Map/Chart > The Bahamas

Conception Island

This beautiful little survey shows as much detail as to the approaches of this Island as is possible, along with an Historic shipwreck

Further Information

Read the full Chart History here:

This previously unpublished survey of this small Island, and her reefs, rocks and anchorages provides a tantalizing clue as to the location of one of the best and most closely guarded ship wrecks in the Bahamas.

Conception island is, today, an important sanctuary for an enormous variety of birds, fish, turtles and coral. It is a rookery for nesting seabirds and hatching site for green turtles. The Island is uninhabited and protected as a Bahamas National Land and Sea Park and is favored as allocation for passing yachts and cruising vessels looking for an overnight anchorage off the island's north west coast.

The survey shows the location of fresh water wells and, apparently, some fortification on the island The survey is undated and unattributed but the shipwrecks marked on the chart are unquestionably those of the the British frigate H. M. S. Southampton of 32 guns which was Captained by Sir James Lucas Yeo, and that of the 14 gun American Brig, 'Vixen' which she had in tow. Both ships went down on the reef on the 27th November 1812. A full account of this incident may be may be read at Lippold Hake's excellent account of his dive on the wreck (please right-click this link an open in a new window): Southampton & Vixen Also, well worth reading is the account of the capture of the vixen and the subsequent treatment of its crew, included at the end of the article.