Day Four - Under the Sea

Day Four – Under the Sea

One of the design problems of an eastern-facing house that was built to maximize your view, is that you will not sleep in on a sunny morning. So far, every morning has been sunny, and we’ve been up by 7:30 or earlier each day.  That seems to be fine with both of us, especially since we haven’t seen 11pm, yet, either. I’m all about maximizing daylight!

So, it’s another “whitecaps in your coffee” morning (back off, Carly Simon), but our plan is to hit the Caribbean side for some gangster snorkeling in Rainbow Bay. I do hope, however, that this wind dies down, and that we can go enjoy some of the Atlantic-side beaches. Maybe this afternoon, it’ll mellow out.

Unlike yesterday, when an entire busload of Bahamas Habitat Mission workers were swimming and snorkeling at Rainbow, we were the first ones there at 9:30.  It was low tide, but we didn’t let that discourage us. I finally got Krista geared up with a mask and fins that fit, and, promising that I would NOT leave her side, we went in the water. Almost immediately, we were greeted in the shallows by two needlefish and a two-foot long barracuda.   Krista didn’t care for that too much, so we moved away to where the little, pretty fish were hanging out.

We worked our way along the southern rim of the bay, all along the rocky overhang, and as it got deeper, the fish got bigger and more colorful. Just at the tip of the bay where it meets the open Caribbean, we saw at least one VERY big fish – not a shark, but a good three foot long grouper or something, it spooked before we could get a good look at it, and that was Krista’s cue to get the hell back to shore.  But I went back to the point later to see what I could see. It was later in the day, hotter, and the fish seemed to be hiding, mostly, but the colors of the coral and plant life on the reef were incredibly beautiful. I took photos and video with my camera in a waterproof pouch. It worked OK.  When I get a better connection, I’ll try to post more.

VIDEO:  Rainbow Bay Coral

VIDEO: Rainbow Bay Crab

Soon, we were waterlogged and sun-baked, so we went home for cool showers and a bite to eat.  Then, adventure number two: FIND THE FISH!   (O fishy, fishy, fishy, fish!) We wanted to get some fresh fish for dinner, so we piled in the Suzuki something-or-other and headed south toward Tarpum Bay.  I’d heard about how this quaint fishing village sells frash fish from the docks in the afternoon, so that was our destination.  Problem one:  it was a LOT further away than I had anticipated, and problem two: because the seas were so rough today, they only had conch – no fish. So we headed back to GH, stopped by Island farm for produce and some amazing black bean salsa, and then checked out the docks on Governor's Harbour. FOUND THE FISH!  Well, the men selling had one large grouper left...and two different tourist customers.  We agreed to split the fish, which is good, because I'm quite sure that we got the tourist price - $60 for the whole grouper.  A big one, but....

 Well, blogging at the library, then home for cocktails and fish tales....tails.....?????

Tomorrow...Club Med, Twin Coves,  and the Beach House Bar?