Choose the Airport for the Base

Great Exuma / George Town: Fly into Exuma International Airport (GGT, MYEF) near Moss Town. The official flying listing identifies connections through Nassau and selected United States gateways such as Miami and Charlotte, with other routes dependent on season and schedules. From the airport arrange a car, taxi or accommodation pickup to George Town, Little Exuma or a local departure dock. No onward boat to Staniel Cay is included merely by arriving at GGT.

Staniel Cay / northern cays: Normally small-plane visitors use Staniel Cay Airport (TYM, MYES), with Makers Air advertising flights from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE). There is a critical date-specific exception: a schedules TYM closed . During that period its flights use , where a golf-cart/dock connection and separately paid ferry are required. Confirm airline-specific arrangements and reopening status after October 31. This advisory establishes a plan, not a guaranteed flight, ferry seat or airport reopening.

Choose the Airport for the Base

Great Exuma airport near Moss Town, serving George Town/Stocking Island and road-connected Little Exuma. Not interchangeable with Staniel Cay Airport. Official airport code from the Bahamas Department of Aviation.

Normal Staniel Cay air gateway, not the Great Exuma airport. Makers Air advises temporary closure to aircraft September 21 through October 31, 2026, with temporary access through Black Point.

Small northern-cay airport used by Makers Air as its temporary arrival field during the Staniel runway closure of September 21 to October 31, 2026. The Bahamas aviation department lists MYEB without an IATA code. It is not near George Town.

Great Exuma: prearranged car rental or taxis are useful for George Town, accommodation, groceries and the Little Exuma road bridge. Stocking Island requires a boat transfer across Elizabeth Harbour; the Great Exuma road network does not connect to Staniel Cay.

Staniel Cay: walk or use local golf carts when available; yacht-club information says the small island is walkable. To reach Thunderball, Big Major and other cays, book a local boat with appropriate access permissions. The yacht-club FAQ states there is no ATM on Staniel Cay, so bring sufficient cash for small vendors, tips and landing costs. Operators and schedules can change.

Inter-base movement: consider two separate lodging bases rather than implying a short sightseeing ride. Be specific about airport, dock, island and charter cancellation terms. During the Staniel runway closure, the Black Point route has an extra boat component and no guaranteed protected connection.

Visitors need an accepted valid passport and any nationality-dependent visa, onward or return travel evidence, and the appropriate immigration/customs processing at their arrival point. Bahamas tourism immigration guidance discusses different passport/visa conditions, including six-month-validity advice for some travelers, while U.S. government guidance may state less restrictive rules for U.S. passports. Do not apply a single passport-validity rule to all nationalities; verify with Bahamas immigration, your carrier and your own embassy.

Staniel clearance conflict: The tourism destination description has presented Staniel as a port of entry, but the yacht club FAQ states Staniel Cay has no customs and immigration office and visitors should clear elsewhere. This remains unresolved; have the airline or charter provider confirm the actual approved port of entry and formalities for international arrival, particularly during the TYM closure. Private vessels have separate Bahamas customs, immigration and cruising-permit obligations. No fixed Exuma-specific blanket tourism levy was independently established; check the actual airfare, lodging and official fee line items.

Ask the actual chosen scuba provider whether tanks, weights, computer, BCD, regulator, mask and wetsuit are included and whether sizes are available. Dive Exuma currently posts two-tank packages inclusive of tanks and weights, which does not mean every other item is included. Bring proof of certification, log of recent experience and insurance details; medical questions and refreshers may apply. Use reef-safe buoyancy and do not take equipment into tidal blue-hole overhead spaces without required qualification. Small planes and local boats may have strict baggage allowances; check each segment before carrying heavy dive or camera gear. A fitted mask, compact snorkeling equipment and a dry bag can be useful, but do not assume a cay tour can supply quality freedive safety equipment or dedicated freedive instruction.

The Bahamian dollar and U.S. dollar are commonly accepted at a fixed 1:1 monetary parity for local transactions, as described in official visitor guidance and Staniel Cay Yacht Club. Quotes may be expressed in either BSD or USD; do not assume card processors or exchange fees are waived. VAT and gratuities may be separate unless explicitly included.

Arrange cash access on Great Exuma before continuing north. The Staniel Cay Yacht Club FAQ states there are no ATMs on Staniel Cay and small independent boat providers and shops may require cash. Confirm actual ATM function, cash availability and acceptable cards with each venue before leaving.

North American-style electrical outlets are typical in The Bahamas. Verify your accommodation's voltage and plug configuration and use a safe dual-voltage adapter for international chargers. Confirm backup power and charging access on remote cays. Source: Bahamas visitor FAQs.

Communications

Bahamas carriers and some resorts offer mobile voice/data service and Wi-Fi, but coverage varies by cay, boat route and weather. Do not assume cellular service during offshore crossings or in the marine park. Check your phone's international roaming or eSIM compatibility, offline maps, vessel VHF equipment and an agreed missed-pickup procedure before departure. The Staniel Cay Yacht Club offers guest communications information, not a guaranteed island-wide data service.

Language

English is the official language. Bahamian English and local speech patterns are common. Confirm charter details, safety briefings and boat pickup instructions clearly, especially when several islands share similar names.

Insurance

Carry travel medical insurance that covers The Bahamas, offshore boat excursions, the exact scuba/freedive activities, medical evacuation and any paid air transfer. Compare exclusions for depth, cave/overhead environments, solo freediving and incident response. Dive Exuma recommends specialized dive cover because serious treatment may require evacuation. DAN membership alone is not automatically the same as a comprehensive applicable accident and evacuation policy. Ask about insurer preauthorization and emergency contact instructions.

Packing list

Bring passport, booking/entry documents, dive certification, insurance details, essential medication, sun cover, reusable water, insect repellent, a fitted mask if needed and small-craft dry protection. A light wind layer is useful after winter boat trips and a 3mm or 5mm wetsuit can be selected based on personal cold tolerance and confirmed sea temperature. Do not overpack tanks/weights for small-plane segments without verifying baggage rules. Cash is particularly important for Staniel Cay and independently operated transfers. Store emergency and operator contacts offline.

Great Exuma and the Exuma Cays

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Choose the Airport for the Base

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Choose the Airport for the Base

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