Posted on 03/28/2023

Explore Eleuthera With Exotic Excursions 242

There's boundless adventure to be had on Eleuthera - but you have to know where to look. For that, it helps to have an inside track.

Eleuthera Vacation Rentals commonly refers our guests to a captain who knows the island like his own back yard (because, well, it is). Captain Sheldon, owner/founder of Exotic Excursions 242, is a 5th generation Caribbean native.

"Most people feel more comfortable when they have a local guy showing them around. We grew up here - we know the waters, all the secret spots," said Captain Sheldon. "Some people rent a boat and want to do their own thing, but I tell them, 'For your first time at least, it's safer - and usually a lot more successful - if you go with a local tour guide.'"

Sheldon takes visitors on incredible, memory-making outings to revel in:

  • Swimming with sea turtles
  • Playing with friendly, wild pigs
  • Diving for fresh lobster
  • Snorkeling amid shipwrecks
  • Rope swing jumping
  • Beachfront dining
  • Bonefishing
  • Reef fishing
  • Caving
  • Deep sea angling
  • Sandbar & sandbank tours and picnics
  • Weddings
  • Seaside or boat picnics with fresh-caught, grilled lobster & tasty sides (including fresh conche ceviche - made right on site, with Captain Sheldon's special recipe of diced, local citrus, tomatoes, onions, and bright array of vegetables).

Visitors have the freedom to make each experience uniquely their own - selecting the sites they most want to explore & close-up encounters they most want to share.

"So many people tell us that their day exploring out on the boat with us was the best day of their vacation," Sheldon said. "And that's really always what this has been about."

A Dream Come True on the Ocean Blue

Before Captain Sheldon earned the title "captain," he was just a kid in the Caribbean dreaming of ways he could make a living doing what he loved - making waves on the turquoise waters, deep sea fishing, soaking up the sunshine, and having fun.

He always knew he wanted to be behind the wheel of a boat. After school, he drove a taxi, then a ferry boat, before buying shares in a lobster boat venture. Six week stretches were spent 200 miles from home, commercially fishing the spiny, warm water red lobster. That worked well for a while, but he missed his family terribly.

In 2019, he launched Exotic Excursions 242 (with 242 being a wink to the Bahamas' telephone code). At first, it was part side hustle, part pipe dream. But the more tours he booked, the more positive reviews he garnered, the less he needed to rely on commercial fishing to tread water financially. By 2021, he was devoted full-time to his dream endeavor. Wife Sasha is his "best first mate," and he hopes someday their two children - a son & daughter - will want to take the wheel.

Exotic Excursions 242 offers adventures on 4 different boats, including a Venture 34 that seats 20, a Boston Whaler 320 Outrage that seats up to 20, and a Sea Pro that seats 8-10. Captain Sheldon describes his "office" as "the best in the whole world."

"Loving what you do and where you are - that can't help but shine through," he said. "I love taking people out and giving them a good time, showing them how I grew up, letting them see how we live down here, and just making sure everyone has a lot of fun while they're on vacation."

Read on for What to Know if You Go from the team at Exotic Excursions 242.

What to Know if You Go

Interested in booking an adventure with Exotic Excursions 242? Some tips to keep in mind:

  • Book well in advance. Captain Sheldon recommends booking your excursion as soon as you book your vacation rental and your flights. This is especially true if you're booking during a busy season time or holiday. Spring break (March & April), as well as May and June are typically peak times for excursions, as are November, December, and early January.
  • Know your limitations. Excursions can be tailored to all ages and abilities, but being able to get in and out of the boat safely is important to safely enjoying your time. And while the 7-hour excursion is the most popular, there are shorter, 4-hour trips for those who may not last an entire day adventuring.
  • Spell out your expectations and special conditions in advance. The team at Exotic Excursions wants to make everyone's trip phenomenal! If someone in your group has certain limitations or allergies or if you're hoping to do something in particular (or avoid certain activities), give us a heads-up and let's talk about it!
  • Plan to arrive a few minutes early, if possible. Half-day tours wrap after 4 hours so we can be time for the next tour group. We don't want anyone to miss out, so make sure you show up on time & ready to rock!

For more information or to book a tour, email exoticexcursions242@gmail.com or visit exoticexcursions242.com.

Ready to book a place to stay? Eleuthera Vacation Rentals has the perfect place for you to post up! Contact us today to learn more!