Susan is in the yellow fins - mine are blue. She has the dark hair, mine is white...
We're in a cavern, maybe 35 feet across. It was filled with tiny fry, glistening in the filtered light.
Susan spotted this Lionfish. We learned that they are fierce predators of other fish species, are not native to the Bahamas, and have no natural enemies. Their spines are toxic. To protect the local species, divers are supposed to kill them whenever they find them. We didn't.
Susan and her pet barracuda -
Well, here it is Tuesday March 4th, and as we prepare Kingdom and ourselves to head over to Marsh Harbour, I realize that the cruising life exposes us to people, things and places that come to mean so much in so little time. It's been fantastic here in Guana Cay for a month, and although we haven't updated you all on our activities, we have been busy! Most significant is our Certification in Scuba Open Water Diving. This process includes confined water dives, videos, text work, exams and open water diving. Our adventures now includes up to 60 feet under the sea, and we are hooked! Since our forseeable future takes us into some of the worlds best diving environments, it seemed unlikely we'd be happy just skimming the surface, now all I need is the gear, since Terry Carron fitted Walt out with top of the line stuff, he's already set! So far we have been blessed to swim with a Caribbean Reef Shark, a poisonous Lion fish, an octopus, a school of hungry baracudas, every sort of aquarium fish, stingrays, and been completely surrounded in a cavern with millions of little tiny fry, seen huge tree sized corals, and sea fans as big as areca palms, along with gazillions of fish in the most brilliant colors imaginable. We need a book so we can start to identify all the marine life, but even not knowing the proper names, we are appreciating everything.
Sunday was a monumental day here on Guana Cay. "Barefoot Man" a local recording star with a Jimmy Buffet style, held a concert at Nippers. Every bar in town had something going on all weekend, and every mooring, anchorage, and dock slip was filled. Special ferries were hired to bring others over from the surrounding islands, and it was standing room only, and traffic jams on the tiny roads. Most people only drive golf carts here, and Walt and I are the local motorcycle gang. I thought the island might sink into the ocean! Fortunately, what happens on Guana stays on Guana so I can't tell you any more about the weekend! Suffice it to say, that a good time was had by ALL.
This afternoon we are planning to dine in the Marina Restaurant where our friend and very famous bartender Berkley has promised to make me Conch Salad for the last time. His recipe is better than anyones, and he indulges me with my special requests. After lunch we'll head over to the fuel dock and hoist up the scooters, then the dingy, and we'll be ready for a morning departure to Marsh Harbour.
Unfortunately, I have to delay our cruising plans a few days and fly to Palm Beach for some medical exams that my wonderful Dr. Rebecca Cook has ordered. I'm not really too disappointed because it will give me an opportunity to pick up some of the scuba gear I need. Upon my return, Walt should have the engine room looking like an operating room (right) and we'll take off for the next chain of islands; the Elutheras, followed by the Exumas, from there to Turks and Caicos, where we will make about a 100 mile passage to the Dominican Republic, and the 85 degree Caribbean! The upcoming segment of the journey should take us a couple weeks, which puts us in the Caribbean by April, so get out your atlas, and google the flights, this is something you don't want to miss.
We love you all, Susan & Walt
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