Protecting Place and Culture

The natural environment of The Bahamas and the Exuma cays are unlike any anywhere in the world. The only thing that rivals it is the incredible warmth and rich cultural heritage of its people. Turtlegrass Resort and Island Club actively works to celebrate and conserve both.

A Living Sampson Cay

Environmental conservation at Sampson Cay

The Exuma chain of islands is a spectacular, glistening ribbon of turquoise that NASA astronaut Scott Kelly has described as “the most beautiful place on earth from space”. Sampson Cay sits within this unique archipelago. From the awe-inspiring North Bay that borders the island to the north, to its rich terrestrial habitats, Sampson Cay is a refuge for an abundance of flora and fauna and also to those of us who seek tranquility and adventure amongst these natural wonders. We intend to keep it that way.

The North Bay

The North Bay of Sampson Cay is a spectacular natural channel on the northern coast of Sampson Cay, immediately beyond the primary beach at the Turtlegrass Resort and Island Club.

Within the North Bay lives the dense beds of turtlegrass that gives our resort its name. Seagrass is a vital food source for many species, a source of stabilisation within the seabed, and habitat for conch, fish and other wildlife. In the North Bay, you’ll also find healthy reefs home to species like the critically endangered Nassau grouper, sharks, rays, and sea turtles.

One of the greatest features of the bay is the powerful currents that provide a unique experience for snorkellers and divers to experience its beauty as they drift through the channel.

Underwater view of seaweed and large sea snail shells scattered on sandy ocean floor with clear blue water above.

We are committed to protecting this bay through thoughtful development and by standing up for it through our legal battle against Yntegra Group’s Rosewood Exuma project which would see it dredged and transformed into an industrial shipping channel.

learn about our battle

Green mangrove trees with exposed roots growing on sandy ground near a coastal wetland under a cloudy sky.

Beyond the bay

Life Above the Water

Almost every photograph of the Exumas is of its beautiful waters. But much of what makes Sampson Cay remarkable sits above the waterline, in its bush and coppice, its salt marshes, and the mangroves along its edges. Stands of red and black mangrove shelter juvenile fish and conch before they move out into the bay, anchor the shoreline against storm surge, and filter the runoff that would otherwise cloud the water and smother the seagrass beds. Inland, native bush and salt marsh feed and shelter resident tropical birds and the migratory species that pass through the Exumas each year.

Turtlegrass Resort has been purposefully designed to be a low-density, low-impact project that leaves most of the island as it is: a small built footprint, no dredging, native vegetation retained as much as possible, and nature trails that let guests move through these unique habitats rather than replace them.

Culture

Rooted in community. Driven by tradition.

The dream of developing Turtlegrass Resort and Island Club wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for the love that Bob, Jeanne and their family felt when they first visited The Bahamas almost 40 years ago. From our artist-in-residence program to the regattas that keep the tradition alive, we back the community around us. Today, helping communities and supporting traditional Bahamian culture is at the heart of Turtlegrass Resort.

Learn More About Bob's Giving

A group of people, mostly young men in casual clothing, stand outdoors near a large wooden structure under a roofed area, engaging in conversation and smiling.