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Walker’s has been closed now for ten years, but I am leaving up this review for you to see what this little jewel of a dive destination was and hopefully will be again. It is currently for sale, I am told, for $10 million. Someone will eventually reopen what is definitely one of the finest dive areas in the caribbean. You can still visit by boat and customs still maintains an office on the airstrip. Walker’s Cay in the Bahamas has had one of the most interesting pasts for such a small island. It has been the resort getaway of Presidents such as Nixon who frequented the island. The island is nothing more than a small airstrip with hotel and docks to accommodate the world renowned fishing tournaments which took place annually.
The short but serviceable airstrip was built by the US military after World War II. It seems there was a German scientist who needed a place to do research but the anti Nazi sentiment following the war didn’t make bringing German scientists into the US an acceptable decision. Hence, the US government set up this tiny island for rocket research by von Braun till the social climate would allow him safe ingress to the US mainland.
The area where von Braun did his tests from has been a greenhouse which provided veggies and decorative flora for the island. They even sold some to Freeport and other islands. Obviously, Walker’s is no longer available, but if you have a private aircraft, it is still possible to visit as the customs station is still being manned. If you really want to visit some of the reef, you can get a local to take you out in his boat, but you have to have all your gear including full tanks so it wouldn’t be easy. Of course, there is still the option to go over on a private boat. It definitely is worth the trip.
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