Beauty
Abounds
Bahamian
islands are beautiful to behold.
Undulations of green set low on the horizon are scattered like emeralds
across the sea. Ribbons of powder
white beaches give way to aquamarine shallows that deepen to every variation of
green and blue as the contour of the ocean floor falls rapidly to depths of a
thousand feet and more. Sea grass, sand, and coral heads hint at
a rich marine habitat and lend interest to the view. Rays, turtles and, occasionally, other critters, glide along
the bottom – dark shapes that come and go – while the silvery green and blue of
minnows, ballyhoo and other baitfish flash near the surface. Wherever I am, my eyes are drawn to the
shifting hues of water, land and sky, drinking in their beauty.
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| Buena Vista Cay |
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| Hog Cay Cut |
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| Johnson Cay |
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| Johnson Cay (Wonderful Life and Water Lily) |
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| Rat Cay |
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| Compass Cay (photo - Andrea) |
While I never tire of the view, the real spectacle of the Bahamas requires a mask and fins.
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| Ready to go exploring |
Undersea
Magic
From
on deck, the tranquil waters here look tame and benign. The wind sends ripples across the
surface and there are the occasional white caps and even big waves when the
conditions are right. Slipping on
a mask and fins, I dive below the surface and another world is revealed. The reefs here are a riot of color with
neon blues, yellows and purples of the small tropical fish contrasting with the
muted silver, browns and greens of predators, against a backdrop of white sand
and the varying textures and colors of the corals. Purple sea fans and soft corals of yellows, bright orange
and browns, bend and sway with the current. Coral heads rise up from the bottom and are a community unto
themselves…. reef fish jealously guarding their territory and chasing away
unwelcome guests, an eel protecting its hole, a lobster waving its antennae to
ward off intruders. On more than
one occasion I have wished for gills and the ability to hang out in this
magical world for more than just minutes at a time.
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| Turtle and 2 remoras |
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| Jeanette and Lily swimming with Georgetown's resident dolphins (photo - Wendy) |
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| 4-year-old mini-mermaid diving deep |
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| Out-of-season lobster coming out of its hole |
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| This conch is eating a sand dollar |
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| Partially buried sting ray - check out the long tail |
