Deh Tobago Cays....The Place Where God Kissed the Ocean

After our exciting weekend in Bequia it was time to start heading south again.  This time we sailed and stopped overnight in Canoan on our way back to the Tobago Cays.  Canoan has become somewhat like the island of Mustique ....an island for the rich and famous.    We didn't bother going ashore or playing a round of golf at the Trump Golf Course. It's development seems to be luxury tourism much like Mustique.  Mustique has many famous names attached to it....Mick Jagger, David Bowie and Princess Margaret who was one of the first people to buy property on the island.  The island is now called Billionaire's Island  and is home to about 50 plus homes.  Basil's Bar is famous and rated one of the top ten waterfront bars in the world; however we are not sure we could afford the drink prices?!?

These pictures are arial shots from our cruising guides.  You can see the reef and the boats anchored between the islands.  It is quite amazing that the reef provides enough protection to anchor safely and comfortably. The picture below shows the reef and islands from a different direction with the island of Mayreau in the background.

 
From Canoan we sailed back to the Tobago Cays. The cays are known all over the Caribbean as one of the most beautiful cruising grounds.  Anchoring with just Horseshoe Reef protection in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea is an experience.  The water and reef are a kaleidescope of colours but the anchorage is always windy as you are open to the full force of the ocean winds.    We heard a cruiser in Bequia comment that the Tobago Cays was where God kissed the ocean. It is indeed a beautiful anchorage; however we would say that God spent some time in the Great Lakes as well.

  We returned to the turtle sanctuary and once again were treated to seeing lots of turtles.  The turtles in the sanctuary are green turtles and their favourite food is sea grass.

  We saw some very large turtles and evidently they can grow upwards to over 30 inches and 350 pounds.

 They are so graceful to watch in the water and Rob enjoyed taking these pictures.  He is so pleased to be using an underwater camera that doesn't fog up.

The next day we moved Celebrian closer to the reef so that we didn't have to paddle as far because of the wind.  We had a wonderful snorkel back on the reef and saw lots and lots of fish....grunts, parrot fish, squirrel fish, snappers, flounders, angel fish, file fish, trumpet fish and lots and lots of blue tangs and the odd cute trunk fish.

 Sometimes the fish are curious but for the most part they aren't the easiest of photo subjects!?!  Life in the ocean is precarious at best so for the most part fish are every wary and scatter easily.

  My favourite are the stop light parrot fish.  This picture is from a mural in the marine park office.  They are efficient recycling machines  and turn coral  and rocks into fine sand in the process of grazing algae from them .   It is a very effective digestive system and healthy for the reefs.  Unfortunately they are very shy and it is extremely hard to take their picture underwater.

Rob is very comfortable sinking down 10 or more feet to take pictures.  I am a surface snorkeller as a result of having ears that won't clear properly; however I enjoy the sights just the same.  It was truly thrilling swimming among the turtles and often they were only a few feet away.

Have you ever seen such a beautiful mermaid???

Size matters....that's Celebrian beside Black Swan.  There was one couple and at least four crew on that catamaran.  It was about ninety feet long and that is times two for two hulls.

Kite sailing is a very popular sport in The Grenadines.  They are not allowed to launch from the beaches in the Tobago Cays or sail among the boats???

A Tobago Cays sunset from Celebrian's cockpit.