BVI's 24th-26th March N18:19.89 W64:37.76
Tioram 4
Tina & Tony
Sat 10 Apr 2010 12:43
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BVI's 24th --26th March.
We realised having viewed the previous blog that we
had missed out the word ' Ciguatera' the poison carried in Barracuda
fish making them inedible after a certain size.
After our fun night and few days with
the Dreamcatcher crew we said our goodbyes, see photo of Tony saying 'bye'
-----how many people can you get in a small dinghy ???
Our last couple of days in the BVI's were spent enjoying
the fabulous water quality. We took a buoy off Pelican Island, a marine
conservation area, which felt uncomfortably close to the rocks but the
buoys are safe and provided by the BVI authorities . The
snorkeling was second to none and we managed to get some great underwater shots.
Fabulous coloured fish who were very inquisitive and thankfully without teeth
!
Our other mooring was just on the shore of Virgin
Gorda near a series of huge granite boulders which tumble into
the sea called 'The Baths'. The rocks form walk ways and caves on shore and into
the water, again making excellent snorkeling areas. We swam from the boat to the
shore and back----great with new fins. On our return as the water dropped to
about 30 ft we saw an enormous ray lying on the bottom in the sand. We have seen
smaller ray, say 3ft across, swimming and remarkably jumping out of the
water-----which makes me wonder what on earth is chasing it ??
This guy was something else, must have been 6ft across
without exaggeration. Tony swam over it with the intention of taking a
photo --I moved along quickly. Tony decided not to get too close as we could
both see its large domed eye moving around looking ominously at us, even at
30ft depth. Tony took a photo without flash ---you may be able to make it
out.
Our last day was spent in Marina Cay again, a lovely dot
of an island with moorings and great anchor space. We snorkeled again to the
reef which was beautiful and shallow and again took photos. The rewards of a
reef which is surrounded by open water is obvious---clarity, live coral,
colourful fish---- but sadly on one of my 360 degree checks for anything
larger--- 2 barracudas had obviously followed us from the deeper water where we
swam from the boat . I hid behind Tony, sucking as much air as is possible
through a snorkel tube and yes sadly found that it really isn't possible to walk
on water. The barracuda swam closely up to us and was about 3 ft long
and they have visible pillar-like teeth---- thankfully our movement or my
sucking air and sea water scarred it away------.
Marina Cay has an interesting history, it was home to Robb
and Rodie White who lived there in the late 1930's as newlyweds. They wrote
about their life on the island,' Our Virgin Island,' which became a best selling
book in 1953. It was later produced as a film with Sidney Poitier, 'Virgin
Island', so we have the DVD to watch.
Our friends who have already chartered in the BVI's will
know the joys of the islands. We had a fantastic time there and certainly hope
to go again sometime. For a holiday it has everything in close proximity and
numerous moorings for comfortable nights. For the traveller the only
disadvantages are bays which are covered in buoys preventing anchoring as the
buoys end where its too deep to anchor and we found the groceries
and eating out expensive. However, its a beautiful place and not to be
missed.
Photos attached of our goodbye to Dreamcatcher crew (Tony
in dinghy), Pelican Island snorkeling, The Baths ( Boulders) and
Stingray, Cooper Island ( Bay at sunset) and Marina Cay.
love to all
Tina and Tony x x x
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