Category Archives: Bahamas

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced a new Order for all air passengers traveling to the United Statesplease read the full details on the new requirements attravel.state.govandCDC.gov.

Starting on November 8, foreign national air travelers (i.e. who are not U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents) to the United States will be requiredwith only very limited exceptionsto be fully vaccinated, and to provide proof of vaccination status prior to boarding an airplane to fly to the United States.

What Else Travelers Need to Know:

What Else U.S. Citizens and LPRs Need to Know:

For full details about the updated requirements for air travelers, frequently asked questions, and other details from the Department of State and the CDC, please refer to the following websites:

By U.S. Embassy Nassau | 27 October, 2021 | Topics: Press Releases

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Updated Requirements for Air Travelers to the United States - US Embassy in The Bahamas

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Works Minister Alfred Sears said yesterday that Bahamas Power and Lights (BPL) $600 million rate reduction bond (RRB) is under active consideration and review, while also noting that he plans to meet soon with Shell regarding its deal with the company.

Apart from paying off BPLs $321 million legacy debt, the RRB also aims to provide new financing to enable BPL to invest in its generation and transmission and distribution network.

Sears said: This is a matter that is under active consideration and review but as a new administration coming in, before you can authorize the borrowing of over $600 million, you have to review it to make sure that it aligns with the Speech from the Throne and the energy policy of the government.

Sears also noted that he has a meeting planned with Shell North America shortly, having spoken to their representatives.

In November 2018, the government signed an MoU with Shell North America (Shell NA) for the development of a gas-to-power project. The project would include the development of a gas-fire 220-plus megawatt power plant; marine infrastructure to receive liquefied natural gas (LNG); a gas pipeline to bring gas to shore; and an onshore LNG re-gasification terminal.

BPL had undertaken to cover the costs to construct the entire 220-plus megawatt power plant at the Clifton Pier site and transfer the assets to Shell NA for its gas-to-power facility.

Sears noted that he has received a number of communications from various people in the renewables sector.

I have started to meet with some of those persons and will continue to inform myself so that we can move as expeditiously as possible in the area of renewable power generation, said Sears.

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STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION: No decision yet on BPL's rate reduction bond, says works minister - EyeWitness News

IT is 4,581 miles from Lynden Pindling International Airport to Glasgow International Airport in Scotland, a country known for its castles, golf, bagpipes and its own mischievous Chickcharney, the Loch Ness Monster. But when leaders from countries around the world, including Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis, gather there starting two days from now, none of those traditional Scottish rites and rituals will be on their mind. Theyve got a different kind of right on the agenda, righting the wrongs of the industrialized countries who abused the planet and tried to fool Mother Nature for hundreds of years and are now facing their Waterloo climate change.

For nearly two weeks from October 31 to November 12, at the climate change conference called COP26, country heads will consider, negotiate, plead for help and eventually settle on some compromise that will involve dilution of fossil fuels as a driver of any economy and increase benefits encouraging renewables.

On the table for the first time with a serious scientific presentation will be the concept of carbon credits, in simplest terms, a means of tracking, accounting for and exchanging good air for bad. When it comes to blue carbon and creating carbon credits, The Bahamas has the potential to lead the world. There is, perhaps, nothing we have ever achieved before that has such wide potential to benefit the Bahamian people while improving the planet. Unlike other less prideful epochs in Bahamian history - piracy, smuggling, rum-running and drug-running that led to wild temporary wealth, the harvesting of carbon for the sake of quality of life makes the biogeography of The Bahamas a star on the stage of the worlds most significant challenge.

You cannot turn back the clock on climate change.

Storms are getting more intense. Words like never before heard bomb cyclone are becoming part of our weekly lingo. The Weather Channel, a gamble when it started, is one of the most watched channels on TV, and few of us plan anything without checking at least one site for the days or the weekends weather. It is little wonder that so many eyes are on Scotland and so much rests on COP26 in Glasgow as the UK hosts what may be the most life-fixing conference in this century to date.

Much of what comes out of COP26 will depend on the give and take of the US and China. No one is fool enough to think it will be easy but there have been several indications recently that China is bending, likely a result of the degradation of their own making, dense region populations suffering from unhealthy levels of air and water pollution following decades of rapid intensification of manufacturing without concern for environmental impact.

COP26 President Alok Sharma has said one of his goals for the meeting is to consign coal to history, though remember that not long ago then President Donald Trump wanted to reinvigorate an industry that caused death and disease among coal workers. As leader of the world, put up a wall that he never had to pay for. Everyone else did a wall against progress on climate change. He refused to acknowledge the critical Paris Agreement that, among other edicts, concluded the planet had to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius just to stave off the most dreadful impacts of a changing climate.

Our future rests in part on decisions and commitments made in Glasgow. We cannot overstate the importance of the event and can only wish our own prime minister and the president of COP26 every success. May Sharmas wish to consign coal to history go the way of the former president who wanted to bring it back.

Every major street corner in Nassau has one a vendor selling a story with an outstretched hand. On Shirley Street at Village Road, there are two on opposite sides of the road and a third around the corner. On Mackey at Shirley Street, its the rail thin woman holding a sign. On Mackey Street, its the man who exposed himself at the Shirley Street post office and has been in and out of facilities so many times he lost his prime real estate and had to move farther afield.

Most of the characters who claim corners for their livelihood are men and women who have fallen through the cracks or become victim to their own habits.

But there was one who was very different. For years, before COVID-19 forced him off the street, Mario was the smiling face at the light at Montagu. He held a tin resembling a church painted with the words Ambassador Chorale. Mario was not a panhandler, the coins he raised day after day, week after week and year after year went to feed others.

Ambassador Chorale has had its fans and its critics, but there is no doubt that the organization kept many from starvation long before the Bahamas Feeding Network came along and eased the burden for thousands. There is no doubt that Ambassador Chorale came to the rescue of some who did not even have the energy to stand on a street corner. And a chorale they were. The voices of the leaders, directors and those who were rescued and became directors created a choir that performed at weddings and events.

Marios voice was the lead in Ambassador Chorale. To hear him sing and see him raise his eyes to the sky gave you goosebumps. Maybe he wasnt pitch perfect, but he had a way of compelling you to be grateful for everything you had.

Mario was the unofficial goodwill ambassador for Ambassador Chorale. His full name was Mario McPhee. By day, he worked construction or painted houses. By mid- to late afternoon, he would be at Montagu with a smile and a wave for passerby. It sounds crazy but you could almost feel his spirit from your car. Everyone knew Mario. If you saw him in a store or in another public place, he would be surrounded by people asking about his wife and children.

In August, Marios wife passed away. He was devastated, a heartbroken man with eight children to raise on his own.

In late September, less than two months after he lost his wife, Mario suffered a massive heart attack and died. Now there are eight children without a mother or father and the corner at Montagu will always be without the gentle warmth and the kind smile of Mario.

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DIANE PHILLIPS: From here to Glasgow - Bahamas Tribune

MYLES LARODA, Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, inspecting the domes.

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

MYLES Laroda, State Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, who has responsibility for disaster management, said the government has not decided if it will continue with the temporary dome housing project in Abaco.

He said there have been a lot of complaints expressed about the initiative by residents.

I visited Abaco last week Thursday and Friday and inspected firsthand and there seems to be a lot of challenges there with the domes, Mr Laroda said.

Ive spoken to residents who were there and there were some challenges with electricity and theres definitely challenges with sewer backing up.

There are complaints that the domes are not attached to the foundation. As for where the government goes, thats going to be a Cabinet decision. I dont have anything definite on that, but I know the challenges of those people who were residing in those domes.

Following Hurricane Dorians destruction in 2019, many residents in Abaco and Grand Bahama found themselves without homes.

As a temporary housing solution, the National Emergency Management Agency budgeted $6.4m for temporary domes, with an estimated $4m committed to cost.

Since the initiative was launched, more than 100 domes have been erected in Abaco and Grand Bahama. In June, Katherine Forbes-Smith, then-DRA managing director, said another 100 structures were still waiting to be erected.

Asked yesterday if he planned to recommend to Cabinet that the project continue, Mr Laroda replied: Based on my conversations with my employees at the DRA, those domes were really supposed to be a stop gap measure, maybe for a year and a half until affordable housing could be replaced. What I saw on the ground physically, I dont see how those domes could be a permanent solution to the housing needs.

This comes as several of the DRAs initiatives are currently being reviewed by the new administration.

Asked about his findings thus far, Mr Laroda said officials have found that some projects are progressing better than others.

Yeah, there are some things that are working better than others, he said before a Cabinet meeting yesterday. I viewed the dump sites in Green Turtle Cay and also in the mainland in Marsh Harbour. With regards to some of the other out islands, Moores Island in particular, the hurricane really ravaged that island.

The dock that was there, the public dock was actually rebuilt by the residents of Moores Island using reclaimed wood and reclaimed nails. The airport is not functioning. As a matter of fact, the windows are broken and I use this term, this is what it is clinic in a can that has the foundation, but Moores Island is in a dire state and the people there were just happy to see us.

As for his thoughts on the former administrations response to Hurricane Dorian, the state minister said: Im scheduled to go to Grand Bahama on Thursday this week and Ill review whats on the ground in (Grand Bahama) myself. With regards to Abaco, going to Moores Island, Marsh Harbour, Green Turtle Cay and also to Hope Town, what was conveyed to me was that all of the help received by those residents in those areas were from NGOs.

Dorian hit Abaco on September 1, 2019 as a Category 5 hurricane before barreling toward Grand Bahama. The estimated cost of the storms impact on The Bahamas is said to be some $3.4 billion.

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Govt unsure if it will carry on with Abaco domes plan - Bahamas Tribune

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas University of Iowa sophomore Klara Wildhaber shot a one-under par 71 to move up six places on Saturday at the White Sands Invitational at The Ocean Club Golf Course. She is tied for ninth heading into Sundays final round.

After starting on the sixth hole, Wildhaber started her round with three pars and a birdie on the par four ninth. After going three over par over her next five holes, Wildhaber had four birdies over her final nine holes. Overall, Wildhabers round consisted of five birdies and nine pars.

The Hawkeyes sit in seventh in the team standings with a 612 total. Nebraska fired a second round 280 (-8) to surge past Campbell for first place in the team standings, sitting with a 36-hole total of 565.

QUOTING MEGAN MENZELI think we have a great opportunity to show what we are made as a team tomorrow. We have a great challenge to accept and to finish our fall season on a strong note. Klara is making a nice climb on the leaderboard and continues to get stronger as the season goes on.

HAWKEYE NOTEABLES Wildhabers round ties for the fifth best round of the day 71 (-1). This round ties for Wildhabers best of the season. Senior Dana Lerner and freshman Paula Miranda moved up three and four places on the day. The Hawkeyes are fifth in pars with 104 with Manuela Lizarazu (21), Lilly Gentzkow (21) and Dana Lerner (20).

UP NEXTRound three will begin Sunday morning at 7 a.m. (CT).

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Wildhaber Shoots into Top 10 in Bahamas University of Iowa Athletics - University of Iowa Athletics

On any given night Shima is the backdrop to a date, an important business meeting, a wedding proposal, a party for the newly divorced, and the like. (Shimas been my spot for a few of these reasons!) The food here celebrates the delicate, savory flavors of Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam and uses local ingredients, which makes it feel very Bahamian. The brunch is popular, but I go for dinner and order all the small plates, which change often. If you see the grilled rotiflaky and charred to perfectionget it.

Parents never openly admit to having a favorite child, although they surely have a stronger connection with one. Thats how I feel about this old-school Italian spot, where the food and service are consistently on point. Try the homemade ravioli with osso buco and roast gravy, or ask about the daily specials. Either way itll be unforgettable.

This is the premier craft cocktail bar of The Bahamas. The bartenders are not just adept but entertaining, and their drinks dont disappoint. I love the Big Major Smash, a Bahamian tiki-style rum concoction, and the Zephyr, a citrus-forward gin and tonic. A lot of restaurant folks come here after dinner or a shift to unwind. Just make sure your phone is chargednot only are the drinks stunning but so is the decor. Its Instagram overload

This decades-old mainstay is an earshot away from the crashing waves of the northern shoreline in the Delaporte community. Locals gather to talk about island politics, international news, and gossip, but they linger for the seafood. For breakfast there is an amazing stew fish, the catch of the day simmered in a velvety brown-roux gravy. For dinner there is lightly-floured-and-fried grouper seasoned with bird pepper.

Grand BahamaGo to the Dolphin Cove resort for gorgeous views, then drive to West End for pickled conch.

Great Exuma IslandVisit the world-famous swimming pigs in Big Major Cay and enjoy fried fish or roasted veg on the beach.

Harbour IslandFor a luxurious excursion stay at The Landing hotel and try the acclaimed restaurants spicy crab capellini.

North AbacoAfter Hurricane Dorian, Richies Restaurant has returned better than ever. Its still the spot for smothered pork chops.

BiminiErnest Hemingways hideaway is also renowned for its baked goods. Head to Charlies Bread and order a dozen dinner rolls.

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New Providence in The Bahamas Is the Small Island With Big Flavors - Bon Appetit

BLOOMINGTON Paid for, according to the university, entirely by friends of the program, the cost of IUs August trip to The Bahamas ran into six figures.

In response to a request from IndyStar, an Indiana University athletic department official outlined a breakdown of $363,665.60 in overall expenses for the weeklong foreign tour. Included in that total were a variety of costs, from meals, to charter air travel and additional transportation while on the island, money to pay for officials to travel to and work the games, and a $180,000 fee to a third-party company for arranging key aspects of the trip.

According to IU Associate Athletic Director Jeremy Gray, the trip was funded entirely by program donors.

That total cost lands IU in the middle of what appears to be the going rate for a preseason trip to The Bahamas, a popular foreign-tour destination for some of college basketballs premier programs.

According to a 2015 report in the Louisville Courier-Journal, Kentucky reported nearly $793,000 in expenses for a trip to The Bahamas the Wildcats, like IU, played their games at the Atlantis Resort. In the same summer, North Carolina reported expenses totaling $154,825.91.

For Indiana, about half of the cost of this summers trip came from the departments arrangement with Complete Sports Management (CSM).

According to documents obtained via records request, a contract signed between CSM and IU covered arrangements around staging of both the Hoosiers games against Serbian side BC Mega.

CSM also provided IU 13 rooms in the Atlantis Royal Towers, 20 in the Cove (the resort has multiple hotels on the property) and two suites. The contract covered most of the Hoosiers meals and team building activities during the trip, as well as ground transportation in Nassau and, crucially, COVID insurance for the departments entire traveling party.

CSM also covered BC Megas expenses in coming over from Europe, a departure from by way of comparison the structure of Kentuckys trip.

Another $125,000 of IUs total expenses covered chartered air travel to and from The Bahamas. Indiana University has employed more charter travel in recent years after getting rid of its school-owned private planes.

The rest of the expenses filled gaps not covered in the CSM agreement, according to Gray, things like officials travel and accommodations, added meals, unexpected transportation costs and other incidentals.

This was IUs first foreign tour since Tom Crean took his team to Montreal in 2014. According to a report filed at the time, Indiana logged $232,170.58 in expenses on that trip.

Follow IndyStar reporter Zach Osterman on Twitter: @ZachOsterman.

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IU basketball's trip to The Bahamas cost six figures and was paid for by program donors - IndyStar

THIS WEEKThe University of Iowa womens golf team closes out its fall season with a trip to the Bahamas for the White Sands Invitational from Oct. 22-24. The tournament will be hosted by the University of Miami (Fla.) at the Ocean Club Golf Course (par 72, 6,415 yards) with 18 holes being contested each day. Shotgun starts are scheduled for 7 a.m. (CT) each morning.

FOLLOW LIVEFans can follow the tournament via live scoring at http://www.Golfstat.com.

LINEUPThe Hawkeyes lineup will consist of freshman Paula Miranda, sophomore Klara Wildhaber, seniors Dana Lerner and Manuela Lizarazu and junior Lilly Gentzkow this week in the Bahamas.

THE FIELDThe Hawkeyes will compete in a seven-team field that includes Campbell, Florida International,Mercer, Miami (Fla.), Nebraska and Northern Illinois.

THE COURSEThe Ocean Club Golf Course is a Tom Weiskopf-designed course that offers guests of Atlantis every element for the perfect round. This 18-hole, par 72 championship course stretches over 7,100 yards on Atlantis, Paradise Island Oceansides peninsula, where crosswinds challenge even the most experienced players. This prestigious course has hosted Michael Jordan every year since 2001 for his celebrity charity event.

HAWKEYES SOAR IN COLORADOThe Hawkeyes closed out the Ron Moore Intercollegiate with a final round 287 (-1), the eighth-lowest score in school history. Iowa finished with a 54-hole total of 880, a score that ranks seventh in the record books. The 287 (-1) and 291 (+3) rounds are the teams best rounds of the season.

MIRANDA CONTINUES TO SHINEFreshman Paula Miranda fired a four-under par 68 in the final round of the Ron Moore Intercollegiate on Oct. 10 en route to a runner-up finish the best finish of her career. Miranda finished with a 212 (72-72-68) total, finishing at or below par in each of her three rounds. Miranda was named the Big Ten Womens Golfer of the Week on Oct. 13. It was her first career honor. The 212 score ranks second in school history behind Amy Ihms 211 at the 2016 Big Ten Championships. The final round 68 is tied for the sixth-best round in the record books. Mirandas career best 67 (-5) at the Badger Invitational is tied for second all-time. Miranda, who has a team best 72.78 scoring average, has back-to-back top 20 finishes and she has four rounds at or below par this season.

LERNER HAS CAREER-BEST SHOWINGSenior Dana Lerner fired a 221 (+5) a career-best by seven shots at the Ron Moore Intercollegiate to tie for 39th place. The Israel native had back-to-back 73s (+1) in the second and third rounds, which tied the top round of her collegiate career.

LOOKING AHEADThe Hawkeyes will return to action in 2022, competing in Big Ten Match Play from Jan. 31-Feb. 1 in Palm Harbor, Florida.

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Notes: Hawkeyes Head to the Bahamas University of Iowa Athletics - University of Iowa Athletics

By Margaret Butler

With the rise of smartphone adoption across the Caribbean, many industries have sought innovative ways to engage consumers by digitalizing their services.

The banking industry is no different, as companies seek to establish future financial trends. As proven by the launch of the Sand Dollar, the worlds first central bank digital currency, the Bahamas finance sector is now looking to transform its legacy infrastructure by going digital to improve its security, lower costs and grow its customer base.

Initially rolled out on Exuma and Abaco, as of March 2021, nine digital wallet providers circulated $130,000 worth of the Bahamas digital currency throughout the entire archipelago.

Several trends are pushing Caribbean banks to accelerate their digitization initiatives.

Firstly, mobile telephone and broadband rates have improved appreciably. Excluding Haiti, the share of individuals using the internet in the Caribbean rose from 27% to 53% between 2008 and 2016, while the average mobile-cellular penetration rate is over 110%, drastically increasing the need for reliable and secure digital banking services.

For example, MonCash, a mobile phone-based digital wallet, is used by households and rural farmers to increase access to financial services in Haiti. An estimated 14% of Haitians now own these accounts while 38% of adults receive or send domestic remittances through their mobile phones.

Likewise, the COVID-19 pandemic curtailed customers retail banking activities. This catalyzed a customer shift from traditional banks to fintech startups. The Bahamas relatively high banking rate of 80% is further expediting current trends.

A survey of 105 Latin American and Caribbean banking executives found that data security is their primary incentive for digitization. This has been a persistent concern for financial institutions, as the region is particularly vulnerable to cybercrime.

According to a report by the Organization of American States (OAS), at least nine out of 10 banking entities suffered cyber incidents during 2018, while 37% of banks in the region were victims of successful attacks.

The total annual cost of banking entities digital security incident response and recovery was approximately $809 million in 2017.

Digitization allows companies to base their infrastructure in the cloud through platforms such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Microsoft Azure, thereby ensuring constant security updates. In contrast, older legacy in-house systems lack of agility can make them more susceptible to hacks and other cyberattacks.

Digital banks leverage technology to reduce operating costs. Large traditional banking institutions have an average cost-to-income ratio (CIR) of between 45%and 55% while leading digital banks run a CIR of 32 to 40%. Though initial digitization and cloud migration costs may be high, they can drop up to 70% and deliver a return on investment (ROI) of 15% within the first years. Moreover, traditional banks spend an average of $150 to acquire each new customer.

Margaret A. Butler has led the Bahamas franchise of Citibank as Citi Country Officer since June 2005, with the responsibility to manage Citis interest in the country. She has responsibility for the Domestic Corporate Banking business and also leads the Offshore Booking Center which supports the offshore product delivery of Latam ICG businesses.

Margaret joined Citi in 1994 heading up the Legal Vehicle Management team of the Latam Offshore Processing Center and assumed the Legal Vehicle Controller role for the 14 booking entities in 1998.

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Op-Ed: The future of finance in The Bahamas - EyeWitness News

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A stunning archipelago of over 700 islands, the Bahamas is a honeymoon hotspot and popular year round holiday destination. The region receives over 6 million visitors per annum, eager to laze on perfect powder white sands and frolic in sparkling turquoise waters. Peak tourist season runs from December to April, and the beaches of Nassau and Grand Bahama see an influx of U.S. students celebrating spring break during February and March. Here are seven sublime destinations you wont want to miss.

This chilled out, rugged island intersected by canals and mangrove swamps is the largest in the Bahamas, and less developed than many of its busier neighbours. A popular fly fishing and scuba destination, Andros boasts a 190 mile long barrier reef, the third largest on the planet. Hike through pine forest in Blue Holes National Park and swim in its natural pools. Land crab is a speciality here; if youre visiting in June check out the islands annual crab festival.

Only 55 miles from Florida, Grand Bahama presents a laid-back alternative to bustling Nassau and offers easier access than the remote Out Islands. A blissful 85 mile expanse of powder sand beaches and unspoilt cays, the islands untouched interior lies swathed in mangrove jungle. Freeport and Lucaya are the main visitor hubs.

Hike or kayak amongst 40 acres of mangrove swamps at Lucayan National Park, famed for its vast underwater cave system. Bask on the idyllic sands of Gold Rock Beach, which starred in Pirates of the Caribbean. Snorkel and dive in sheltered reefs or, if youre an experienced diver, explore shipwrecks on the seabed.

Located in the Out Islands, Long Island boasts a picturesque 80 mile tract of land with a diverse, spectacular landscape of jutting cliffs, corals reefs and wonderful beaches. Divers make a beeline for Deans Blue Hole, a pristine azure natural wonder. At 663 feet deep, its the second deepest saltwater hole known to exist. Visit historic Hamilton Cave, former home to the Bahamas indigenous Lucayan population, who inhabited the cave system over 1,500 years ago

Sitting just offshore from Bahamas capital Nassau, and linked by two bridges, Paradise is a beautiful compact island surrounded by fine white sand beaches. Focal point is the vast Atlantis resort, a sprawling complex which hosts an open air dolphin sanctuary, marine habitat, and numerous aquariums which are home to manta rays, lionfish, sharks, piranhas and jellyfish. Take the plunge at Aquaventure, a 140 acre water park featuring high speed water slides, snaking river rides and over 20 swimming areas. Enjoy the islands glorious beaches including Arawak Beach, and Smugglers Beach on the east coast. The island is also home to beautiful French gardens and the remains of a 12th century French monastery, dismantled and shipped from France to the Bahamas then painstakingly rebuilt!

Boasting a gorgeous coastline, superb restaurants and charming colonial architecture, Harbour Island is a compact (three miles long and half a mile wide) and laid back destination. Hire a golf cart to explore its delights, including a main street lined with pretty 19th century pastel cottages. Dont miss Pink Sands Beach, an Instagram favourite. This heavenly three mile stretch is renowned for its rose tinted sands formed from shells, coral and remnants of tiny ocean organisms.

New Providence Island is often referred to as Nassau, which is actually the name of its capital city. A bustling port, Nassau offers lively nightlife and abundant restaurants. Sample typical Bahamian cuisine at the Fish Fry strip. Climb the historic Queens Staircase. Hewn by slaves during the 18th century, the impressive 102 foot flight of limestone stairs links downtown Nassau with Fort Fincastle. Sink your toes into the white sands of beautiful and popular Cable Beach, six miles from central Nassau. Hire a boat or jet-ski, swim alongside manta rays and fish in the calm waters. 40 minutes from Nassau, Clifton Heritage National Park is a go-to for outdoor activities. Dive and snorkel amongst coral reefs and visit the underwater Sir Nicholas Nuttall Coral Reef Sculpture Garden.

Head to the tiny uninhabited island of Big Major Kay for a close encounter with its unlikely residents a herd of pigs. Opinions vary on when and how the non-native herd arrived, but they have adapted successfully to island life and enjoy regular swims in the surrounding waters. Visitors can swim with the porkers and feed them approved treats.

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Top 7 Places To Visit In The Bahamas - Travel Off Path