The water was about five feet deep with a sandy bottom, about 70° and not very clear. We saw mostly sponges, a few small, sandy colored fish and a couple of small jellies. We were back in the boat in twenty minutes.
We passed places where the water over the reef was only a few inches, and wading birds were working the shallows.
Our second stop was at a mangrove island, which we kayaked around. The mangroves create land by growing in the shallows and retaining debris and trapping sand. The islands are home to birds. This one had pelicans, gulls and turkey vultures, but cormorants were the most common species. Other mangrove islands have different birds populations. One gap in the mangroves, ‘The Green Room’, was big enough for all six kayaks. We had a mini-lecture about black mangroves and red mangrove trees, how they deal with ocean salinity.
On the trip back to the dock at the hotel, we saw two parasails aloft, one with three people aboard. A new cruise ship had come in while we were sailing out.
After a quick lunch at a Papa Chichi’s Cuban Cafe, we napped until the Farewell Dinner.
Black skimmers at Margarita hotel also having a reunion.
Cruise ship staying in the middle of the channel.
The reef is only inches deep in places. A mangrove island in the distance.
Snorkeling on the reef.
Mangrove island inlet. 'The Green Room.'
Mangrove island.
Turkey vulture, looking for work.
Double-crested cormorant. Check out the blue eye.
Danger Charters ketch.
Looks like fun.
1 comment:
I’m old fashioned enough to want a hard copy of your observations to read and reread forever. You certainly made the most of your experience and lucky us that you are sharing it!
Post a Comment