Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park (ECLSP)
Cambridge Cay Mooring Field
Updated: 2 March 2017
Cambridge Cay provides the southern-most mooring field for the Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park (ECLSP).
Explorer Chart: EX-16, EX-17
Airstrip
Air Service
- Staniel Cay has good air service to the general area.
- Anchoring is possible outside of the mooring field at Cambridge Cay.
- Anchor south and west of the mooring field. No anchoring between the mooring field and Cambridge Cay. See Explorer Chart.
- As a courtesy when anchoring, contact on-site ECLSP mooring field host boat if present.
- Bahamas Area Websites. Sites that can be searched for tourist and business information throughout the Bahamas.
- There are several privately owned islands in this area of ECLSP. The largest, Bell Island, is now owned by the Aga Kahn.
- Exumas Visitors Guide. An free guide booklet available at many local businesses. It provides a good directory of services and attractions throughout the Exumas.
- Nearby Bell Island is the largest of several private island within the bounds of the Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park. These private islands were accommodated when the Park was formed in 1959. The third owner of Bell Island, the Aga Kahn IV, bought it in 2009 for $100M. Construction of a private marina that can accommodate 150' yachts started in 2011 with dredging of a basin and a short connector to the existing natural channel; see: Private Island News article.
Bakery
Bank & ATM
Beverage Store
Bike Rental
Boat Rental / Charter
Book Exchange
BTC / Batelco Office
Car Rental
Cell Phone Service
- Cell phone service is available from some of the higher points on Cambridge Cay where there is line-of-sight visibility to the tower on Staniel Cay.
- With a cellular signal amplifier and external antenna, service can be had.
Coffee Shop
Cruisers Net
- The Park host boat monitors VHF Ch-16 & Ch-9 for mooring information.
- Many excellent sandy beaches for dinghy landings. Beware of tides that can leave you high and dry as the flats drain.
- Report whale sightings to BMMRO! Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organization; 242-366-4155; 242-357-6666; info@bahamaswhales.org.
- See: Environment & Ecology for Cruisers
- ECLSP Headquarters monitors VHF Ch-16 and Ch-9 for emergencies.
Fishing
- ECLSP is a no take zone by land and sea. Fishing, lobstering, shelling and conching are prohibited in the area which extends 4 nm on each side of the cays.
Fuel
- The closest sources of fuel are at Sampson Cay and Staniel Cay.
Government / Administrator
Groceries & Produce
- The nearest sources of provisions are Compass (limited), Sampson, and Staniel Cays.
History
Internet & WiFi
- With a cellular signal amplifier and external antenna, cellular data service can be had.
- In Feb 2017, SV Onward had 3G and LTE cellular data service from the anchorage.
- The closest land-based wifi is at Compass Cay.
- The closest laundry is at Compass Cay and at Staniel Cay.
Lodging
Mailboat
Marina & Dockage
Marine Supplies & Parts
Marine Services & Repairs
Medical / Clinic / Pharmacy
- The closest medical clinic is available at Staniel Cay and Black Point.
- ECLSP operates a large mooring field here to the W of Cambridge Cay
- There is a single mooring that can hold a vessel to 135' located to the W of O'Briens Cay.
- Moorings are on a first come first served basis. - but they can usually let you know how many are open.
- Leave the two large buoys at the S end of the mooring field for large vessels. They can be picked up only after the others are full and must be vacated when other moorings open up. They are marked "Up to 150'".
- ECLSP sometimes has a cruiser volunteer boat as a mooring field host. The host collects mooring fees, provides information to visitors, and alerts Park Headquarters when the the attention of the Warden is needed.
- For mooring availability, attempt to contact the Cambridge Cay mooring field host on VHF Ch-16 or Ch-9. If there is no answer - try Exuma Park on VHF Ch-9 or make an "Any Vessel at Cambridge Cay" call on VHF Ch-16.
- When there is no mooring field host boat, payments for moorings should be left in the mailbox located on Mailbox Cay - a low sandy cay just SW of the moorings. The mailbox is located near the Park sign.
- The ECLSP Warden makes regular visits to the area.
- There is an ECLSP mooring S of the Aquarium at Lat-Long: 24º19.400N; 76º33.448W
- Cambridge Cay mooring field can be reached from Exuma Sound through Bell Cut between Cambridge and O'Briens Cays. Turn S immediately after clearing the cut entrance and follow the deep water just off the W shore of Cambridge Cay. Be aware of the rocky bar to Stbd that grows shallower as you proceed S.
- Cambridge Cay mooring field can be reached from the Banks side by approaching the SW sector of Bell Island and then paralleling the shore of Bell I while moving W, clockwise around the island. The deeper water is within about 50 m of shore. At the NW corner of the island, there is a narrow passage just to the W of the rocky point - but the water is deep and the distance is short; there is deeper water immediately to the N.
- Cambridge Cay mooring field from S, Conch Cut. [Note: This route has been used safely by SV Onward (draft 6.2').]
- WP1 24º 17.243’ N; 76º 32.540’ W
WP3 24º 17.551’ N; 76º 32.373’ W
WP4 24º 17.651’ N; 76º 32.321’ W
WP5 24º 17.882’ N; 76º 32.302’ W
Note: WP4 marks the shallowest point of this route. For about a boat length, Depth = ~5.6’ when it is MLW at the Wide Opening tide station.
- Note: Navigation data and related experiences are provided for guidance and information purposes only. They are not certified as being error free. Navigation decisions are the responsibility of each captain and should be based on the appropriate navigation charts for the area and supplemented by local knowledge.
- Staniel Cay is the closest place to have items shipped in for your vessel.
Police
Post Office / Mail
Propane
- The closest facility to refill propane is at Staniel Cay.
- There is no pumpout facility available.
- Vessels should use holding tanks in the mooring and anchorage areas.
Restaurant & Bar
Restrooms
- There are no restrooms available.
Showers
Snorkeling & Scuba Diving
- There are many great snorkeling sites. ECLSP provides a map.
- Don't miss the "Aquarium" a great snorkeling spot NW of O'Briens Cay.
- At the SW tip of Cambridge Cay there is an amazing stand of elkhorn corals. Lat-Long: 24º19.591N; 76º33.442W
- The remnants of a sunken small aircraft are located S of the Aquarium at Lat-Long: 24º19.325N; 76º33.544W
- Rocky Dundas has a large cave on the N side that can be visited by snorkeling.
Things to See & Do
- There are a number of hiking trails on Cambridge Cay.
- Take a dinghy S to Compass Cay for a great cheeseburger and internet.
- Take a dinghy to the tip of Compass Cay and visit Rachel's Bubble Bath [24º 17.0'N; 76º 31.32' W] - a naturally formed basin that is stirred by the waves near high tide. From the sandy beach on the NW tip, follow the shallow creek NE to the ocean side.
- Cruisers regularly organize Sundowners on small Mailbox Cay on the SW end of the mooring field.
- The Navionics tide station at Wide Opening provides tide reference.
- There is no facility for trash disposal- take it with you.
- The closest veterinary service is available on Great Exuma.
- Standard Bahamas VHF Protocol: Ch-16 is for marine emergencies, safety, and hailing. It is also used by local Bahamian shore facilities for hailing. Communication traffic must be shifted to another channel.
- Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park offers volunteer opportunities. Check with the Park office at Warderick Wells.
- There is no source of potable water available.
- The closest sources of RO water are at Compass and Sampson Cays
- Highborne Cay Marina broadcasts weather daily at 0730 on VHF Ch 06.
- Marine Weather Center; Daily SSB, webcast, & email forecasts by Chris Parker. Note: Best reception in this area is usually on 4045 KHz USB Simplex at 0630 AST.
- Bahamas Met Office website provides weather forecast for local areas throughout the Bahamas.
Topics: 26 Jan 13