November 11, 2017 - Hol Chan Reserve

Today we did an organised snorkel tour. We left at 09:30 and went to a number of sites.

The first one was an impromptu stop with the manatees. Although it is out of season for them and we were advised there might be none, the boat stopped when they saw one, and after we had entered the water we saw there was a group of five or six. I filmed the group, including bubbles from one particular beast with flatulence. Due to the rules in the reserve, none of the group approached more than five metres to the animals.

The second place we went was a short swim in the local area above what was known as a wreck but appeared to be purposefully sunk pontoon barge.

The third place was a conch shell heap in comparatively shallow water. Apparently, the local fishermen had, for years, been cleaning their catch of conch in this area and dumping the shells.

Fourth. The channel on the reef in the Hol Chan reserve. we were able to swim in the shallower water on the circumference of the channel. In the channel itself it was about nine metres deep. The tour leader from the boat showed us a few special things, including a green moray eel which he seemed to have a familiarity with. I chased it at a distance for a little to get some pictures.

Shark Gully was the fifth location. Where there were a large number of nurse sharks. During this dive the go pro battery went flat. The water was shallow and there were other creatures such as rays and larger boney fish.

The sixth and final swimming stop was an area known as the coral garden. This was the best site for small fish life and it was a pity I didn’t have a good camera to use as there were many of them, as colourful as any found in aquariums.

After that the two guys of the crew gave out rum punch and took us for a slow extended cruise around the island including a spot where Tarpon live. Apparently the Tarpon will leap for items held just above the water surface, including hands. I saw them leap up to 40 cm and they took a couple of nips of my hand. One even took Ursulas fingers up to the palm, luckily they don’t have proper teeth.

Posted on February 10, 2022 12:05 AM by kittsw