To Green Turtle Cay's north lies Manjack Cay (Chart). At it's northern end you will find the quintessential white sand beach one only dreams about, and where we often go. At it's southern end two smaller cays Fiddle & Crab seem to have broken away from Manjack. It's hard to notice their separation until up close. They make for interesting exploration and have beautiful beaches too. The northern end of Fiddle has a great beach and is a short hop from G.T. We often go there and wade the pass between Fiddle and Crab Cay. You'll see its beautiful white sandbar upon approach. But don't anchor over it if the tide is going out - stay slightly to its south in the grassy deeper water. Fiddle Cay is the location of the annual Stranded Naked party which kicks off the Regatta Season in July (drone image). Don't let the name fool you though, it is actually a major Abaco event and a fun-for-all happening for kids too. With the exception of when the party is taking place, you'll probably be the only folks there.
Furthure north on Manjack, around the first point north of the pass separating it from Crab Cay you'll see a creek that leads into the heart of Manjack. It's the home of many turtles and makes for some interesting dinghy / small rental boat (13-15 ft) exploration. Play it safe, and go at high tide. (Chart).
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The island to the south of Green Turtle Cay is Noname Cay. It's northern end and closest point to GTC, has a another beautiful crescent beach running from west to north and whose bottom is a patch work of sea grass, sand and flat coral rock bottom. Just go slow getting to the beach. Behind was a beautiful stand of Casuarina's trees. Not sure their status after Dorian. It was a favorite spot of ours and town folk too for picnicking. It's about the same size as Green Turtle Cay and had been uninhabited except for a few over friendly pigs which have become full time residents of NoName. As a result they have become a tourist attraction doing away with the once tranquil and undisturbed nature of the island.
With the pigs already attracting numerous boats, in early 2019 there opened a Restaurant and Bar, why not. The restaurant is named Big O and was destroyed by Dorian later that summer. Despite COVID, it was refurbished, reopened and in full swing by spring 2021.
Big O is an eco friendly bar and restaurant on this otherwise uninhabited island, which implies they make their own water and electricity. May 2021, long time visitor “AbacoBrad” arrived by boat from Fla. He was overheard saying "I stand by my prediction Big O's will be the most famous bar and grill on the planet!" See video.
As for the Pigs, they belong to local folks whom on occasion thin out their numbers. Nobody seems to notice that. Still, this writer and many others find this "attraction" so out of character. Petting a resident stingray is one thing, but pigs and brown water we can do without.
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Heading south from Noname Cay you come to an area of some repute. It's called the Whale Cay Passage. It is what separates Green Turtle from the other major cays and Marsh Harbour to its south. Whale Cay, is just another uninhabited cay in the chain the borders the eastern edge of Great Abaco. It is not worth a visit. The difference is there is considerable shoaling on the inside of Whale Cay preventing larger craft and sailboats from passing on the protected Abaco Sound side.
They have to head out in the ocean around the cay and back in. ". Small power craft don't generally have this problem except in strong off shore winds and or swells which at times can be considerable and given the name "The Abaco Rage". First timers should be aware of the latter and, be sure to use the chart found in the Abaco Cruising Guide mentioned earlier. This inside passage is called the "Don't Rock Passage" for the large rock in the middle. It's a pretty sight. Just to the West of Whale Cay and Don't Rock lies Treasure Cay............
