Snorkeling in Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park: sites, rules and hazards

The Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park runs from Shroud Cay in the north to Bell Cay in the south⁹. The Bahamas National Trust says visitors can explore the underwater magnificence of coral reefs, mangroves and seagrasses throughout the park¹.

Where can you snorkel in Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park?

These are the sites a published source names. Park rules apply at every site that lies inside the park.

Site	What a source says	Source
Cambridge Cay	Moorings give access to several snorkel sites in the park’s snorkel guide, including the Aquarium; the moorings are first-come, first-served4	BoatTest
Shroud Cay	Creeks wind through mangroves and empty into Exuma Sound4	BoatTest
Shroud Cay and Hawksbill Cay	The park office should hold waterproof dinghy and snorkeling guides for both, which are uninhabited4	BoatTest
Rocky Dundas	Two main caves, open at low tide, with healthy coral outside5	Sail Abacos

For the cays themselves, see Cambridge Cay, Shroud Cay and Hawksbill Cay.

What are the Rocky Dundas caves like?

Two main caves penetrate the rocky islet, and they are accessible at low tide, when the openings widen above the waterline⁵. Yacht Warriors also calls the two large caves the main attractions at Rocky Dundas⁶. At high tide, reaching the interior means swimming underwater, so plan the visit for low tide⁵.

Outside the caves, the snorkeling shows healthy coral, including endangered elkhorn coral⁵. A Lindblad Expeditions group in March 2023 snorkeled into the opening of one cavern⁷.

Swell decides whether you go in. Calm water is necessary to enter and snorkel the caves safely, and they are open to easterly swell from the Atlantic⁸. Read the full Rocky Dundas guide before you go.

Is Thunderball Cave inside the park?

Thunderball Cave, named after the James Bond film, is close to the park but not technically within its borders⁴. The Thunderball Grotto guide covers it.

What park rules apply to snorkelers?

Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park is a NO TAKE ZONE: no fishing, conching, shelling or lobstering. Nothing living or dead may be removed from within the boundaries of Exuma Park³.

Leave shells, coral and fish where they are. The Trust fines poachers and confiscates vessels³. More in the no-take zone guide.

Anchoring is not permitted in the mooring fields, on coral reefs and certain other designated areas within Exuma Park³.

All vessels, including dinghies and jet skis, must operate at idle speed in any mooring field or anchorage³. Jet skis must stay at least 300 yards off any moored or anchored vessel³. The north tidal creek on Shroud Cay is a strict idle speed, no-wake zone, and motorized vessels may not enter the other tidal creeks there³.

There is no trash disposal in the park, so take out everything you bring in³. Open fires and fireworks are not permitted³. The full list sits on the park rules page, and the anchoring rules page covers where to drop the hook.

What are the hazards?

When snorkeling anywhere in the park, be aware of the strong currents⁴. Easterly swell can keep snorkelers out of the Rocky Dundas caves⁸. Tide governs cave access⁵, so check the tide before you commit to a site.

The park office answers on VHF channel 09, calling “Exuma Park”¹.