring a reef almost 16ft/5m high shaped like deer's antlers.

Other nearby cays such as Whale Cay and Hoffman's Cay offer great scuba diving, however the cays themselves are privately owned.

Great Harbour Cay, Bullocks Harbour, Bahamas

Great Harbour Cay, which is 10mi/16.1km long and only 1.5/2.4km wide, is home to most of the residents of the Berry Islands, who live in the main settlement of Bullocks Harbour. Surrounding Great Harbour Cay are other small cays that are owned by tour operators who often throw beach parties on them.

Great Harbour Cay lies very close to the "Tongue of the Ocean", home to big-game fish, so scuba diving and fishing are popular activities as well as swimming and sunning on the numerous beaches.