Exuma Cays
Bahamas · Atlantic Ocean
The Exuma Cays are a 200km chain of Bahamian islands with clear water, swimming pigs (yes), Thunderball Grotto (Bond movie cave), and the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park's no take reefs.
Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park
Platinum tier · Awarded 2018
How this reef is doing
ⓘ How we measure thisReef state
Total reef fish biomass inside this fully protected reserve runs about seven times higher than on fished reefs nearby, concentrated in large predators (Lamb and Johnson 2010); the state shown reflects coral cover lost to recent heat, not the fish that protection keeps abundant.
Coral cover
Fish life
Heat
Warmer than usual right now, but not hot enough to bleach.
Fishing
Quiet water, and fishing is fully banned here.
Sources · AGRRA and GCRMN reef surveys · NOAA Coral Reef Watch · Global Fishing Watch and reef gravity
Coral cover over time
Live coral cover, by survey year
Across 5 survey years from 2008 to 2019, live coral cover here has fallen from 18% to 3%. Every point is a real survey reading, never a projection.
Live coral cover, percent by year
| Year | Coral cover |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 18% |
| 2016 | 14% |
| 2017 | 15% |
| 2018 | 11% |
| 2019 | 3% |
Fish life over time
Fish seen per survey
Across 29 years of REEF volunteer surveys around The Exuma Islands, divers have recorded a steady amount of fish per survey. The reef card above has not scored a fish level here yet, so this effort-standardised trend is our read on fish life.
Fish seen per survey, by year
| Year | Density index | Surveys |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 2.10 | 12 |
| 1997 | 2.31 | 161 |
| 1998 | 2.24 | 51 |
| 1999 | 2.18 | 64 |
| 2001 | 2.23 | 201 |
| 2002 | 2.13 | 85 |
| 2003 | 2.18 | 149 |
| 2004 | 2.16 | 469 |
| 2005 | 2.14 | 443 |
| 2006 | 2.17 | 329 |
| 2007 | 2.11 | 431 |
| 2008 | 2.04 | 93 |
| 2009 | 2.18 | 37 |
| 2010 | 2.01 | 44 |
| 2011 | 2.27 | 44 |
| 2012 | 2.12 | 47 |
| 2013 | 2.22 | 79 |
| 2014 | 2.06 | 61 |
| 2015 | 2.11 | 45 |
| 2016 | 2.05 | 17 |
| 2017 | 2.01 | 37 |
| 2018 | 2.39 | 20 |
| 2019 | 2.13 | 14 |
| 2021 | 2.12 | 67 |
| 2022 | 2.05 | 38 |
| 2023 | 2.26 | 41 |
| 2024 | 2.40 | 11 |
| 2025 | 2.12 | 26 |
| 2026 | 2.14 | 21 |
What you will see
12 species across the dive sites here
Nurse Shark
Seen 1 month ago
at Thunderball Grotto
Vulnerable
Stoplight parrotfish
Seen 1 month ago
at Thunderball Grotto
Least concern
Atlantic Sergeant Major
Seen 1 month ago
at Danger Reef
Least concern
Caribbean Bluehead Wrasse
Seen 1 month ago
at Thunderball Grotto
Least concern
Sergeant major damsel
Seen 1 month ago
at Thunderball Grotto
Least concern
Caribbean reef shark
Seen 2 months ago
at Danger Reef
Endangered
Schoolmaster Snapper
Seen 4 months ago
at Thunderball Grotto
Least concern
Ruddy Turnstone
Seen 4 months ago
at Danger Reef
Near threatened
Southern Stingray
Seen 7 months ago
at Thunderball Grotto
Near threatened
Northern Curly-Tailed Lizard
Seen Mar 2025
at Thunderball Grotto
Least concern
Yellowtail snapper
Seen Jul 2024
at Thunderball Grotto
Schooling grunt
Seen year round
at Danger Reef
Dive sites
What divers say
The Exumas are the Bahamas postcards come to life. Diving is the bonus.
Good to know
Park rules
Strict no take in the marine park. Fines for non compliance.