Long Island,
Bahamas
Originally named “Yuma” by Arawak Indians, the island was renamed “Fernandina” by Christopher Columbus in 1492. "The Tropic of Cancer" led him right to us. Since then the English, Scottish, Irish, and Greeks have immigrated to this new world to work salt ponds, fish, and sponge dive. However, Long Island earned its current name because a seafarer felt it took too long to sail past the island. After all, it is 80 miles long, but no more than four miles wide at its broadest point. The Tropic of Cancer runs directly through the island, giving it two very different coastlines—the dramatic cliffs and caves of the east coast that front the crashing Atlantic waves, and the sandy edged lee side which slopes calmly into the Bahamas Bank. Here you’ll find Dean’s Blue Hole, historic twin churches built in the 1800s and one of the largest caves in The Bahamas. The Bahamian government has major plans for Long Island, one of which is a stem cell research facility. Now is a perfect time to invest in this Bahamian gem, Long Island!
Long Island,
Bahamas
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Chartered Air
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Cruise Lines
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FBO
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Ferries
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Mailboats
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Marinas
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Scheduled Air
There are two airports on Long Island: Deadman's Cay Airport (LGI) and Stella Maris Airport (SML). Daily scheduled service is available to the island from Nassau and charter services can be arranged through any of the certified local and international carriers. The government has plans to expand the airports to accommodate direct flights to Long Island. By sea, you can travel from Nassau with Bahamas Ferry Services on a fully air-conditioned vessel, or two mail boats that provide service to several towns on a weekly (or more frequent) basis.
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Buses
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Ferries
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Rental Bikes
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Rental Boats
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Rental Cars
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Rental Golf Carts
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Rental Scooters
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Taxis
Diving
You can have a great dive experience visiting varied reefs and watching sharks feed right before your eyes, or diving a wreck sitting upright in 90 feet of water, and along walls that begin at 40 feet and drop to 6,000 feet. You will gaze in wonder at Dean’s Blue Hole, where the free-diving world record was set in April 2007 by William Trubridge, who dove about 410 feet on a single breath. Every year, free-divers from all over the world come here and try to beat that record.
Arrangements can be made with the dive team at Stella Maris Resort Club for you to experience the best Long Island has to offer.
Dean's Blue Hole
Dean's Blue Hole is said to be the deepest blue hole in the world, and the second largest underwater chamber. This warm salt-water swimming pool dips some 663 feet (203 meters) into the ocean floor right offshore. At the surface it is 80 x 120 feet (25 x 35m), but opens out after 60 feet (20m) into a cavern with a diameter of at least 330 feet (100 m).
Adderley Plantation
This cotton plantation was granted to Mr. Abraham Adderley in the year 1790, on 700 acres of land that once comprised all of Stella Maris. Mr. Abraham Adderley was a British born subject with a business established in Nassau, Bahamas.
Hamilton's Cove
One of the largest caves in The Bahamas, it is very spacious with passages that are at least 50 feet wide, and the ceiling is over 10 feet high. Lucayan artifacts were discovered in this cave system in 1935.
Crystal Flats
In the 1970's, Diamond Crystal opened an extensive salt plant west of the town called Hard Bargain. Many Long Islanders have stories to tell about the plant, where the majority of Bahamians who wanted to work were employed. The plant was said to have closed in February 1982, due to its main plant in the US filing for bankruptcy.
After the salt plant closed, a shrimp farming company called World Wide Protein (Bahamas) Ltd. moved in, only to close a few years later.
Museum
Stop in to the Long Island Museum to brush up on the history, culture and customs of Long Island which is dotted with plantation ruins, pretty villages, historic cottages and groupings of tiny, pristine white and bright blue Gothic churches at each settlement.
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Nightlife
Whether you prefer dancing to the latest sounds, singing old tunes at karaoke, competing in a game with the locals, or just hanging out with some friends sipping a brew, you'll find the right place here for you. Some of the major hotels and resorts have get-togethers for guests during the winter season, usually featuring a live band. You can get serenaded by or shake a tail feather to music by The Originals, The Unstoppables, Nu Image, or Smacky & The Boys. Most of the local hangouts have live entertainment on national holidays and occasionally on weekends, with Rake & Scrape music the mainstay; others feature DJ or piped music and don't forget The Ester will have restaurants and a nightclub of its own on the premises.
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