Peterson Cay

Peterson Cay is about a hectare of sand, rock and scrub sitting roughly a kilometre and a half off the south shore of Grand Bahama, and it is protected as a national park, which makes it the smallest in the country. It is uninhabited and there is nothing on it, but the reef around it is shallow, healthy by regional standards and easy to snorkel, with patch coral, gorgonians and reef fish close in. Seabirds nest on the rock. The usual way to get there is a guided kayak trip from Barbary Beach on the mainland, which takes about half an hour of paddling in calm conditions, or a short boat charter.

The landscape

• The reef - shallow patch coral and reef fish all around the cay.
• The cay itself - a hectare of sand and rock with nothing built on it.
• Nesting seabirds - on the rocky sections.
• The paddle out - about half an hour of kayaking from the mainland.

When to go

December to May is the dry season with the calmest water for the crossing. Trips are cancelled in wind, which is common on this coast in winter. Mornings have the best visibility and the flattest sea.

Things to know

There are no facilities on the cay: no shade beyond a few bushes, no water and no toilet. The crossing is open water and should not be attempted by inexperienced paddlers without a guide. Nothing may be taken from the park, including shells. Hurricane damage has affected the reef.

Nearby

Lucayan National Park is a short drive east; Freeport is west.

Key facts