Snow Angels of the Caribbean

Yes, it is November 

After sailing north from Devil’s Island with a stop in Bridgetown for a spot of shopping at Cricket Legends of Barbados, we arrived in Martinique for a day of snorkeling. 

It didn’t disappoint when we dropped anchor at the snorkelling location - azure waters were lapping up on a quiet beach scattered with colourful fishing boats lying to one side on the sand.  The tropical rainforest that swept up the mountainous hillsides beyond the beach was green in the extreme, providing a picture perfect contrast to the bright blue water. 

Into the water we go ...

Taking a break from observing the underwater world we floated on our backs with our arms and legs outstretched relishing the warmth.  

The thought of winter weather at home made us feel like Caribbean snow angels (pardon the oxymoron) as we bobbed in the salty water.

The Bat Cave

Moving on to the next snorkeling location we jumped into deeper water and swam into "the bat cave".

Creepy though it sounds, we were amazed at the noise coming from the darker alcoves within the cave.

Occasionally an errant bat relocated itself amongst the masses with much flapping and squabbling.  The bats didn’t seem particularly bothered by our presence.  Meanwhile, underwater, shoals of Sergeant Major fish darted to the right and left of us, the sun catching their beautiful silver, black and yellow markings in the shimmering water.

The Baths

And then it was on to the British Virgin Islands and a stop at Virgin Gorda - the Naked Virgin.  So named by Columbus because he thought the Island’s outline appeared to resemble a naked woman lying on her side.  Obviously a sailor who had spent way too much time at sea. 

Today the focus of our attention was The Baths and it didn’t disappoint. 

Walking through the rock formations

The golden sand was lapped energetically by a strong tide that crashed over haphazardly shaped rocks and boulders.  The water was heavenly.  We clambered through the narrow gaps between the massive boulders until we reached Devil’s Cave and watched in awe as the tide swept into tunnels and grottoes created by the rock formations.

A snow angel

Daylight poked through here and there. The sun created a momentary sparkle on the water before it disappeared into the dark recesses of the tidal pools.  Knee deep in water, we hauled ourselves over the rocks with the aid of a rope that had been attached to the rock face.  The trek continued, up and down, in and out of the rocks until we reached another beach area, equally as attractive as the first.

Another snow angel

And then it was on to our final port of call in the Dominican Republic.  A small group of us enjoyed a catamaran ride to Catalina Island for snorkelling.

The water was deep and the waves a little too strong to really enjoy the underworld today and once the seawater made its way into my snorkel it was time to jump back on board the cat.

"I am SO happy" she kept saying

Its amazing how a good rum punch can alter the mood of things.  Sitting in the forward netting of the catamaran with the waves lapping below and full sail above, many stories were shared of our last three weeks together on our journey to the Amazon. 

The islands and many beach breaks going to and from the Amazon had provided the perfect contrast on our trip.  But now the time had come to go home and be real snow angels.