Snorkeling in Grenada

 

We were in St. George, Granada which is breathtakingly beautiful.  I should preface this by saying that as a child, I happily snorkeled down the Ichetuknee, which is a completely clear fresh water river.  Unfortunately, when it comes to salt water, my track record is 0 for 3.  Reason #1: You can’t see very far and therefore will not have enough time to escape should any shark try to eat you.  Reason #2: Things grow bigger than you do.  For instance, sharks.  Reason #3:  Sharks.  On all occasions I have been in and out of the water in less than three minutes! 

First, we got onto a speedboat and zoomed out onto the open water.  Note to self: You are no longer allowed to watch horrifying programs about speed-boat accidents due to the gripping terror you feel in such a vehicle.  

The speedboat itself was really neat!  We straddled the seats as if we were riding horses. When we bounced relentlessly across the waves it even felt the same as riding a horse.  My leg muscles grew sore as I struggled to save my poor rump from the seats that were sadly not quite as comfortable as a saddle.  Fortunately, we arrived in one piece at our snorkeling destination!  Hooray! 

Due to our guide’s insistence that nothing in this protected cove was going to eat me, I donned my flippers and my scuba mask and slid from the side of the boat into one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve ever had in the water.  The fish were not bigger than I was, there were no sharks, and I could see very clearly because the water was gorgeous and crystalline.  Unfortunately, I had no underwater camera, and neither did anyone else on the tour, so the best memories will have to live solely in my head, but here is a picture of us above the water.

There were many bright fish and coral see.  We couldn’t get near enough to the fish to touch them, but it was fun to try.  There were also statues planted under the water to coax coral growth.  We took a guided tour through the waves, and I only drank a few mouthfuls of seawater.  Yuck!  I also think I had my mask on too tight as the impression remained in my forehead until the next morning.  Hopefully no one at our show that night noticed!  Ha!  

We finally swam back to the boat and returned our gear.  Then we sped off along the island slowing only when we pulled into various coves to see the buildings or forts.  The prison on the island has the best view out of any other place, and there were about six forts.  Anytime anyone took the island over, they built another fort where they had managed to sneak in and attack.  It was very interesting, but very hot!  

 

 When the tour was finished, it was apparently time to do donuts.  I white-knuckled my way through them, and fortunately, survived.  

Snorkeling for Caiman

 

Just kidding!  I would never snorkel in Caiman infested waters!  I did go Caiman hunting and snorkeling, but definitely not at the same time.  The crew had a planned excursion while we were still in the Amazon River; Caiman hunting!  

 We left on a party cruiser at 11PM and switched over to a small canoe-like craft about an hour later.  

 

 Our two guides spoke Portuguese, but thankfully Christiane our cruise consultant, who is from Brazil, was on our canoe and translated for us.  They drove us quietly down the river shining handheld flashlights towards the shore.  I thought that it would be a waste of time as I couldn’t see anything with their fading light, but then a gleam appeared reflecting the flashlight’s light back at us.  The Caiman’s eyes are reflective like a cat’s and light up like tiny little suns as soon as the light touches them!  We passed by one Caiman and the boat behind us pulled up to it.  Just a few minutes later, we spotted another.  We nosed up to the shore and our guide jumped out into the river and pulled us onto the beach. Crazy!  I was hyperventilating at the thought of dangling an arm over the water.  I think I’ve seen too many piranha/giant alligator movies.   He walked a ways down the pale sandy shore leaving us squirming in our seats trying desperately to follow his progress as his silhouette faded into black and his bouncing light grew dimmer and dimmer.  Suddenly, the light plummeted to the earth and you could see faint movement, but then nothing.  We all exchanged a wide eyed glance sure that our guide had met an untimely end.  Then, thankfully, the light returned to its former altitude and started bouncing its way back to us.  As he reached our craft, I saw with immense relief and a little chagrin that the Caiman he was holding wasn’t the gigantic 12ft beast I had feared, but a tiny cousin measuring maybe 2 feet in length. 

 I was completely at ease until he brought it into the boat for all of us to hold. 

 I went last and only due to peer pressure. 

 On a side note, my hair was perfectly straight when we had started this excursion. Hello humidity!  

 After we had our fill of gawking at and caressing this surprisingly soft creature, we turned our craft around and headed back toward our party boat.  Our in between was a floating gift shop where we got these; a wooden caiman whose tail you can move back and forth (very cool), and a recorder with piranha teeth!  I couldn’t resist. 

 

 After counting our fingers and toes and deciding we all had the same amount that we came with, we headed back to the ship.  This was definitely one of my favorite and most memorable excursions!