US Spanish Virgin Islands - La Cordillera, Cayo Icacos
SV Meshugga
Nicholas & Deidre Mace
Sun 19 Jan 2020 16:18
We were told that the La Cordillera Islands are stunning, and diving good, and one of the Top 5 things to do, so we charted the most western island, Cato Icacos, as it was convenient stopover on our route to Puerto Rico, San Juan.
On arriving at Cato Icacos, being relatively close to the eastern coast of Puerto Rico, we found it also to be a Top spot for Day Charters. But the beach was white and clean, and beautiful, and not that busy, as the Charter Yachts spent part of the day at the beach, and then moved to buoys so that the guests could snorkel.
Why the long face....
Meshugga at anchor with some of the smaller charter boats which are snorkeling on the reef.
We did the same, tying our dinghy to a buoy close to the reef, and spent a couple of hours in the water.
Clarity was good, not excellent, and the sea life well worth the dive.
Jelly fish. I only saw 3, so not too concerned about getting stung, and they were big, about 20cm diameter
Trumpet fish, his mouth opens to the diameter of his body to suck prey in.
Large Lobster, he was wary, but not that concerned about us, as he moved from cave to cave. Says good things about the area being a Marine Reserve, and that Tour operators are enforcing snorkelers not to touch or scare the fish.
Out and about. Would have been easy to catch him.
Blue Tang at a Cleaning Station. He is hanging vertically in the water, with mouth and gills open so that the Cleaner Wrasse (little yellow fish) can eat the parasites out of his mouth and gills. Fun Fact:Juveniles are Yellow, Adults are Blue.
Excellent Brain Coral specimen.
Huge school of fish at our dinghy buoy. I can see Blue Tang, Back and Yellow striped Sargent Majors and Yellow Goatfish (white fish with a yellow stripe)
Take Care
Deidre Mace
SV Meshugga
E: Deidre {CHANGE TO AT} Mace {DOT} co {DOT} za
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