Small Hope Bay Lodge, Andros, Bahamas - HomeSmall Hope Bay Lodge, Andros, Bahamas - Bahamas Scuba Diving and Bahamas Snorkeling on Andros Barrier Reef - HomeDick Birch Founder - Bahamas Dving - Small Hope Bay Lodge, Andros, Bahamas
bahamas lodgingbahamas all-inclusive ratesFAQ about Small Hopebahamas hotel reservationbahamas scuba divingbahamas snorkelingfishing in the bahamasbirdingbahamas eco-tourswedding/honeymoonsearch small hope site
Coral Reef System - Small Hope Bay Lodge, Andros, Bahamas

The Andros Reef System - Andros Island Bahamas
A Brief Introduction by Dr. Tim Turnbull

Dr. Timothy Turnbull, a marine biologist and resident of Andros, regularly gives evening slide presentations here at Small Hope, using his own photographs taken on the Andros Reef. His show is most informative--and you may see him on our dive boats from time to time.

The fringing-barrier reef lying to the east of Andros Island in the Bahamas represents the second largest reef complex in the western North Atlantic and is one of the most remote. The system extends for a distance of approximately 200 km (124 miles) from the Joulter Cays in the north to South Cay in the south. Based on the distribution, development, and architecture of reef communities within the vicinity of Small Hope Bay, the reef may be divided into five major zones; the lagoon (including mangrove areas), back reef, reef crest, inner fore reef, and outer fore reef.

Note: The Andros reef complex is not a true barrier reef system in the strict sense because of the relatively shallow depth of the lagoon and close proximity of the reef crest to the shoreline. It is also not a true fringing reef since it is not set directly against the shoreline. Hence, it is regarded as a hybrid in reef classification. See Millman, 1973.

Tim Turnbull/NAR

Bahamas Barrier Reef

Things To Look For:

Starfish
Cushion Sea Star
Common Comet Star
Brittlestar

Groupers
Tiger Grouper
Nassau grouper
Red Hind
Graysby
Coney

Jacks
Bar jack
Horse-eyed
Palometa

Snappers
Mutton snapper
Gray Snapper
Yellowtail snapper
Yellowfin Mojarra

Grunts
Porkfish
Spanish Grunt
Bluestriped Grunt
Smallmouth Grunt
Margate

Drums
Spotted Drum
Highhat

Butterfly Fish
Banded Butterfly
Four-eye butterfly
Spotfin Butterfly

Blenny and Sweepers
Redlipped Blenny
Glassy Sweepers

Boxfish
Honeycomb Cowfish
Scawled Cowfish

Pufferfish
Checkered puffer
Sharpnosed puffer
Porcupine Pufferfish
Balloon Pufferfish

Rays
Spotted Eagle Ray
Great Southern
Devil Ray
Sand Sting Ray

Eels
Green moray
Spotted moray
Purple Mouth Moray
Sharptail Eel
Goldspotted Eel

Barracuda
Great Barracuda

Slim-bodied fishes
Trumpet fish
Redfin Needlefish

Squirrelfish
Longspined
Dusky squirrelfish

Hamlets
Indigo Hamlet
Barred Hamlet
Basslets and Seabasses
Fairy Basslet
Blackhead basslet
Harlequin bass

Goatfish
Yellow goatfish
Spotted goatfish

Flounder
Peacock Eyed

Misc.
Spotted Scorpionfish
Flying Gurnard
Bandtail SeaRobin
Blue tang
Barred Cardinalfish
Saucereye Porgy

Inverts.
Caribbean Spiny Lobster
Yellowline Arrow Crab
Blue Crab
Giant Hermit Crab
Caribbean Reef Squid
Common Octopu

Bahamas scuba diving and Bahamas snorkeling on Andros barrier reef

Want to know the latest
goings-on at Small Hope?
Visit our What's Up
Stay In Touch... Join the
Friends of Small Hope
Mailing List today!
search our web site
E-Mail Phone Mail
Need more information?
Ready to make a reservation?

Send an instant E-Mail message to
SHBinfo@SmallHope.com

 Toll-Free from the U.S. and Canada
Direct to Andros: 800-223-6961

Direct Telephone: 242-368-2014
Direct Fax: 242-368-2015

 Small Hope Bay Lodge
P0 Box CB 11817, Nassau BAHAMAS

P0 Box 21667
Ft. Lauderdale, FL USA 33335-1667

©1996-2008 Small Hope Bay Lodge - All Rights Reserved
No reproduction without written permission