SOTB III : Day 7- The Rhone/Francis and town for the rest

sea-nile · Post by **sea-nile** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 1:24 pm

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Wounderwoman, Sea-nile and Maggy were up early for their biggest day of planned diving. We drove to Cruz Bay boarded the LowKey dive boat and headed to the British Virgin Islands where we cleared customs and headed onto the HMS Rhone. It was a two tank dive with longer interval between dives because of the 80 foot depth. It was great! We saw a GIANT green moray eel that was as big as a person. Once we were back on board, the dive master said it was the biggest she had ever seen! We also saw 5 foot barracuda and another barracuda that was over 3 feet long and in very close proximity as we snorkeled off Salt Island on our lunch break. The boat ride to the Rhone is long but this is a dive day that everyone should get to enjoy. We returned through American Customs adjacent to the ferry. True to our pattern we rinsed our gear and sat drying off reliving our adventures at the Beach Bar over very tasty Bushwackers. Somehow, they taste even better than normal after a dive. It was a full day…a great day. We returned to the villa, sat on deck, swam in the pool and relaxed. We had the villa to ourselves as the remainder of the group had passed us on the way to town.

Here are some of Maggy's pictures from the Rhone dive:

We held this!

Some of Wounderwoman's shots from the Rhone dive:

going inside the wreck

Here is the barracuda that they were throwing turkey lunchmeat and cheese to - right next to me when I was in the water! They said they were going to throw the meat ON me!!

They gave the barracuda a tomato and it spit it out!

That was a great dive day! I was so lucky that I got to dive 3 days with my waterproof bandage. Thanks to Wounderwoman my wound stayed completely dry!

The rest of the group was at Francis and I guess Donna was attacked by an iguana. Then they went into town. They will have to tell you the details but I will try to find some of Jo Ann VA's pictures to put here.

Do they look happier here?

It was a great day! Tomorrow we sail on the Breath!

jayseadee · Post by **jayseadee** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 1:55 pm

They look sooo much happier in this picture - I feel better now.

The Rhone dive sounds awesome. I didn't realize it was 80ft. We almost did a snorkel there a few years ago.

Great pics; love the barracuda feeding.

tipsy · Post by **tipsy** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 2:01 pm

WOW !! what pics ! Incredible. Lucky you. love the beach pics,much happier group this time.

lprof · Post by **lprof** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 2:09 pm

sea-nile wrote:

This is beautiful... a garden in the deep.
... wonderful dive photos ladies. Thank you.

michigancouple · Post by **michigancouple** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 2:22 pm

That looks so awesome. What great pics. You are much braver than I am when it comes to the barracudda though. I politely swim far away from any that I happen to see. Those are some sharp looking teeth.

Ksea · Post by **Ksea** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 9:07 pm

WOW, those are some amazing dive pics! Thanks for sharing!

Randy in MD · Post by **Randy in MD** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 9:55 pm

Fantastic adventure guys... Thanks for sharing those gorgeous pictures...

Maggy · Post by **Maggy** » Sat Dec 05, 2009 6:52 am

Thank you Iprof, that picture is my favorite too. If I'd upgrade my camera with a strobe, the pictures that are taken deeper will be much better. All the colors disapears down there. That picture came out well even without a strobe.

Anyway, here are a few more pictures:

Here's the monster Moray (sorry about the crappy picture, but it was so dark). The green moray was huge, larger and thicker than a supermodel

More from the Rhone:

Whitespotted filefish (orange phase)

Ouch - firecoral on the rope!

Happy sea-nile after the dives:

On the way back we saw the cutes baby donkey:

Rachelle & Joe · Post by **Rachelle & Joe** » Sat Dec 05, 2009 11:21 am

Oh, These TR's & pic's just keep getting better & better ! u go Girls

glad the waterproofing bandage held up ! Great. Great Pic's ! Love them

can't wait to hear the Iguana Story

jdw · Post by **jdw** » Sat Dec 05, 2009 12:28 pm

Loving all of the trip reports! I would love to hear more about your villa - will you be doing a full villa review? Mainly interested to see if you thought the villa should have full AC of if AC in the bedrooms was enough.

Thanks!

mahojim · Post by **mahojim** » Sat Dec 05, 2009 1:13 pm

Love it, love it, love it!!!
Wonderful pix, ladies!
They make me more excited about XMas- I'm going to try & get My Sweet Amy & me SCUBA certified.
Thanks again for the inspiration!
Excellent beach shots,too. Limin' the day away...

Smiles-
MJ

sea-nile · Post by **sea-nile** » Sat Dec 05, 2009 1:29 pm

jdw wrote:Loving all of the trip reports! I would love to hear more about your villa - will you be doing a full villa review? Mainly interested to see if you thought the villa should have full AC of if AC in the bedrooms was enough.

Thanks!

We have a lot of villa pictures so I will do a "review" on the last day's report. I hope the others chime in with their opinions also. I was fine with no air in the living area. I like hot weather though. Having air in the bedroom was good.

cptnkirk · Post by **cptnkirk** » Sat Dec 05, 2009 2:45 pm

Been enjoying your reports sea nile

Isn't that a cool feeling how those shortspined urchins feel as they move on your hand. Wouldn't want to try that with those long spined urchins though.

Maggy · Post by **Maggy** » Sat Dec 05, 2009 3:15 pm

cptnkirk wrote:Been enjoying your reports sea nile Isn't that a cool feeling how those shortspined urchins feel as they move on your hand. Wouldn't want to try that with those long spined urchins though.

It is indeed a cool feeling and when you turn your hand upside down, it still keep itself attached to your hand. And no, don't try this with the long spined

Chet · Post by **Chet** » Sat Dec 05, 2009 4:47 pm

Best toes-in-the-water photo - ever.

usvi-on-line