Stella Maris Marina with sailboats docked in the protected basin and the resort buildings visible on the hillside above
Northern Long Island, The Bahamas

Stella Maris

The only full-service marina in the southern Bahamas, sheltered on Long Island's protected leeward shore with resort amenities and comprehensive marine services.

Stella Maris Marina occupies a protected basin on Long Island's northwestern shore, providing the only full-service marina in the southern Bahamas. The facility combines comprehensive marine services with resort amenities, making it an ideal headquarters for cruisers exploring the Out Islands or seeking repairs and provisioning far from the crowds of Nassau.

The marina's leeward position provides natural protection from prevailing easterlies, while the adjacent Stella Maris Resort Club offers restaurants, pools, dive shop, and airport access. For boats traveling between Florida and the Caribbean, or those ready for extended service work, Stella Maris delivers capabilities found nowhere else this far south.

Approach and Entry

The approach to Stella Maris Marina follows a marked channel from the Sea of Abaco. The channel marker buoy is located at coordinates 23 degrees 33.1 minutes North, 75 degrees 18.2 minutes West. Follow the channel carefully as depths outside the marked route can be marginal, particularly for deeper-draft vessels.

Vessels drawing more than six feet may enter near high tide with no prolonged east wind, which tends to reduce water levels. Contact the marina on VHF 16 before arrival to confirm conditions and slip availability. The marina basin provides protected dockage once inside.

Marina Facilities

Stella Maris Marina offers eighteen slips accommodating vessels up to 20-foot beam, plus eight alongside positions for boats exceeding 100 feet. Dockside utilities include water and electricity at 120V/30 amps or 240V/50 amps. Fuel services provide Exxon gasoline and diesel.

The facility's 75-ton marine railway can haul vessels up to 80 feet with drafts to six feet, including catamarans. Full-service mechanics handle engine work, fiberglass repairs, and general maintenance. Marine parts can be sourced locally or couriered from Nassau with short turnaround. These capabilities make Stella Maris the go-to facility for serious repairs in the southern Bahamas.

Resort Amenities

The adjacent Stella Maris Resort Club provides cruisers with amenities beyond typical marina offerings. Multiple restaurants serve fresh seafood and Bahamian cuisine, while three pools offer freshwater swimming. The resort maintains a PADI dive center with training pool, offering certification courses and guided dives on Long Island's spectacular wall and reef systems.

Accommodations range from hotel rooms to multi-bedroom villas for cruisers seeking a break from boat life. The resort can arrange fishing charters, island tours, and car rentals for exploring Long Island's beaches, caves, and blue holes. Stella Maris Airport, adjacent to the resort, provides scheduled Bahamasair service and charter flights for crew changes.

Nearby Cruising

Stella Maris is ideally positioned for exploring both northern and central Long Island. Thompson Bay and the cruiser community at Salt Pond lie approximately 25 miles south, an easy day's run down the protected western shore. Cape Santa Maria and the anchorages at Calabash Bay and Joe's Sound are closer, roughly 15 miles north.

The marina also serves as a waypoint for passages to Cat Island (30 miles east), the Exumas (25 miles west), or continuing south toward the Jumentos Cays and the Caribbean. Provisioning stores, liquor, and general supplies are available within one mile of the marina.

Getting there

Stella Maris Marina is located on Long Island's northwestern shore, approximately 25 miles north of Thompson Bay and 15 miles south of Cape Santa Maria. Approach via the marked channel from the Sea of Abaco, following the channel marker at 23 degrees 33.1 minutes North, 75 degrees 18.2 minutes West. Contact the marina on VHF 16 before arrival to confirm depths and slip availability, particularly for vessels drawing more than six feet.

Frequently asked questions

Can Stella Maris Marina haul out my catamaran?
Yes, the 75-ton marine railway accommodates catamarans up to 80 feet in length with drafts to six feet. Contact the marina in advance to confirm specifications and schedule haulout services.
Is fuel available at Stella Maris?
Yes, the fuel dock provides Exxon gasoline and diesel along with lubricants. Fresh fuel is delivered regularly by barge. Contact the marina on VHF 16 to arrange fueling.
Can I fly into Stella Maris for a crew change?
Yes, Stella Maris Airport is adjacent to the resort and marina. Bahamasair operates scheduled flights, and charter service is available for more flexible scheduling. The resort can arrange ground transportation between the airport and marina.