Cistern Cay and Hawksbill Cay - Ruins, sand banks and sharks

Every time we see a new island here we think it can't get better, then it does. We left Alley Cat and Shiloh in Warderickwells as Alley Cat was returning to Staniel Cay to fetch a friend and Shiloh was waiting for them. Our time is getting short as we have to be in USA on the 26th of June, so we decided to move on!

We loved the companionship of the other boats but we love being alone too. 

Our first stop was at Little Cistern Cay we were the only boat on the anchorage, our own private island? The anchorage was tucked in behind Rocky heads of coral stone and edged by shallow sand banks and white beach. We could see the bottom through the water and watched Barracuda and rays swim by. 

As you know I can't stay out of the water and we were no sooner anchored when we swam out to the nearby rock head to see what we could find. Here in the park are some of the largest fish we have seen and we were not disappointed. Swimming down to look into one of the many caves formed in the sandstone rock we saw two huge crayfish challenging each other. Nearby huge Queen Angel fish with their torquise, royal blue and yellow glinting in the rays of the sun. Not only large fish but we swim among huge schools of tiny babies still not identifiable; and different species in all stages of growth. 

The rest of the day we spent reading on our secluded beach getting rid of tan lines! 

The next we headed over to Hawksbill Cay, only about a mile away. Once again alone in a stunning anchorage we headed ashore at Russel Rocks beach.

A trail lead to the ruins of the home of the Russell Family, it is noted as a 'Loyalist' plantation. They lived here between 1785 and 1830. There is not much left of their humble abode perched up on the hill overlooking the bays on each side of the island. Following the trail we crossed the island to the Atlantic side and walked the length of the island exploring the beach.

On the Northern Point of the island is the most magnificent sand bar which appear out of the seas at low tide. We anchored the dinghy in knee deep water and set out. An the tide drops areas one would have had to swim through of soft, baby powder like sand are high and dry. Rocky heads surrounded by torquise pools created as the receding water swirls around them and pulls out to sea. Once can walk all the way to the next island on the sand banks. We walked for over an hour across the banks to the Atlantic shore then turned back as the tide slowly started washing back in.

To our delight, as we walked across a shin deep section we saw shark fins. We stood and watched as he swam/ wriggled his way through shallow water right past us out to a deeper channel and swam away. He was not the only one! We were amazed to see a few Black Tip reef shark in these very shallow waters,  fins and part of his back out of the water as they made their way across the shallows. We presume catching unsuspecting fish caught by the outgoing tide.

Wallowing in the unbelievably blue pool near our dinghy we waited until the tide came in enough for us to get the dinghy out and back to the boat! 

If we had the time this is the kind of place we would stay a week. Our own deserted island!