Off the Charts
Ten spots to sample the best the islands have to offer without bumping into a single cruise-ship tourist

By Kirk Deeter

1. Snorkeling
Sapona wreck, Bimini Islands
The 270-foot Sapona is a former rumrunner that was dashed on the Grand Bahama Bank near South Bimini by a hurricane in 1926. Now resting in less than twenty feet of clear water, it is arguably one of the best snorkeling sites in the world. The ship has a pitted concrete hull that hosts a vast array of marine life. www.biminiundersea.com

2. Big-Game Fishing
Rum Cay
Considered “out there” by most big-game fishermen, Rum Cay sits out of reach of small boaters making the run to the Bahamas from Florida. Instead, you’ll find just the hard-core sportfishing battlewagons that have made the voyage. But during the winter the journey is worth it, as the wahoo also arrive en masse, some of them pushing a hundred pounds. www.rumcay.net

3. Cracked Conch 
Rowdy Boys Bar & Grill, Long Island
No Bahamas trip is complete until you’ve gorged on cracked conch. One of the best plates in the islands can be had at the Rowdy Boys Bar & Grill in Clarence Town on Long Island. They fry their conch in a light batter, then hand you a holster of hot sauces so you can do your own spicing. winter havenbahamas.com

4. Diving
Thunderball Grotto, Exumas
The  Exumas feature some of the Bahamas’ most pristine dive sites, among them Thunderball Grotto, where underwater scenes from the 1965 James Bond epic Thunderball were filmed. This hollow island is a short boat ride from Staniel Cay. The dive itself is stunning, with sunlight piercing through the grotto ceiling to illuminate geologic formations, rare sponges and corals, and schools of tropical fish. www.3ns-stanielcay.com

5. Bar
Nippers Beach Bar and Grill, Great Guana Cay
Nippers Beach Bar and Grill is set on a dune overlooking the Abaco Reef on Great Guana Cay—an ideal setting for knocking a few back and taking in the views. Around noon, it gets busy with the first wave of tourists and locals looking to wet their whistles. By late afternoon, the party really kicks into gear, often with live music and impromptu dancing. www.nippersbar.com

6. Sailing
The Out Islands
The Bahamas host eighteen sponsored regattas every year, but for sailors in search of solitude, there’s no beating the Out Islands. More specifically, Crooked Island, Long Cay, and Acklins Island offer some of the best opportunities for beach hopping and exploring by sail. On Acklins, you’ll find many hidden coves cut into rock formations. You can anchor up for restaurant food in Colonel Hill on Crooked Island, but not at Albert Town on Long Cay…that’s a ghost town. www.regattabahamas.com

7. Flats Fishing
Grand Bahama Island
Grand Bahama is a ridiculously short hop from the United States and a favorite among travelers who enjoy the posh resorts in Freeport and Lucaya. What are sometimes lost in the shuffle, however, are the vast, unspoiled flats along the island’s northern shore, which teem with bonefish and occasionally permit. You’ll find big bones around Blackbeard’s Point. www.orvis.com

8. The Goombay Smash
Miss Emily’s Blue Bee Bar, Green Turtle Cay
The in crowd in the Out Islands fancies the Goombay Smash. Consider it the dirty martini of tropical drinks. Created at Miss Emily’s Blue Bee Bar on Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, it’s a mixture of apricot brandy, coconut milk, rum, orange juice, and pineapple juice. www.missemilysbluebeebar.com

9. Beaches
Cat Island
Cat Island’s remote beaches are both secluded and expansive. Two of the best beaches  are Fountain Bay Beach and Old Bight Beach—each are miles-long stretches of  white sand adjacent to clear lagoons. You’ll find no better spot for a picnic. These are also some of the best shelling beaches in the Bahamas. www.fernandezbayvillage.com

10. Bumming Around
Marley Resort & Spa, Nassau
Marley Resort & Spa in Nassau is a sanctuary from the hustle of its island neighbors. Opened in 2007 by the family of late reggae icon Bob Marley, the resort features sixteen suites. It maintains a two-to-one staff-to-guest ratio and offers amenities from in-room Bose sound systems to ornate artwork mixing African and Caribbean styles. www.marleyresort.com