Millions of people snorkel in tropical waters each year, and there are hundreds of charter boats that gather groups from hotels and cruise ships for an hour or two of supervised water time on an often-visited reef. If this isn’t your idea of a snorkeling adventure, you need to set your sights farther afield. In the Bahamas, this means leaving the busy tourism centers of Nassau and Freeport behind, and heading for the Out Islands, where small beach lodges replace high rise resorts, unspoiled beaches stretch for miles, and only a fortunate few visit the coral reefs that line island shores. If you are looking to discover the best underwater scenery in the Bahamas, here are three of the best Out Island resorts to base your explorations.

Staniel Cay Yacht Club, Exumas

Stretching more than 100 miles through the center of the Bahamas, the Exumas are a chain of small islands and sand flats that line up along deep blue waters to the east. Seen from above, they resemble an emerald and ivory necklace. One of the crown jewels of this string is Staniel Cay, which is home to one of the few significant villages in the Exumas, along with the Staniel Cay Yacht Club. Since the 1950s, this low-key resort and marina has attracted in-the-know travelers, including a laundry list of A-listers who come for small island privacy and the luxury of anonymity. The big draw is ambiance rather than amenities, as the club’s 14 waterfront bungalows are designed for comfort rather than show. Expected creature comforts such as air conditioning, premium bedding and waterfront verandahs are provided, but it is the views rather than the décor that is the focus. All bungalows are just a short walk from the dining room and clubhouse, where patrons and locals rub shoulders and swap stories with visiting yachtsmen. Guests who opt for the amenities package can enjoy three meals a day, access to a 17ft skiff, snorkeling gear, bicycles, ocean kayaks and paddleboards. The island is served by one of the few airports in the region, and there are direct flights from the U.S. mainland.

A view from the beach at Staniel Cay Yacht Club shows expansive sand flat prized by bonefish anglers. Snorkeling reefs lie in deeper water beyond the sand. Photo: Rick Gomez/Staniel Cay Yacht Club

With water all around, there is no shortage of premier snorkeling sites within a short boat ride of Staniel Cay. Some of the best reefs lie within the boundaries of the Exuma Land and Sea Park. The Club can provide a local guide for snorkeling excursions, including trips to the Exuma’s most famous snorkeling spot, Thunderball Grotto. This partially flooded cave was featured in the namesake James Bond film, and it is both easy and safe to explore with mask and snorkel. This trip is often combined with a visit to the swimming pigs of Big Major Cay for a chance with an in-water selfie with these famous aquatic swine. Other unexpected snorkeling adventures can include a trip to the starfish reserve and a hunt for queen conch, which the guide may later transform into a delicious dish of conch salad.

A short boat ride away from Staniel Cay, a Nassau grouper cruises through shallow coral formations in the protected waters of the Exumas Land and Sea Park. Photo: Rick Gomez/Staniel Cay Yacht Club

Fernandez Bay Village, Cat Island

The Armbrister family has dedicated more than four decades to creating this idyllic beachfront retreat, but their ties to Cat Island go much deeper. Five generations have passed since British Loyalist John Armbrister settled on this quiet island, and save for electricity and a handful of cars, little has changed in the centuries since. Cat Island is still a place where you can walk deserted beaches by starlight, and the island’s entire population wouldn’t more than half fill a small cruise ship. This is the setting for Fernandez Bay Village, an intimate collection of seven stone walled cottages and five spacious villas facing a mile of private beach on the island’s calm western shore. At the center of the village, the vaulted thatch roof of the open-air clubhouse is the focal point for meals and social activity, which often spills out onto the adjacent waterfront patio and the tiki bar. The resort is home to the island’s best restaurant, and the dining room and bar are a favorite with passing yachtsmen. Guests can choose between cozy cottages or a villa that includes a kitchen and living areas that open to ocean views.

Villas and cottages at Fernandez Bay Village are built from native limestone rock and island pine. Living areas feature French doors that open to terraces with ocean views. Photo: Fernandez Bay Village

With the pristine waters of Fernandez Bay literally in their front yard, guests have immediate access to exceptional snorkeling just steps away. The sand and grass flats immediately in front of the resort provide a relaxing environment for youngsters and novices to perfect their snorkeling skills. A but farther out, the rock outcropping known as Dry Head is surrounded by a shallow reef covered in sea fans and colorful corals. A number of additional reefs are just a short boat ride away, and the Fernandez Bay staff can arrange for transportation, or provide directions. One of the most intriguing sites in the area isn’t a reef, but instead an inland body of water known as the Boiling Hole, which is a submerged sinkhole that opens into a labyrinth of water-filled passages. In addition to snorkeling, guests can arrange for diving and fishing trips, or take a paddleboard or kayak into the shallow creek at the southern end of Fernandez Bay for a peaceful, quiet trip through twisting and turning waterways that are a nursery for baby sharks, manta rays and other small fish.

Fernandez Bay Village overlooks a mile-long crescent of private white sand beach on Cat Island. This family-owned resort is known for it’s relaxed atmosphere and personal service. Photo: Fernandez Bay Village

Small Hope Bay, Andros

Andros Island lies less than 30 miles to the east of the mega resorts of Nassau and Paradise Island, but it is a world away. Wild and sparsely settled, it is a land of pine forests and expansive networks of mangrove-lined creeks, flanked to the east by the world’s third longest barrier reef. In the heart of this natural landscape is Small Hope Bay, a collection of cottages created by the Birch family, who transformed native coral rock and pine timbers into an elegantly simple but quite civilized respite from the world beyond. It is a destination that has drawn world leaders, famous artists and average travelers, who prize it not only for what is offered, but also what is excluded. There are no televisions, newspapers or Internet feeds to intrude on days devoted to fishing, diving, snorkeling, exploring the natural surroundings or simply relaxing on an island that is as close to deserted as one can find in the 21st century. Each cottage sits on the edge of a white-sand beach, with barefoot-friendly pathways that lead to the dining room and it’s adjacent waterfront terrace. Small Hope operates as a fully inclusive property, with all meals, drinks, activities and services covered in the daily rate. Leaving guests with no other decisions to make other than “what shall we do today.”

The beachfront cabins at Small Hope Bay blend out island simplicity with appropriate creature comforts such as air conditioning, plush bedding and ample supplies of fresh water. Photo: Small Hope Bay

Snorkelers will find tropical fish and corals just yards from the beach at Small Hope Bay, and there are miles of shallow reefs extending to the north and south. The resort provides daily boat trips to a variety of sites along the Andros Barrier Reef, as well as overland trips to swim and snorkel in the freshwater blue holes that pockmark the Andros landscape. The reefs will delight veteran snorkelers, but Small Hope is also an ideal destination for first-time snorkelers, as the staff provides complimentary instruction in the basics of snorkeling, as well as introduction to diving experiences. One of the most exciting adventures available to both divers and snorkelers is the resort’s famous Shark Observation Experience, which allows participants to observe gatherings of reef and nurse sharks in clear water. Fishermen flock to Small Hope to stalk elusive bonefish on the island’s extensive sand flats, or head into the deep waters of the Tongue of the Ocean for trophy game fish. Guests can also use kayaks and paddleboards to explore the miles of creeks and bays that surround the resort, or put on walking shoes for a guided nature walk or birding tour.

The resort pier at Small Hope Bay is the starting point for fishing, diving and snorkeling trips to nearby reefs. Guests can also snorkel to shallow coral formations right from the beach. Photo: Small Hope Bay

There are no cruise ships. No high rises. No tourist clogged straw markets. Welcome to the Out Islands. This is a very different side of the Bahamas, one where traditional fishing villages are served by the weekly mail boat, cell phones may not work, and the stars can be seen each night from beaches far, far away from streetlights. If this is your idea of an ideal vacation, there are properties where you can indulge your desires for Out Island isolation while still enjoying a few upscale luxuries and plenty of exciting activities. Here are four of our favorites.

Abaco Club on Winding Bay

If you love the Abacos, join the club. That’s the opportunity offered to guests of this exclusive enclave. The Abaco Club is not a resort, but a private club where members can get away to golf, swim, play tennis and enjoy fine dining. Here, you are isolated from the outside world, as the property is set on a private peninsula on the southeastern shore of Great Abaco Island, overlooking 2.5 miles of deserted beaches and clear water. Members enjoy a wide range of water sports from paddle boarding, kayaking, Hobie Cat sailing, windsurfing, snorkeling and fishing. For the active minded, there are beach boot camps, a fitness center and tennis courts, and the on-site spa offers a full range of relaxing and rejuvenating treatments. The club’s attraction is the Scottish-style links course, created by renowned British golf course architects Donald Steel and Tom Mackenzie.

The one-bedroom cabanas at the Abaco Beach Club are available for rent. Each of these freestanding residences includes a screen porch, and easy access to the beach. Photo: Abaco Club

To share a taste of island life, the club welcomes visitors, who are free to enjoy all the club’s activities and amenities. Guests can choose from a range of rental accommodations that range from cozy one-bedroom cabanas and two to four-bedroom cottages, or even a grand oceanfront estate home. Private decks provide inspiring ocean views, and each fully equipped residence is positioned on the landscaped grounds to ensure privacy. Guests are provided with golf carts for easy access to all parts of the club’s grounds and facilities, and a dedicated staff is on call for any requests. The only requirement asked of guests is that after three visits, they must become a member or resident to continue to visit. For many, this seems a tempting offer after their first stay.

The Abaco Club’s club pool commands a prime site on Ocean Point ridge, with panoramic views of Winding Bay and the ocean. The neighboring observation deck is a favorite gathering point. Photo: Abaco Club

Resorts World Bimini

For decades, the small islands of Bimini were the exclusive playground of the boaters and big game fishermen. Most made the run from South Florida in private boats, and that changed with the opening of a large-scale resort complex on the island of North Bimini. The 750-acre development known as Resorts World Bimini includes private residences, villas, cottages and a 305-room hotel by Hilton. A centerpiece of the resort is the 10,000 square foot casino, which is the only one in the world with panoramic water views. There are four pools, including an infinity-edge rooftop oasis with panoramic views and full food and beverage service, to the family-friendly lazy river at ground level. Guests have nine restaurants and lounges to chose from, along with exclusive beach access to Paradise Beach, private cabana rentals, and numerous water sports activities to enjoy.

The five-story Hilton Hotel opened in 2016 as Bimini’s first large- scale, full-service resort. This family-friendly property includes a spa, a kids’ club, and a beachfront amphitheater. Photo: Resorts World Bimini

Guests arriving by water can dock right at the resort, which is now home to the largest marina complex in the Bahamas. There are actually two marinas. The one percent can dock their 200-foot showboats at the Mega Yacht Marina, while sport fishermen and family boaters will prefer the Fisherman’s Village Marina, which includes open air shopping venues and a dining promenade. No boat? No problem. Resort World is served by seaplane flights, conventional air service to the adjacent island of South Bimini and a daily fast ferry from Miami.

The rooftop infinity-edge pool at the Hilton looks out over the shallows of North Bimini Sound, which has long been a favorite destination for sport fishermen stalking bonefish. Resorts World Bimini

French Leave Resort, Eleuthera

The name of this unique resort comes from a traditional British expression meaning to escape without notice, which is what guests can do effortlessly when they arrive on the quiet island of Eleuthera. Here, it’s easy to fall into the lifestyle and openness of the Out Islands. The resort sits on 270 acres that includes an exclusive stretch of pink sand beach. Accommodations are limited to just 20 seaside cottages, which combine traditional Out Island architecture with a contemporary British West Indies décor. Each cottage includes all the amenities needed for a self-sufficient stay, including full kitchens and laundry facilities. But if cooking isn’t on the agenda, there’s also room service, and a personal golf cart to whisk you to the resort’s signature 1648 restaurant, or one of the eateries in the nearby village of Governor’s Harbor. A nice added touch is the in-room, on-demand iPad that allows for maximum beach and downtime, as guests can request everything from additional towels to lunches packed to go.

On the island of Eleuthera, the tidy Colonial-style cottages of French Leave Resort sit on immaculately landscaped grounds facing the Atlantic Ocean and the property’s private marina. Photo: French Leave Resort

Eleuthera is an island of deserted beaches and wild coastlines that are wonderful for long walks. There are small, authentic Out Island villages to explore, while activity seekers will find kayaks, snorkel gear and paddleboards on hand, right at the resort. So too is the marina that is the launching point for diving and fishing excursions. Two island favorites are horseback riding along the shoreline and cliff jumping into the clear water. For an authentic taste of Out Island life, guests can try the Friday night fish fry at Governor’s Harbour, check out the Historic Hanes Library or visit the Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve for some inside history and background on the island. It’s easy to become a local on this island.

With separate living and dining spaces, the cottages at French Leave Resort are more home than hotel room, and include everything needed for a comfortable and self-sufficient stay. Photo: French Leave

Coral Sands, Harbour Island

Small, colorful and far away from the crowds, Harbour Island has long been the favorite hush-hush escape in the Bahamas for the wealthy and well traveled. Many visitors rent private homes or villas, and spend days relaxing on the island’s famous pink sand beach. Of the limited number of small hotels that are available, a favorite is the Coral Sands. Fresh from a three million dollar renovation, this boutique eight-acre property now includes several additional ocean view cottages and a new soaking pool. In addition to these high-level renovations, interiors were refreshed with a modern, island theme that complements the property’s British Colonial style. Guests can opt for individual rooms, suites or a spacious two-bedroom cottage, all providing direct access to the beach.

At the Coral Sands resort on Harbour Island, the imagined Latitude 25 restaurant complements sea views with an innovative menu that pairs fresh and organic local foods with a premier wine list. Photo: Coral Sands

The Coral Sands is home to the Latitude 25 restaurant, which is noted both for it’s food and the open air dining terrace, which delivers sweeping views of the beach. At night the lights are dimmed, candles flicker, and Chef Ludovic Jarland serves Caribbean cuisine with a French flair. The resort is just steps away from the colorful cottages and small shops of Dunmore Town, and those who are able to resist the sirens song of the beach can venture to the west side of the island to charter a fishing boat, book a diving or snorkel trip, or just join the locals relaxing at the town dock. Getting to Coral Sands will require an island hopping flight, a taxi ride and then a boat trip across a sheltered lagoon. But as anyone who has visited this charming Out Island can attest, the reward is well worth the journey.

The new beachside cottages of the Coral Sands resort set rich wood tones and bright geometric accents against white walls and large windows, all designed to complement the water views. Photo: Coral Sands