Small Hope Bay Lodge Dive Center

Small Hope Bay Lodge has been a fixture of the Andros diving community since 1960. Situated on the Great Barrier Reef, the lodge offers an intimate, eco-conscious environment for divers looking to explore the unique underwater topography of the Bahamas.

The location is ideal for those wanting to minimise travel time between the shore and the reef. With more than 60 dive sites reachable within 15 minutes by boat, you can spend more time in the water and less time transitng.

The dive centre is affiliated with both PADI and SSI, ensuring a wide range of training options for all levels. The team focuses on high-quality instruction and guided experiences, catering to everyone from first-time Discover Scuba Diving participants to advanced technical divers.

The lodge operates with a family-oriented atmosphere, offering childcare services and welcoming pets. It is an all-inclusive destination where meals and drinks are provided, allowing you to focus entirely on your diving and relaxation.

A comprehensive range of PADI and SSI courses is available on-site. Beginners can start with Discover Scuba Diving, Bubblemaker, or the Open Water Diver course, with Open Water Referral options available for those continuing their training elsewhere.

For experienced divers, the centre offers Advanced Open Water Diver, Nitrox, Night Diver, and Wreck Diver certifications. There are also specialised programmes such as the Underwater Naturalist course and Junior Certification for younger divers.

The centre provides full equipment hire, including BCDs, regulators, computers, masks, fins, snorkels, and wetsuits. For those travelling light, individual items such as masks, fins, and snorkels, or wetsuits alone, can also be rented.

Nitrox is available on-site for divers looking to extend their bottom time. The lodge is designed with an ecological focus, featuring freshwater from reverse osmosis coolers and outdoor showers for rinsing after your dives.

The reefs are characterised by a vibrant array of hard corals, soft corals, and sponges. You will frequently encounter tropical fish, rays, and dolphins patrolling the reef flats and walls.

In the deeper sections and near the walls, you can find various species of Shark (Selachimorpha), specifically Caribbean reef sharks. These pelagics are a highlight for many divers visiting the area.

The local ecosystem also supports conchs and a diverse range of reef life that makes every dive visually engaging.

The area is accessible year-round, though it is advisable to avoid the September to October period due to the peak of the hurricane season. Water temperatures typically range between 24°C and 29°C.