Thunderball Grotto is a limestone cave located between Staniel Cay and Big Major Cay in The Exuma island chain. It is only reachable by water and is an excellent place for snorkelers and divers to explore.
The grotto earned its name from the James Bond movie, Thunderball, and was later used as a film location for the Bond movie Never Say Never Again. This location also appeared in the movies Splash and Into the Blue. For this reason, it is quite a tourist destination, but it definitely worth seeing.
Thunderball Grotto looks ordinary from the sea, as just a plain limestone formation with water seeping into holes in the cave. But after a swim through one of the many cave entrances, you enter into an ecological wonder. The water inside the cave is rich in tropical fish and coral, and the walls of the cave are dripping with mosses, seagrass, and tiny organisms clinging to rocks. It truly is a spectacular sight, especially when sunbeams beat down through the large holes at the top of the dome and bounce off the inner walls of the rotunda.
We entered this cave at low tide so we didn’t have to swim under water to enter the cave, but that’s when everyone else decided to enter the cave as well, so it was a little crowded. Next time we might go shortly before low tide to try to beat the crowds. Unfortunately, when there are too many people inside, they stir up silt from the bottom and cloud the water. I imagine going on a day with calm seas would still the waters inside even more and make for greater visibility and maneuverability. Still, it was a great adventure! Enjoy our photos from this striking snorkeling spot.
We enjoyed swimming in Thunderball Grotto, taking in the beauty of the tropical fish and coral, and viewing this thriving pool inside an expansive cave. After getting a workout swimming gainst the current, we decided to head back to the boat, rinse off, make dinner, and watch the sunset. It never disappoints!
