Pablo's Plane

The famous airplane wreck at Norman’s Cay is one of the most talked-about snorkeling spots in The Bahamas. The aircraft, a Curtiss C-46 Commando, crashed here in 1981 during the drug-smuggling era when Norman’s Cay was reportedly used by associates of Pablo Escobar. Instead of being removed, the plane was left where it sank, and over time it became part of the marine landscape. Today, it sits in shallow, crystal-clear water, making it one of the easiest wreck sites to explore. You don’t need to be a diver — beginner snorkelers of all ages can swim right over it and see the entire structure from the surface. That accessibility is part of what makes it so popular. There are several plane wrecks scattered throughout the Exuma Cays, but this one is the largest and by far the most well-known. What I love about it is the contrast — a machine once tied to a dark chapter of history now resting peacefully, covered in marine growth, surrounded by fish, and slowly being reclaimed by the ocean. It’s a reminder that no matter the story above water, nature always takes things back in its own time.