12 Nights in Paradise - The Beginning of the End
Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 8:48 pm
Tuesday March 24
Those of you with an aversion to Spotted Eagle Rays should avoid this portion of our trip.
We were booked for an intro to diving course with Chris Sawyer today. Mr H. and his progeny were beginners, Uncle Scott had been certified in Greece (this guy knows how to live).
Mr H wasn’t really excited about the prospect of diving. I told him that the intro class was free – 10-11:30 or so – and that he could decide after that time whether or not he wanted to try a dive ($125). I found myself a lovely spot on Caneel’s beach – one of the reasons I’d chosen Chris Saywer, and the boys went off to do their thing.
I sat on the beach looking from book, to sea, to my guys in the water with their scuba instructor, Alice, who was a love.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/JW ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sd_bm ... 1.jpg"></a>
All three decided to take the dive trip in the afternoon. The 1 tank dive with instructor is $125. You’re out from about 1-3. I thought that the price to “ride along” as a snorkeler was $50, but I must have misunderstood because they only charged me $15.
The view of Caneel from the water
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/oh ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sd_cA ... 8.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Ff ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sd_cB ... 0.jpg"></a>
Our dive destination was the spot between Mingo and Grass Cay. We are on the Caribbean side, the Atlantic is on the other.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Mm ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sd_cG ... 7.jpg"></a>
It’s a gorgeous day!
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Ca ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sd_cG ... 8.jpg"></a>
But a little windy
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-B ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sd_cH ... 0.jpg"></a>
The father and son dive team
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/3Y ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sd_cK ... 3.jpg"></a>
Alice and the Remora. Have I mentioned how much we like Alice?
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xR ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sd_cd ... 6.jpg"></a>
The developed side of St John
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/sU ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sd_ce ... 8.jpg"></a>
Development and the Park
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-t ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sd_ce ... 9.jpg"></a>
The divers were all in the water, and I was off to snorkel. Alone. On a sort of windy day with a little bit of choppy sea. In 40’ of water. Did I mention that I was alone?
I swam around as the divers worked their way down the rope. Let me tell you, it’s a very strange feeling to be on top of the water and look down 30’ to see your cherished offspring sitting on the ocean’s floor without you. Or your spouse. Or the instructor. Sitting there with some stranger you haven’t really been introduced to. You wave frantically from above, just to let them know you’re there if they need you, but really, what can you do if they need you now?
Mr H had trouble equalizing, and probably won’t be diving again.
With the others settled, I swam off toward the rocks of Grass Cay. Did I mention that I was alone, and that it felt really strange? At one point my ponytail holder came out and my hair sort of hit me in the face. I jumped! Breathe in, breathe out, I told myself.
There was an abundance of life here. Nothing new or extraordinary (thank God!) but a nice snorkel all the same. I looked back toward the boat and thought I saw Mr H. out of the water, so I swam back. It turns out the the dive was over, and people were surfacing. No unusual sightings, except Little H saw a garden eel? Alice was surprised that he knew what that was.
Back to Caneel for more beach time. We convince Uncle Scott that he needs to get his snorkel on, as he’s leaving tomorrow.
Caneel’s Main Beach, far right, was the surprise snorkel of this trip.
The first sighting was another Spotted Eagle Ray (see the On-St John website, April 7 2009, for the video version).
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Cd ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sd_dP ... 1.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1u ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sd_dQ ... 4.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/dd ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sd_dQ ... 5.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qw ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sd_dR ... 6.jpg"></a>
We saw a large (but shy) porcupine fish. A turtle. A spotted Drum (I don’t recall ever seeing one of these before), Sanddivers, Needlefish ( I really don’t like them) Southern Stingray, Rock Beauties, Jewel Damselfish, Sargeant Majors, Parrot Fish. Healthy looking fish and coral. We were going to swim around the point, but decided to turn back due to the wind/waves, which were picking up.
We left the beach, as usual, around 5:30. We decided to head straight to Big Belly Deli for pizza (yes, again).
The Childminder App for the IPhone
Little H was still in his wetsuit and decided he wanted to stay in the Jeep while I ran up to order our pizza. The grown men went to the bar at Aqua Bistro. I joined them for some adult beverages. The minor was left in the car with Uncle Scott’s IPhone. Casino parking lots can only be next.
(No DCYF reports please. The child was about 15 feet away in the Jeep, and in full sight of his family and Doug from Crabby’s, with whom we had become rather friendly)
Same old - same old- evening. TV or a movie for the males, a good book for me, and it’s off to la la land.... and a goodbye to our favorite Uncle Scott the next day....
Those of you with an aversion to Spotted Eagle Rays should avoid this portion of our trip.
We were booked for an intro to diving course with Chris Sawyer today. Mr H. and his progeny were beginners, Uncle Scott had been certified in Greece (this guy knows how to live).
Mr H wasn’t really excited about the prospect of diving. I told him that the intro class was free – 10-11:30 or so – and that he could decide after that time whether or not he wanted to try a dive ($125). I found myself a lovely spot on Caneel’s beach – one of the reasons I’d chosen Chris Saywer, and the boys went off to do their thing.
I sat on the beach looking from book, to sea, to my guys in the water with their scuba instructor, Alice, who was a love.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/JW ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sd_bm ... 1.jpg"></a>
All three decided to take the dive trip in the afternoon. The 1 tank dive with instructor is $125. You’re out from about 1-3. I thought that the price to “ride along” as a snorkeler was $50, but I must have misunderstood because they only charged me $15.
The view of Caneel from the water
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/oh ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sd_cA ... 8.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Ff ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sd_cB ... 0.jpg"></a>
Our dive destination was the spot between Mingo and Grass Cay. We are on the Caribbean side, the Atlantic is on the other.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Mm ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sd_cG ... 7.jpg"></a>
It’s a gorgeous day!
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Ca ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sd_cG ... 8.jpg"></a>
But a little windy
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-B ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sd_cH ... 0.jpg"></a>
The father and son dive team
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/3Y ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sd_cK ... 3.jpg"></a>
Alice and the Remora. Have I mentioned how much we like Alice?
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xR ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sd_cd ... 6.jpg"></a>
The developed side of St John
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/sU ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sd_ce ... 8.jpg"></a>
Development and the Park
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-t ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sd_ce ... 9.jpg"></a>
The divers were all in the water, and I was off to snorkel. Alone. On a sort of windy day with a little bit of choppy sea. In 40’ of water. Did I mention that I was alone?
I swam around as the divers worked their way down the rope. Let me tell you, it’s a very strange feeling to be on top of the water and look down 30’ to see your cherished offspring sitting on the ocean’s floor without you. Or your spouse. Or the instructor. Sitting there with some stranger you haven’t really been introduced to. You wave frantically from above, just to let them know you’re there if they need you, but really, what can you do if they need you now?
Mr H had trouble equalizing, and probably won’t be diving again.
With the others settled, I swam off toward the rocks of Grass Cay. Did I mention that I was alone, and that it felt really strange? At one point my ponytail holder came out and my hair sort of hit me in the face. I jumped! Breathe in, breathe out, I told myself.
There was an abundance of life here. Nothing new or extraordinary (thank God!) but a nice snorkel all the same. I looked back toward the boat and thought I saw Mr H. out of the water, so I swam back. It turns out the the dive was over, and people were surfacing. No unusual sightings, except Little H saw a garden eel? Alice was surprised that he knew what that was.
Back to Caneel for more beach time. We convince Uncle Scott that he needs to get his snorkel on, as he’s leaving tomorrow.
Caneel’s Main Beach, far right, was the surprise snorkel of this trip.
The first sighting was another Spotted Eagle Ray (see the On-St John website, April 7 2009, for the video version).
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Cd ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sd_dP ... 1.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1u ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sd_dQ ... 4.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/dd ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sd_dQ ... 5.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qw ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Bb-_xJSB7Cg/Sd_dR ... 6.jpg"></a>
We saw a large (but shy) porcupine fish. A turtle. A spotted Drum (I don’t recall ever seeing one of these before), Sanddivers, Needlefish ( I really don’t like them) Southern Stingray, Rock Beauties, Jewel Damselfish, Sargeant Majors, Parrot Fish. Healthy looking fish and coral. We were going to swim around the point, but decided to turn back due to the wind/waves, which were picking up.
We left the beach, as usual, around 5:30. We decided to head straight to Big Belly Deli for pizza (yes, again).
The Childminder App for the IPhone
Little H was still in his wetsuit and decided he wanted to stay in the Jeep while I ran up to order our pizza. The grown men went to the bar at Aqua Bistro. I joined them for some adult beverages. The minor was left in the car with Uncle Scott’s IPhone. Casino parking lots can only be next.
(No DCYF reports please. The child was about 15 feet away in the Jeep, and in full sight of his family and Doug from Crabby’s, with whom we had become rather friendly)
Same old - same old- evening. TV or a movie for the males, a good book for me, and it’s off to la la land.... and a goodbye to our favorite Uncle Scott the next day....
