Three Mary Cays

Three Mary Cays are a cluster of rocks a short swim off the north shore of North Caicos, protected as a sanctuary because ospreys nest on them, and the water around them holds coral heads and fish in numbers that make it the best shore snorkelling on the island. The beach in front is empty, backed by low bush, with a rough track down to it. The cays are close enough to reach from the sand on a calm day, though the channel between them can pull. Ospreys are visible on the rocks and fishing offshore through most of the year.

What you actually see

• Ospreys - nesting on the rocks and fishing offshore.
• The snorkelling - coral heads and fish within swimming distance.
• The empty beach - low bush behind and no development.
• The three cays - close enough to reach from the sand in calm water.

When to go

November to May is the calmest and clearest. Mornings are flattest. The channel between the cays picks up current when the wind is up, so check conditions before swimming out.

Honest expectations

There are no facilities and the access track is rough. Current between the cays is real and catches people out; do not swim across in anything but flat conditions. Ospreys are nesting birds and should not be approached on the rocks. It is a long way from anywhere on an island that already has little.

Nearby

Whitby is nearby; Flamingo Pond and Wade's Green are inland.