Gun Cay Yacht Charters - Bimini, Bahamas

Gun Cay is a small, uninhabited island in the southern Bimini chain, located around nine miles south of the main Bimini islands. Surrounded by shallow turquoise water and bright white sand, the cay is a classic Bahamas yacht charter stop for swimming, snorkeling, beach visits and quiet afternoons at anchor. Its remote character makes it a strong contrast to the marinas and settlements of North Bimini.

The best-known part of Gun Cay is Honeymoon Harbour, a shallow cove at the northern end of the island where visiting boats anchor beside a beautiful sandy beach. The clear shallows are famous for southern stingrays that regularly gather close to shore, making Honeymoon Harbour one of the most recognizable wildlife experiences in the Bimini Islands.

At the opposite end of the cay stands the historic Gun Cay Lighthouse, first erected in 1836. Together with Honeymoon Harbour, the lighthouse gives this otherwise undeveloped island two distinctive landmarks that make Gun Cay well worth including on a Bimini yacht charter. Cat Cay lies immediately nearby, while South Bimini is a short cruise to the north.

Gun Cay sits close to the western edge of the Great Bahama Bank, where deep Atlantic waters transition into the much shallower cruising grounds of The Bahamas. Gun Cay Cut, between Gun Cay and the Cat Cays, is an important route used by vessels moving between the Florida Straits and the bank. Currents can be noticeable around the cuts, while reefs, sandbanks and shallow patches require careful navigation.

Approaches around Gun Cay are best made in good daylight, when variations in water color make sandy bottoms and shallower areas easier to identify. Captains should use current charts and local cruising information, particularly when approaching Honeymoon Harbour or navigating close to shore. Gun Cay has no marina, so visiting yachts should be prepared to anchor and use a tender for beach access.

Honeymoon Harbour is the most popular anchorage at Gun Cay. Located at the northern end of the island, it offers depths of approximately 8 to 12 feet with generally good holding in sand. Anchors should be placed in clear sandy patches while avoiding grass and harder marl areas. The anchorage provides its best protection from southerly winds but remains exposed to the north and can experience a persistent swell.

Tidal current can also cause vessels to swing significantly, sometimes placing them beam-on to incoming swell. In settled conditions, however, Honeymoon Harbour is one of the most scenic anchorages around Bimini and provides immediate tender access to the beach and shallow stingray area. Yachts can also anchor farther along the eastern side of northern Gun Cay where suitable sandy patches and conditions allow.

Gun Cay is completely undeveloped, with no town, shops or conventional visitor facilities. Its appeal lies almost entirely in the surrounding water, beaches and sense of isolation. The island is particularly popular with yachts, day boats, snorkelers and divers traveling south from Bimini or crossing from Florida.

Gun Cay Lighthouse remains the island's main historic landmark. Built in 1836, the distinctive red-and-white structure stands near the southern end of the cay and has guided vessels through these waters for generations. The combination of the lighthouse, secluded beaches and nearby Honeymoon Harbour makes Gun Cay one of the most memorable natural stops on a Bimini yacht charter.