Long Island: Blue Holes, White-Sand Beaches and Wild Southern Bahamas Cruising

Long Island is one of the most spectacular yacht charter destinations in the Southern Out Islands, stretching for roughly 80 miles between the calm waters of the Bahama Bank and the open Atlantic Ocean. Its two coastlines could hardly be more different. The western shore is lined with sheltered white-sand beaches and turquoise shallows, while the east is shaped by cliffs, caves, reefs and powerful Atlantic seas. This contrast gives a Long Island yacht charter an exceptional variety of cruising environments within a single destination.

At the northern end of the island, Cape Santa Maria Beach runs for around four miles and is one of Long Island's signature cruising stops. Farther south, Thompson Bay provides one of the island's most useful yacht anchorages, while Clarence Town offers harbour access on the Atlantic side. Offshore reefs support excellent snorkeling and diving, and the deep water close to the coast creates productive fishing for marlin, tuna and wahoo.

Long Island is equally impressive ashore. Dean's Blue Hole plunges to approximately 663 feet beneath a natural limestone amphitheater and has become internationally famous for freediving. Columbus Point overlooks the northern end of the island, Hamilton's Cave contains some of the largest known cave passages in The Bahamas, and the twin churches of Clarence Town rise above the harbour. Combined with quiet settlements such as Stella Maris, Salt Pond and Clarence Town, these landmarks make Long Island one of the most complete yacht charter destinations in the southern Bahamas.

Most yacht cruising around Long Island favors the western, leeward coastline, where the Bahama Bank creates calmer water and several useful anchoring areas. Cape Santa Maria and Calabash Bay provide access to the north, while Thompson Bay and Salt Pond form an important cruising center farther south. The Atlantic-facing eastern coast is significantly rougher, with steep terrain, exposed shores and fewer protected stopping points. Clarence Town is the principal harbour on this side and is particularly important for yachts traveling north or south through the Southern Out Islands.

As elsewhere in The Bahamas, visual navigation is valuable when approaching the western bays because shallow sandbanks, reefs and changing depths can occur close to shore. Good daylight, current charts and careful depth monitoring are recommended, particularly around unfamiliar anchorages. Deeper-draft yachts should also be cautious about routes within Salt Pond and other shallow coastal areas, where bars can restrict movement even when deeper water exists nearby.

Thompson Bay is one of the best-known yacht anchorages on Long Island and offers approximately 8 to 10 feet of water with good holding in sand and mud. The large bay provides protection from roughly north-northwest through southeast, although it remains open toward the south and west. Shore access is convenient, with groceries and other supplies available nearby, making Thompson Bay particularly useful for yachts spending several days exploring central Long Island.

At the northern end of the island, Calabash Bay offers anchoring in approximately 6 to 15 feet over sand beside Cape Santa Maria. It is well protected in prevailing easterly conditions but exposed to southern and western weather. Clarence Town provides another established anchorage on the Atlantic side, with roughly 7 to 10 feet of water and good sandy holding, although yachts must remain clear of the freighter channel.

Long Island is a long, narrow island whose communities are spread along Queen's Highway from Stella Maris in the north to the quieter settlements of the south. Stella Maris Airport serves the northern end, while Deadman's Cay Airport serves the central and southern parts of the island and operates as an official port of entry. Clarence Town is the capital and is recognizable from the sea by its historic twin-towered churches.

The island is particularly well suited to active yacht charters. Bonefishing flats stretch along the bank side, offshore waters offer year-round sport fishing, and diving ranges from shallow coral gardens to wrecks, walls and Dean's Blue Hole. Conception Island National Park also lies within easy cruising reach, giving yachts another exceptional wilderness destination to combine with Long Island.