Rum Cay, first known as Mamana by the Lucayan Indians, is a small, sparsely populated island, located 20 miles southwest of San Salvador, and 185 miles southeast of Nassau (Lat. N23 42’ 30” – Long. W74 50’ 00”).   It is approximately 30 Sq. miles in size, 9.5 miles long by  5 miles wide, and mainly flat, but has a few rolling hills rising to about 130 feet.  

Rum Cay offers miles of beautiful white sandy, deserted beaches, rolling green hills and azure waters.  Christopher Columbus made his second stop in the New World at Rum Cay, giving it the name Santa Maria de la Concepcion.  The modern name, Rum Cay, is said to be in memory of a wreck destroyed with a cargo of rum which foundered off the coral reefs which surround the Island's shore. 

In common with other islands, Rum Cay has experienced a series of booms and busts. Engravings which have been found in caves on the island appear to be the writings of the native Indians of that era . Farmers have found various artifacts from the Arawak period in the fertile soil, which the Indians enriched with bat guano. 

Settled by Loyalist planters during the 18th century, Rum Cay was once famous for salt and pineapples.   Plantation boundaries known as ‘margins’, which date from the beginning of the 19th century, and the ruins of slave settlements, can be seen all over the island.  The mid to late 1800’s brought prosperity to Rum Cay.  The population grew to over 5,000 citizens, founding a number of settlements throughout the island.  The island people primarily worked the salt claims, shipping cargos of salt to far away, places like England and Nova Scotia.  Pineapple, salt and sisal have all been important industries, but competition and natural disasters, such as the 1926 hurricane, have all taken their toll and today tourism and second home ownership is the main source of employment.  

In the early 1900s the numerous settlements were serviced by five roads around the island.  On the north coast, Port Boyd, with it's church and cemetery was a farming community.  West, on the hills facing north, is Gin Hill, (named for the working cotton gin).  Several prominent ruins are still visible from the ground and air. Carmichael, on the west end, was known for the pineapple plantations.  Times Cove, Black Rock, Monroe, and Nicholas Village, are now only distant memories.  The few remains of Cotton Field Point will soon succumb to the new developments.  Only about 60 people live in the one remaining settlement, Port Nelson, on the south coast, and the virtual wilderness of the remainder of the island provides excellent opportunities for nature exploration.

The only settlement, Port Nelson, has always been the capital and harbor.  It is a picturesque village lying among coconut groves on the south coast, and boasts of it's resort cottages, guest houses, old world charm, and rich historical past.  Sumner Point Marina provides dockage, moorings, bar and restaurant. The Last Chance Convenient Store and Strachan's One Stop has groceries. The Batelco office is is currently closed, has been for two years, and until they assign a new Operator is unavailable for phone calls. 

The wreck of the 101-gun man-of-war H.M.S. Conqueror, Britain's first propeller driven warship, built in Devon in 1855 and which served in the Crimean War, lies in 30 feet of water off Rum Cay where it sank in 1861. Known as the 'Underwater Museum Of The Bahamas', it is the property of The Bahamas Government and none of the contents of the ship may be removed.  Adventuresome divers can still find the shaft, anchor chains and hawser holes in 30 feet of water in a staghorn gully near the breaking reef.

Deep reefs and drop-offs surround this former pirates’ haven. There is staghorn coral at Sumner Point Reef and good diving at Pinder’s Point. At the Grand Canyon, huge 60ft coral walls almost reach the surface.  World class surf can be found at various locations Fall through Spring.  The offshore waters are 3000 feet deep NE of  Rum Cay.  This is great island to surf before sailing to Mayaguana, the Turks and Caicos, or before returning to Georgetown and points north. Or you could stay right here!

From a visitors recent trip: "The spear fishing and diving here was phenomenal! Having dove many times in the Bahamas and accustomed to sparse reefs and sloping drop-offs I was unprepared for the steep walls I encountered just past the southeast point of the island. Flush with unspoiled coral, massive schools of fish and frequent shark and turtle sightings, I dove this area every day, even in high seas and decided this unknown reef and wall system rivaled the best Grand Cayman's North Wall has to offer."   For a gallery of underwater photography off Rum Cay, look at Nature Greetings.