Long Island

Long Island runs a hundred and thirty kilometres north to south, crossed near its middle by the Tropic of Cancer, and it has the most varied landscape of any Bahamian island: high limestone bluffs and Atlantic cliffs on the east side, shallow banks and quiet coves on the west, caves inland and salt flats at the south end. Dean's Blue Hole near Clarence Town is the deepest known blue hole in the ocean at over two hundred metres, dropping away from a shallow beach lagoon, and it hosts the world's leading free-diving competition. Clarence Town has two churches built by the same priest-architect, one Catholic and one Anglican, on facing hills.

What you actually see

• Dean's Blue Hole - over two hundred metres deep, a few metres from shore.
• The Clarence Town churches - twin-towered rivals on facing hills.
• Columbus Point - the cliffs and monument at the northern tip.
• Cape Santa Maria - a long pale beach on the northwest shore.

When to go

December to May is the dry season. The free-diving competition at Dean's Blue Hole is usually in spring. Summer is hot with the hurricane season from June to November. Flights connect through Nassau and are limited, so plan around the schedule.

Honest expectations

There is very little infrastructure: a handful of small hotels, few restaurants, and shops with limited stock. A hire car is essential and fuel stations are far apart. Dean's Blue Hole has no facilities, no lifeguard and drops from waist-deep to two hundred metres within a few strides, which is genuinely dangerous for casual swimmers. Flights are infrequent and cancellations strand people.

Nearby

Conception Island is offshore; Exuma is a short flight northwest.