Anchored off Port Elizabeth, Bequia, St. Vincent & The Grenadines.

It was a beautiful day when the Prinsendam anchored off Port Elizabeth. Paul had done a bit of research a few days earlier and discovered that there are scuba diving sites on the island.  Needless to say, he though it might be well worth going.  We asked other staff if they would like to dive with us, and make up a boat trip.  Also we would get a discount for a group dive/multiple dives.

In the end Paul, I, Judith from reception and one of the singers made up a group for a morning dive. Although I didn't have my diving licence card with me, I was able to show my dive log book as proof as to how many dives I had done and when the last one was.  The company (Dive Bequia) was very patient with us - well aware that we had to get a tender across to the pier and then meet up at their dive office.

We had a lovely morning, diving off 'The Almond Tree', seeing crayfish, shrimps, fire coral and more. The water was warm enough to wear a shorty wet-suit.

Paul had to go back on duty after the first dive, as did Judith, so they were dropped off at the pier and we were joined by Judy from the Shore Excursions department and Charles - the ship's doctor.  We had another nice dive, this time at 'Devil's Table'.  Paul is usually my dive 'buddy' but this time I teamed up with Judy who has her Dive Master's Certificate.  I was nervous diving without Paul even though Judy is a very experienced diver, so it took me a while to relax.  We saw puffer fish, frog fish, needle fish and much more.  We came across the wreck of an old submarine and had a brief swim around it before surfacing.

After lunch, Judy and I went for one last dive with the dive company, off Brown's Bay.  It was a nice easy, relaxed dive with a group of 6 other divers.  Judy saw a family of 8 lobsters hiding in between the coral and managed to signal me to come and see them.  Well, it seemed like a 'family'.  There were lobsters of varying sizes!  It seems silly, but I think I may not eat another lobster again (even though they can taste delicious if cooked and dressed well).  I pity that guy sitting on my plate...☹️

All in all we had a great day even if we didn't get to see much of the island itself.

PHOTOGRAPHS

 

Scarborough, Tobago. Excursion: Tobago Rain Forest Adventure.

We had a fair bit of a drive to get to the rain forest for our walk. The day was a bit overcast but nice. The path was very muddy and slippery; our guide sensibly wore gumboots. Fortunately the guests were a happy, lively group with a good sense of humour.

As we walked through the forest Randolph would point out plants and trees of interest, leaves of plants that could be eaten or used for medicinal purposes.. The path sometimes ran parallel to streams, meandering through the trees. We could hear different bird calls - don't ask me which because I can't remember ??. It was wonderful.

One poor guest lost an earring which had some sentimental value so we kept an eye out for it on the way back along the track. It was virtually impossible to see anything in the mud (mud glorious mud ...) and the earring was deemed lost forever.

Er... not quite. She found it in her cabin when she got back. Apparently she had been interrupted when putting her earrings on and forgot to put the other earring in. There were big smiles all round!

PHOTOGRAPHS

Getting booted up for the mud!

 

Can you see the crab?

Bridgetown, Barbados. Excursion: Harison's Caves

I had a lovely afternoon on a tour to Harrison’s Caves. They were beautiful inside with the different formations and underground streams and waterfalls, Unfortunately photographs I took don't do them justice.

We went in a small open air tram through passages. Once or twice we stopped and were allowed to get off to explore our surroundings in two of the big caverns. We weren't allowed to go very far. But what we saw was beautiful in its own right.

Photographs

Bridgetown  harbour

Harrison's Caves