Towers of Coral
The Abacos area of the Bahamas has lots of very healthy coral colonies covering multiple species of coral. While each is impressive in its own way, one of the most memorable underwater scenes might be the view of a coral tower as you look up toward the surface. The towering coral colonies grow upward, like a small vertical reef patch, and other species attach themselves along the sides, resulting in a tree shape.
Dive down to the base of one of the coral “trees” and than look up towards the surface of the water and it’s a beautiful sight.
Elkhorn Coral
If you go snorkeling in the Abacos, you’re going to be amazed by the Elkhorn coral. There are fields of it everywhere, and in some parts it comes to within inches of the surface. Giant, broad branches stem out from the central base, like fingers opening to the sun.
Elkhorn coral can grow in a couple different shapes, with varying broadness of the branches. In the Abacos, each colony is very large, with very broad branches. The base can be slim or it can appear very knobby and round. Elkhorn coral can grow on larger reef patches, branching off other types of coral beds. The diameter of this species in the Abacos can get to be very large, like more than three feet.
Nassau Groupers Everywhere!
If you go snorkeling in The Abacos, you’re more than likely to see a few Nassau Grouper. This one is whitish colors, but they can change and look darker at times, too. It’s allowed to shoot them, but with a pole spear only. No spearguns in the Bahamas! Since they are grouper, they taste good. Could you plan a better day? Wake up, take short boat ride out to a patch reef just a mile from shore, get a Nassau Grouper, then fire up the grill when you get back to shore.
If you’re not into catching your dinner, you can simply have fun spotting them and identifying them. Look under rocks and coral areas that are large enough to house a big fish. Or look on the sand near rock formations, since they’ll be easier to spot that way. They’ll run back into the rocks when they get nervous.
Parrotfish in the Abacos
Parrotfish are ever present on the reef in The Abacos. They come in large schools, and because of their bright beautiful colors, it’s pretty amazing to have a school of Parrotfish swim near you when you’re snorkeling or diving.
This picture here is of a Queen Parrotfish, which are commonly found on coral reefs. There are Queen Parrotfish in the Florida Keys, too, and as far south as Colombia. The mouth of this fish is quite distinctive: it looks like a human mouth with dentures. That’s because the teeth are extremely strong, and grow out of a jaw or mouth that looks almost like a beak. They use these super teeth to munch on the coral, and if you dive underwater while snorkeling, you’ll be able to tell whether there are any Queen Parrotfish nearby. You can hear the crunching within a 20 foot radius usually.
The fish in the photo is of course a male Queen parrotfish. The females are brown and dull looking. Parrotfish can change gender, and they can get up to two feet long. They are eaten in The Abacos, but not in the Florida Keys.
The Coral Reef in The Abacos
One thing you’ll notice when you visit the Abacos is that the reef is very healthy and life on the reef is abundant. Patch reefs come up to within a foot of the surface on some spots, growing from depths of twenty or thirty feet. It’s just incredibly beautful to see and the underwater photography is simply amazing.
Elkhorn coral is everywhere, in great bush-sized growths, fanning out and providing shelter for fish. Blue Tang are visible in this picture, but if you got closer you’d see an entire neighborhood of species making their home under the broad branch-like outgrowths of Elkhorn coral colonies.
The Abacos
Experience the sublime tropical paradise of The Abacos on your next vacation. Immerse yourself in the beauty of this chain of islands and learn about the coral reef and Bahamas history, or just sit back on the beach and do nothing at all. Enjoy snorkeling and swimming in the pristine waters of The Abacos, known throughout the world for clear water and superb visibility . Explore idyllic lagoons, underwater caves and dropoffs so close to shore you can swim out to them from the beaches.
The Abacos are a paradise of richly diverse marine life and miles of coral reef. You’ll be astounded at the staghorn coral forests, the vibrant tropical fish, and other discoveries like families of skates, sea turtles, and more. It’s a dream vacation for anyone, and if you’re interested in nature and all her creatures, you’re in for quite a vacation!