Andros is actually two islands, connected by a series of canals and cays called bights. It's the largest landmass in The Bahamas and attracts divers, fishing enthusiasts, and sightseers. Most of the island is uninhabited and unexplored. The main villages are Nicholl's Town, Andros Town, and Congo Town - all are accessible by frequent boat and plane connections from Miami and Nassau. Lodgings range from large resorts to small, plain guesthouses that cater mainly to fishermen. The world's third-largest barrier reef lies off the coast of Andros, and divers come from all over the world to explore it. The reef plunges 1,800m (6,000 ft.) to a narrow drop-off known as the Tongue of the Ocean. Bonefishing here is among the best on earth, and Andros is also known for its world-class marlin and bluefin tuna fishing. Known as the "Big Yard," the central portion of Northern Andros is largely a dense forest of mahogany and pine where more than 50 varieties of orchids bloom. Southern Andros boasts a 40-square-mile forest and mangrove swamp. Any hotel can arrange a local guide to give a tour. 

Andros is a naturalist’s wonderland, thanks to its deserted beaches, “blue holes” (fresh and salt water filled caves found inland and in the ocean, respectively), pine forests, mangrove marsh and the carefully protected fresh water reservoir.

Visitors may tour the Forfar Field Station in Blanket Sound, an international research facility for studies in tropical ecology and marine biology, which offers inland hikes and offshore expeditions. A nature trail explores the island's flora and fauna and medicinal plants. Guided nature walks, kayaking and birding tours can be arranged through a number of hotels or the Andros Tourist Office.

Andros Island is the largest of all the Islands (104 miles long and 40 miles wide) but has the smallest population for its size. It has an abundance of bonefish and the world's third largest barrier reef which is over 140 miles long and is renowned for its superb diving sites and marine life. Andros (2,300 square miles) is the fifth largest island in the Caribbean, but only has a population of 8,000 people Andros is the largest of the Bahama islands, dwarfing the more densely populated New Providence in size almost tenfold. Teaming with lush green foliage, spunky land crabs, and wild orchids of every possible color, Andros is an Edenic paradise. And if you like to get your feet wet, Andros has more then a few beaches to do it, as well as some of the best diving sites in the world, filled with deep coral canyons and magnificent blue holes. Andros Bahamas History The island was given the name “Espiritu Santo,” the Island of the Holy Spirit” by the Spanish, but is also called San Andreas on a 1782 map. The modern name is believed to be in honour of Sir Edmund Andros, Commander of Her Majesty’s Forces in Barbados in 1672 and Governor successively of New York, Massachusetts and New England. It is also believed that the island could have been named after the inhabitants of St. Andro Island on the Mosquito Coast as 1,400 of them settled in Andros in 1787. Loyalists and their slaves also settled in Andros in the late 19th Century. Cotton and sisal were grown and later sponging became a flourishing industry in Andros for many years. Legend has it that a sort of leprechaun or gremlin known locally as the chickcharney holds sway and migrated to Red bays in the 19th century with the Seminole Indians. Andros Bahamas Geography Andros lies in the Atlantic Ocean and is made up of many islet and cays, comprising a North, Middle and South Bight. There is much shallow water and lots of swamp, which in some areas connects with fresh water streams. Andros, known for its abundant fresh water supplies, has an atmosphere of mystery, having its forested and remote areas. Other settlements are San Andros, Nicholls Town, Lowe Sound, Staniard Creek, Mangrove Cay, Driggs Hill, Kemps Bay, Long Bay Cays, The Bluff, Deep Creek, Little Creek, Pleasant Bay, Mars Bay, Smith’s Hill, Black Point, Behring Point, Cargill Creek, Calabash Bay, Love Hill and Stafford Creek. Andros Bahamas Points of Interest Located 20 miles west of New Providence, Andros has four airports and three official ports of entry. It is also home to the Atlantic Undersea Testing and Evaluation Centre (AUTEC) Base in Fresh Creek, one of the world’s busiest underwater testing facilities; and the Androsia factory established by Rosie Birch and produces batik with exquisite local design; bonefishing lodges, blue holes, and caves. As an added bonus, not only is Andros home to one of the largest populations of bonefish, it is also home to the third largest barrier reef in the western hemisphere.

As the largest and least-explored island in The Islands Of The Bahamas, Andros offers a wide variety of activities for just about everyone. This 2,300-square-mile island paradise is not only known as the bonefishing capital of the world, but also boasts the second-largest reef in the Northern Hemisphere and is home to the oldest dive resort on the planet. Whether diving or snorkelling, the average year-round 80°F temperature of the crystal clear, blue waters makes discovering the abundant marine wildlife surrounding Andros Island a magical treat you'll never forget. The diverse topography which rises from these tropical waters is full of life, some of which can only be found on Andros. Over forty kinds of wild orchids, rare, endemic birds, wild boar, iguanas as long as four feet and a recently discovered tribal group all make their homes among the miles of deserted beaches, freshwater mud flats, thick brush, lush pine forests and inland waterways that make up this Atlantic oasis. It is even said to be the home of pirate Henry Morgan's buried treasure and two mythical creatures - the chickcharnies and Lusca. Sharing this magical island are the locals, or Androsians. These peaceful people pride themselves as skilled artists and craftsmen whose origins are believed to date back to the Seminole Indians, runaway slaves from Florida and an ethnic mix of different people from Africa to South America. The people of Andros invite you to visit their tropical island home. Whether you seek challenging water sports or are in search of magical discoveries, Andros is the island for adventurers and ecotourists alike. Because water temperatures average 80°F year-round, Andros is ideal for just about every water sport imaginable. Divers will be astounded at the clarity of the water and the quality of the dive sites. Snorkellers can enjoy easily accessible, shallow-water coral gardens.

Don't miss...
Native Colony Ruins
About a half-mile south of Pleasant Harbour, on the inland side, are eight stone buildings dating back to the 1930s that represent the old Bahamian style of architecture. They are open for exploration and are excellently preserved due to the fact that, for some unknown reason, they were abandoned and never inhabited.

Morgan's Cave/Morgan's Bluff
A wide system of subterranean limestone caves, complete with stalactites and stalagmites, reputed to hold the treasures of famed pirate and namesake, Sir Henry Morgan, whose treasure has yet to be found.