Then we were off to Mangel Halto for the first drift snorkel this year. Yes, the seas were rougher than the calm days wed seen of it, but not much more so. David did the usual: dropping me off at the hole in the wall that the divers use to get outside the rocky reef, and then driving back to Mangel Halto, and walking about 8 minutes back to me. We got in at the usual dock area, and the water felt cold at first, but we soon got used to it. As usual it was until after the breakwall plus about 20 kicks, and then we saw the many varieties of hard and soft corals we expected.
Saw the usual suspects over the next 90 minutes, but did NOT see any green morays or ocean triggerfish, which we often do see out there. It was very relaxing to just float along, even tho the swells were large and sometimes choppy. We
even found the sunken boat – remember Ron & Mary Jo? and David tried to dive down, holding his nose against the pressure. My guess is that he went down 15 and it is at least 30, maybe 40 down. We then turned in towards the peninsula of sand and mangroves, and that wasnt easy swimming against the current. And it was quite sandy – extending further out from the shore than usual, so when asked by some visitors how was it? we had to tell them that they wouldnt see much unless they went pretty far out – but then they would see lots of a variety of parrot fish, but with a strong current. So many people think they can snorkel just in close to shore and with no fins on.
We had seen just one other small group of snorkelers on the drift, and they came as we did – 2 guides and two young woman – all with assisted snorkeling motors. We teased them for being wimps – but there would have been no way they could have done what they did (swim up the channels against the current) without them. We had done that
a few times in calmer seas, including the time that a manta ray left us in the dust as he continued up the channel so easily and we were kicking like crazy. I had gotten one brief photo before he disappeared into the gloom.
Off to Zee Rover to buy fish. And they didnt have any!!! Nor any to cook and eat there. Nope, these winds have thwarted the little fishing boats. They only offered shrimp. We did determine that the huge pale gray fish that enjoy eating the crumbs and shrimp heads are a new fish for us – at least per the server at Zee Rover – African Pompano. No, not a mahi mahi as mentioned, nor a palometa (right colors but about 1/5 of the size). The huge porcupine fish came out too. Its obviously a great place for these fish to live just off the pier there!
So, we stopped at Huchada to buy some ham & cheese pastechis (like Cornish pasties but without any potatoes/vegetables) for lunch. There were only people in front of us this time. Why in the world was it so crowded when we were there with the Fadeleys!!
How lovely to eat this outside too in the cool of the shade. And then I enjoyed 20 minutes in the pool on my float and David managed about 5. I had told him I intended to enjoy the pool this time much more than hed allowed me last year.
By the way, David saved a bird this morning!! When he went out to set up for our breakfast, he found a mocking bird splashing in the pool, struggling obviously. He used the cleaning net to retrieve it, and it hopped immediately into the protection of some aloe bushes. It was there for at least an hour, but fortunately was gone when we returned for lunch. Also, we espied a most surprising bird – 2 of them actually. Not new ones to our list, but most unexpected. Only once before did we see bobolinks – in May in Ohio, in full mating plumage. These were the duller, bet you cant tell what I am colors. In my opinion one should get credit for plumage like a new bird. They are en route to South America for the winter – early migrators.
Roxanne, who works as a technical analyst for the government. She sets the prices of gasoline, diesel, etc., and confirmed that every gas station charges the same rate.
