Coral Harbour
Coral Harbour anchorage · South Providence anchorage
24°59.28'N 77°28.02'W
Depth
2–4m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
70m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
70m
70m for good holding on sand/mud in 2–4m. The inner basin is small — keep alarm tight to stay within the deep water area. 0.8m tidal range is critical here given the shallow depths — anchor in the deepest part of the basin and set a conservative alarm. Rising tide entry strongly recommended for draft vessels.
About This Anchorage
Coral Harbour on New Providence's south coast is a small, enclosed basin that offers exceptional all-round protection — one of the few genuinely sheltered anchorages on the island away from the commercial harbour. The basin is used by local Bahamian fishing vessels and a small community of liveaboard cruisers. The Royal Bahamas Defence Force has a base here, and the harbour has a small boat yard and repair facility. For cruisers who want to stay on New Providence but escape the cruise ship madness of Nassau Harbour, Coral Harbour offers quiet, secure anchoring. The entrance channel is narrow and shoal — enter on a rising tide with depths carefully checked. The 0.8m tidal range is very significant in this shallow basin. Nassau downtown is 8nm by road (taxi) or dinghy — not a practical daily trip but manageable for provisioning runs.
Protected From
N · NE · E · SE · S · SW · W
Exposed To
NW
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free anchoring
- Permit required
- Yes — Cruising Permit ~$300/3 months
Restrictions: Cruising Permit required; Royal Bahamas Defence Force base in harbour — do not approach restricted military dock; enter on rising tide only for draft over 1.2m; narrow entrance channel requires careful navigation.
Hazards
- !Shallow entrance channel — draft over 1.6m not recommended; enter only on rising tide; 0.8m tidal range makes this critical
- !Narrow channel — requires careful visual navigation; contact local vessels on VHF 16 for current conditions
- !Royal Bahamas Defence Force base — restricted military zone in part of the harbour; stay in the public anchorage area
- !No facilities — carry all provisions; Nassau is 8nm and requires ground transport
- !Northers can bring NW wind component — the one direction with limited protection; monitor forecasts Nov–Apr
Skipper's Tips
- →Coral Harbour is the best anchorage on New Providence for riding out a norther — almost completely enclosed from all directions
- →Enter the narrow channel only on a rising tide and with someone on the bow watching for shoal water
- →The Royal Bahamas Defence Force base personnel are generally friendly to visiting yachts — respect the military zone and you will have no issues
- →Arrange provisioning runs to Nassau by taxi ($25–30 each way) — worth doing a major stock-up before heading to the Exumas
- →The 0.8m tidal range creates a notable current in the entrance channel — time your departure at slack water
Facilities
No facilities at Coral Harbour for visiting yachts. Small local community. Nassau Yacht Haven and downtown Nassau accessible by taxi (~25 minutes) for provisioning and fuel.
Nearest provisions: Nassau downtown (taxi 25 min) or Nassau Yacht Haven (8nm N) (8nm)
Best Months & Season
Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
November–May. Excellent storm shelter — used by local fishermen to ride out northers. Best choice for extended New Providence stay away from Nassau's commercial traffic.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 70m
Nassau's 0.8m tidal range and cruise ship wake mean conditions change continuously. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position through every tide cycle — so you can explore Nassau with complete peace of mind.
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