Yesterday was our first of three excursions that our group will go on while in Belize. Our entire, gigantic group of 23 (21 students and 2 professors) piled onto one sailboat that took us out snorkeling! We went out to two different spots: Hol Chan Marine Reserve (where I did my night dive) and Shark and Ray Alley. I had never been sailing before so I was extremely excited when I saw our huge sailboat waiting for us at the dock. We walked over to the dock at 8:30 in the morning and were on our way to Hol Chan by 9. As we sailed, we all laid out under the sun on the front of the boat on beanbags and the trampoline. Talk about a great morning! The weather was perfect- hot and sunny, as usual, here in paradise. It took us about 45 minutes to sail out to Hol Chan. When we arrived, I was the first one in the water! The water was crystal clear, warm, and beautiful. Right where we anchored our boat, a huge school of Horse-eye Jack fish were swimming around. They weren't shy at all; they would swim all around us, occasionally brushing up against you. A few even followed us around as we snorkeled through the reef. We swam around Hol Chan for about 45 minutes. We saw three loggerhead turtles, a bunch of southern stingrays, a nurse shark, an enormous grouper, beautiful plant life and different types of coral, several varieties of tropical fish, and a few eagle rays! I was really excited to see the eagle rays. They are my favorite stingrays because they have pretty yellow spots on their backs.
Nurse Shark
Loggerhead Turtle
Another cool part was when our guide hand fed the giant grouper right in front of us. The huge fish was super friendly, letting all of us pet him as our guide fed him bits of plants that were floating in the water.
My group got back to the boat first and as we waited for the other groups to make it back, we took turns jumping off the boat into the water. It was a lot of fun! When everyone made it back onto the boat, our crew had fresh fruit for us to snack on. Mini bananas, pineapple, and watermelon- it was all so good! We threw our watermelon rinds and banana peels into the water and the horse-eye jack fish would snatch them right up!
It took us around 30 minutes to sail to Shark and Ray Alley. Once again, as we sailed, we all laid out on the front of the boat relaxing, soaking up the sun, and enjoying the ride. When we got to Shark and Ray Alley, as soon as we anchored our boat, like six big nurse sharks swam right up to our boat. Again, I was the first in the water. I was bound and determined to touch one of those sharks. Our crew had lowered this tube filled with fish to attract the sharks and rays so while they were feeding I was a little hesitant to touch one. But I snorkeled around real close watching the sharks go to town on the fish. Soon a group of large southern stingrays came in to get in on the action. It was pretty chaotic- huge stingrays and sharks fighting over this little tube of fish while a school of horse-eye jack swam crazily all around. By the time the rest of our group got in, the sharks had gone away. I think we must have scared them off. A lot of the girls were screaming and splashing just by seeing the sharks. Unlike when we went to Hol Chan, we didn't really leave the general area around the boat. We just swam around while sharks and rays came and went. At one point, one of our guides got in with us and hand fed one of the big rays. As our guide held him, a bunch of us huddled around him to touch it. I was lucky enough to have the ray swim right up on me! He swam right up on my belly and chest and fluttered around for second. It was really cool! Towards the end of our time, another bunch of nurse sharks came back around our boat. I saw a family of three sharks swimming together and then two sharks came up to the back of our boat so our captain could toss fish to them. It was feeding frenzy! That was when I made my move! As the sharks were busy eating, I touched both of them on their backs. And later, a baby nurse shark about three and a half feet long came along and I touched him too! I didn't want to get out, but eventually we all made our way back onto the boat.
Our next stop was Caye Caulker. Caye Caulker is another small island off the coast of Belize. It is even smaller than San Pedro, only measuring about five miles (north to south) by less than one mile (east to west). It took us a little over an hour to get there. As we rode, our crew had fresh homemade chips, salsa, and conch ceviche for us to eat. It was all delicious! I really liked the conch ceviche.
When we got to Caye Caulker we had two hours to explore the island. The island was beautiful, but blazing hot as we walked around. I went walking to all of the different street vendors with a group of girls. I bought 3 pairs of earrings (one pair made out of abalone shells, one pair of studs made out of conch shells, and one pair made out of coconut shells) and a sweet leather book bag. Then we went swimming at the north end of the island. The water was clear, warm, beautiful, and bluer than blue. And we found a bunch of starfish! I had never seen a starfish in the wild before so I was super excited. I found the biggest one.
Our two hours ended too soon in Caye Caulker. I want to go back. I really liked the people there and there was an even more laid back vibe on the island. It wasn't near as busy or populated as San Pedro. Much fewer bikes and golf carts on the roads and I don't think I ever saw a car.
Julia, Lisa, and I swimming at Caye Caulker.
Some of the group on the boat at the dock in Caye Caulker, just before leaving the island.
Our swim spot in Caye Caulker where we found all of the starfish.
It took us two hours to sail back to San Pedro. It was a nice, relaxing ride and a great way to end the day. I think yesterday was definitely my favorite day I've had in Belize. I had such a good time snorkeling and spending time with everyone on the boat. Can't wait for our inland trip next week and the rest of our excursions!!!
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