Deadman's Reef

Deadman's Reef lies a short swim off the beach at Paradise Cove on the western end of Grand Bahama, a patch reef in shallow water that can be snorkelled without a boat, which is unusual and is the whole appeal. Coral heads, sea fans, parrotfish and rays are all within a hundred metres of the sand. The site also has an archaeological dimension: excavation on the shore here recovered Lucayan material, from the people who lived in the Bahamas before European contact.

The landscape

• The patch reef - coral heads in shallow water reachable by swimming from the beach.
• The fish - parrotfish, sergeant majors, rays and the occasional turtle.
• The beach - a sheltered strand with the reef directly offshore.
• The Lucayan site - the excavated shore settlement of the pre-contact islanders.

When to go

November to April is the dry season with the calmest water and best visibility. Winter norther fronts churn the shallows for days at a time. Mornings are calmest.

What to expect

The reef is shallow and has taken damage from storms and from swimmers standing on it; fins and buoyancy matter here. Facilities are through the beach club, which charges. The archaeological site is not developed for visitors.

Nearby

Freeport is east, and West End is further along the northwestern shore.