Eco Tourism in North Eleuthera?

(February 24, 2005) An unusual geologic formation in the bays of north Eleuthera produces an extraordinary natural sanctuary for wildlife which may one day welcome eco tourism. Just north of the road running from the airport to Three Islands Dock (due west of Harbour Island) lies a shallow bay—Inner Sound—which is almost entirely landlocked but for one deep and narrow cut to a second bay beyond, Open Sound. This second bay is itself protected by Cabbage Cay as its waters open onto the much larger bay protected by Harbour Island. And thus, Inner Sound provides a natural "gated community" of mangrove swamps that bonefish, sea turtles, and other species have used as spawning grounds for eons.

It is just at the entrance to this inner sanctum that Harbour Island businessman Humphrey Percentie, owner of the Vim-Hum Club, wants to build an observatory that would be connected by a series of boardwalks to an eco lodge. The observatory would sit on a high coral ledge overlooking Upper Cut—the narrow channel where maturing sealife must pass to return to the open sea. Humphrey's dream is still in the planning stages as he seeks the advice of architects and the approval of various government committees. To minimize the impact of his project, he says he is investigating the waste recycling system of Atlantis Hotel In Nassau which turns wastewater into water for plants.

Photos: Top photo above is looking south across Inner Sound. The north Eleuthera Airport is just over the ridge in the distance. Bottom photo of young mangroves rooted in coral looks east from the southern shore of Open Sound. See additional photos of a visit by Humphrey and guests.