The Aquarium at O'Brien's Cay: where to snorkel, tides, access and park rules

The Aquarium is a shallow coral snorkel site off O’Brien’s Cay, inside the Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park. It is a dinghy trip from the anchorages nearby, and it sits under the park’s no-take rules. This page covers the site, the tide, how to reach it and what the Bahamas National Trust asks of you.

What is the Aquarium at O’Brien’s Cay?

Sail Abacos places the Aquarium on the northwest side of O’Brien’s Cay within the park, and describes a miniature wall that drops from shallow water to around 15 feet, with coral heads, sea fans and sponges¹. Staniel Cay Adventures calls it a natural snorkeling spot that gives a close view of the underwater world². Yacht Warriors lists the Sea Aquarium among the renowned snorkeling spots reached from Pipe Creek⁵. See the Pipe Creek guide for that stretch of cays.

What will you see?

Sail Abacos says eagle rays, green turtles and octopi are regularly sighted in the area, and that visibility is typically excellent, often over 50 feet¹. Staniel Cay Adventures describes schools of yellowtail snapper, French grunts and blue chromis around the reef’s edges, and says sergeant majors swim right up to snorkelers². It adds that a sea turtle or a nurse shark sometimes comes by². Wildlife moves, so treat the list as what the operators report, not a promise.

When is the best time to snorkel the Aquarium?

Sail Abacos says the site is best snorkeled at slack tide, when currents are minimal, and that strong tidal flows move through the Cambridge Cay area, so plan accordingly¹. Work out the tide before you launch the dinghy. The cuts and tides guide explains how the Exuma tides behave.

How do you get there?

Access is by dinghy from nearby anchorages at Cambridge Cay, about 2.3 nautical miles away, or Bell Island, about 1.2 nautical miles¹. Staniel Cay Adventures says the cay cannot be reached by commercial airline or ferry, only by private yacht². Browse the places guide for more stops, and read the Cambridge Cay guide and the Bell Island guide for the anchorages themselves.

Moorings and anchoring at the site

Mooring balls are provided at the site. Sail Abacos says to use them rather than anchor, to protect the reef¹. The Trust’s rules back that up³:

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

All vessels (including dinghies & 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 fee guide lists what a park mooring costs.

Park rules for 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.

The Trust’s in-water rule is short: take only photos, leave only bubbles³. Trash disposal is not available in the park, so take out everything you bring in³. Read the no-take zone guide and the snorkel sites guide for the other stops.

Camping on O’Brien’s Cay

Camping in the park is allowed only at Hawksbill, Warderick Wells and O’Briens³. A camping permit costs $250 and is valid for a maximum of 10 days, and the daily user fee for kayaking and camping is $25.00 per person per day³. Notify park headquarters at least two weeks before the planned camping date³. There are no assigned campgrounds, bathroom facilities, refuse or refuge areas³. The park office answers on VHF channel 09 when you call “Exuma Park”, though the Trust warns that reaching it can be challenging⁴.