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Arthur's Town, Orange Creek, Cat Island, Southern Bahamas

The chart and following text are from The Northern Bahamas Guide and The Southern Bahamas Guide , both by Stephen J. Pavlidis

Arthur’s Town and Orange Creek

Arthur’s Town-½ nm SW of:
24º 36.80’ N, 75º 41.20’ W

North of Bennett’s Harbour is Arthur’s Town, the commercial center of Cat Island with an 8,000’ long airstrip.  Arthur’s Town was raided by the Spanish in the 1700’s and later in that century was settled by Loyalists from America.  It is said that Sydney Poitier lived here for a time as a child. 

Navigational Information
Boats heading to Arthur’s Town from Alligator Point or Bennett’s Harbour have deep water all the way with few obstructions save a few shallow heads very close inshore.  The 200’ Batelco tower makes and excellent landmark day or night.  A waypoint at 24º 36.80’ N, 75º 41.20’ W, will place you approximately ½ mile southwest of Arthur’s Town.  Vessels can anchor anywhere, north or south of Arthur’s Town as shown on Chart CT-7, the water is deep and the holding good.  This is a lee anchorage, prevailing winds only.

What You Will Find Ashore
You can land your dinghy in the small basin near the large coconut grove by the Batelco tower, or you can tie to the town dock as long as it’s not being used. At the head of the town dock is the Commissioner’s Office and the police station.  These buildings sit right on the large grassy town square called Christie Park.  Surrounding the square you will also find the post office, the Batelco office, the school, and a clinic.  Nearby is the Lover’s Boulevard Disco and Satellite Lounge, the Hard Rock Cafe Restaurant and Bar, Boggy Pond Bar, Jabon Convenience Store and Car Rental, Campbell’s Big Bull Food Store, Family Market, Gina’s Takeaway, Nancy’s Takeaway, E & K Takeaway, Dean’s Inn, and In The Mud.  The pink building with concrete steps leading down to the waterfront just north of the town dock and the school is Pat and Dell’s Cookie Center Restaurant and Takeaway.  Here you can pick up some excellent baked goods and owner Patrick Rolle also rents scooters. 

If you need a mechanic or if you just need something welded or fabricated, visit Captain Black’s Welding.  The first weekend in May finds Arthur’s Town hosting the Annual Heritage Festival, an exhibit of historical artifacts while the first weekend in August you’ll find the annual Cat Island Regatta in full swing. 

The northernmost settlement on Cat Island is Orange Creek, which received its name from the color of the creek when certain light and bottom conditions exist.  You can anchor just off the mouth of the creek in 8’’-14’ of water as shown on Chart CT-7.  Some of this bottom is rocky so pick a good sandy spot to drop your hook.  Just west of the mouth of Orange Creek is a beautiful long beach that makes for an excellent anchorage in northerly winds.

Orange Creek is important for cruisers because it has a gas station with one of the island’s few mechanics.  There are two new hotels in Orange Creek, the Sea Spray Inn and the Orange Creek Inn, both of whom sell groceries and ice while the Orange Creek Inn also offers a laundry.  In town you’ll also find a clinic, a post office, Magnolia’s Bar, and Seymore’s Bayside Grocery, and CJ’s Eatery.  The Orange Creek Food Store also has washers and dryers on site if you need to do your laundry while anchored here; they can also send and receive faxes for you.

Orange Creek itself has waters that are in some places up to 6’ deep but the bar at the entrance restricts entry boats with drafts of less than 3’ at high water.  The creek has a few scattered wrecks along with some fishing boats anchored inside.  As Orange Creek shallows, in return for the loss of depth one gains some excellent bonefishing grounds.  Inland, Orange Creek boasts two blue holes whose levels rise and fall with the tide.  Their most famous blue hole is known as the Bad Blue Hole.  This blue hole, off Dickies Road behind Orange Creek, is said to be home to a ferocious monster who likes to eat horses.  It has been said that a man and his dog out hunting near this blue hole disappeared thus adding fuel to the fire of the legend.  Orange Creek is also home to the Griffin Cave, a spelunker’s delight.  Northward, after the road runs out, sits a lonesome two-story house at Man O’ War Bluff.  The structure looks as if it is haunted and it is said to be.

Vessels can round Orange Creek Point to anchor at Port Royal in 7’-10’ of water with beautiful beaches and a good holding sand bottom as shown on Chart CT-7.  This spot is excellent in northeast to east winds.  At Man O” War Point is a large cave right at sea level, definitely worth a dinghy ride.  North of Man O’ War Point is one of Cat Island’s most beautiful beaches.  The beach is inaccessible by road but not by dinghy.   About a mile from Man O” War Point you will see a coconut palm grove.  Here you will find the Drip Cave, said to be a Lucayan cave.

At the extreme northwestern tip of Cat Island, north of Man O’War Point, is an extensive reef system that offers fantastic opportunities for fishing, snorkeling, and SCUBA diving.  A word of warning, the locals say that there are a lot of sharks on the reef so use caution.  I only dove on the reefs four times over the years and never saw any sharks, but that doesn’t mean that they didn’t see me.        

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