usvi-on-line
16 more days in paradise, part two
-
leslieeliz
- Posts: 54
- Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2009 7:27 pm
- Location: North Carolina
little mermaid, my favorite snorkel was definitely the last snorkel of the trip--coming soon!
cptnkirk--I am glad to see that you have a trip planned! You are going to have to resume your post as the king of TGIF photos with the new material you get!
mahojim, we have met! This past April at the Beach Bar forum gathering, remember?
Diana, that permit was amazing. It was by far the largest I have ever seen. The photo does not really show its size because there is nothing to put it in perspective, but it was at least three feet long. It might have even been four feet. It kept coming back and swimming around us--it was very curious.
lesleeliz, yes, Princess is before Haulover. It's on the right side of the road as you are driving out. I do want to stress that the water is only about a foot deep around the mangroves, so this is only a snorkel for people who are not claustrophobic. Once you start out you cannot move your legs or stand up at all because there is life all over the floor of the bay. There is also a thick layer of sediment around the mangroves, so if you even slightly graze it, you'll end up with a huge cloud in the water and you won't be able to see anything.
John and I usually drift around the mangroves and then head out to the deeper part of the bay and flip over and float for a while to rest before heading back to shore. It is tiring not to be able to use your legs at all while swimming!
cptnkirk--I am glad to see that you have a trip planned! You are going to have to resume your post as the king of TGIF photos with the new material you get!
mahojim, we have met! This past April at the Beach Bar forum gathering, remember?
Diana, that permit was amazing. It was by far the largest I have ever seen. The photo does not really show its size because there is nothing to put it in perspective, but it was at least three feet long. It might have even been four feet. It kept coming back and swimming around us--it was very curious.
lesleeliz, yes, Princess is before Haulover. It's on the right side of the road as you are driving out. I do want to stress that the water is only about a foot deep around the mangroves, so this is only a snorkel for people who are not claustrophobic. Once you start out you cannot move your legs or stand up at all because there is life all over the floor of the bay. There is also a thick layer of sediment around the mangroves, so if you even slightly graze it, you'll end up with a huge cloud in the water and you won't be able to see anything.
John and I usually drift around the mangroves and then head out to the deeper part of the bay and flip over and float for a while to rest before heading back to shore. It is tiring not to be able to use your legs at all while swimming!
It's like looking in your soup and finding a whole different alphabet.
Several years ago we came across 2 large permit at Jumbie. They were probably 3 feet or so long and we spent quite a while swimming around and they would keep coming back and look us over. It was a very memorable experience and one that I'd love to do again. Since then I've only seen one and it wasn't nearly that large.
By any chance are you going to be back on STJ in May next year? I'd love to be able to snorkle with you and John. You find so many great things. I'm looking forward to your 'best of' from this trip.
By any chance are you going to be back on STJ in May next year? I'd love to be able to snorkle with you and John. You find so many great things. I'm looking forward to your 'best of' from this trip.
WOW - thanks so mcuh for your report & those incredible shots!
Must put Princess Bay mangroves on my next visit to do list - sounds like the perfect place for one of those clear kayaks. We do quite a bit of kaying down in the Keys & we've been looking to buy a clear kayak. Thanks again for sharing your wonderful tips!
Must put Princess Bay mangroves on my next visit to do list - sounds like the perfect place for one of those clear kayaks. We do quite a bit of kaying down in the Keys & we've been looking to buy a clear kayak. Thanks again for sharing your wonderful tips!
-
bubblybrenda
- Posts: 549
- Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2008 10:57 pm
- Location: Vancouver, BC