Thursday, April 21, 2016

Jumentos - Paradise found!

Water Cay
We lifted anchor from Thomson Bay, Long Island just before 0800 hrs, hoisted the sails and set our track for Water Cay, Jumentos. We managed to sail about half way before the wind dropped and we had to motor sail the rest of the way.

Just after four that afternoon we dropped anchor off Water Cay. Gin clear waters beckoned and we had no sooner settled the boat when we went in to check the anchor and explore. Two large Remora had take refuge under the hull, their funny upside down heads and mouths looking for scraps. We snorkeled over then walked the length of the beach and got back into the water to swim back across the bay to the boat.

Showering on the sugarscoop I glanced down to see a big Nurse shark hovering under me. She swam through between the hulls and over to the shore where we could see her fin in the shallows and she went looking for dinner.

Such a perfect evening called for a braai / bbq and as the meat cooked we lay on the sun bed on the back of the boat chatting. Once again I glanced down to see a huge Hammerhead shark swimming lazily by. At least twelve foot / four meters long he was spectacular. The first hammerhead we have seen in the wild. We jumped up to grab cameras in the hope he would turn and do another swim by but no such luck. As we were watching we heard a blow and a huge head appeared. It was so large for a split second I thought it was a seal, then realized it was a huge turtle. He eyed us then ducked under water to surface about five meters closer then ducked down and disappeared.

By this time the sun had gone down and we had switched on the spotlight to shine down into the water. Two beautiful blue needle fish swam into the light and under the boat when there was a splash and bang under the sugarscoop and the needle fish leapt up and away. We realized the huge turtle must have been lying under the boat and he and the needle fish had scared each other. We watched him swim away into the darkness.

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