Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Gun Cay - Honeymoon Harbor - Squalls and Sting Rays

We arrived at Gun Cay as the sun was going down. With visibility not being great we decided to anchor on the windward side for the night instead of risking hitting a bommie. It was quiet and peaceful with just a gentle roll; until midnight. All hell broke loose. A squall hit us from the sea driving us back toward the rocky beach. We were dragging. Winds of 25 plus knots beating against us. We didn't want to raise anchor and move in the dark so we started the engines and held the boat in position into the wind. It battered us for about an hour then as fast as it started it blew over and was gone.

Back to bed and awoke to a wind free morning on a mill pond of water.

We moved the boat around between the reef into 'Honeymoon Harbor'. We have no idea where it got the name but it should be named sting ray harbor. We headed over for a walk on the beach and noticed the people in the water were surrounded by sting rays and were feeding them. We watched for a while and never one to be shy asked them for a piece of their calamari to feed and get a photo. They were very nice and offered us a handful.








You take a piece trap it in your palm with your thumb and hold it under the water. As you feel the mouth you quickly move your thumb out the way so they can suck the piece up from your palm. Occasionally you miss and get a nibble on your thumb or the base of your thumb. It feels like hard gums biting you and they quickly let go when they realize it's not fish. But once you have some food they are all over you. It's the most amazing feeling their soft slippery wings sliding up your leg or over your arm. I was kneeling and they passed between my legs with a wing against each thigh. 
Andre was stooped in the water and one went right up onto his back and over his head looking for food. He says it felt strange you can feel their toothless gums nibbling on your skin.

Incredible experience, we love it when the wild life interacts with us. 

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