Half Moon Cay and Long Cay, Lighthouse Reef, Belize
Aquamarine and blue waters surrounded us as we arrived this morning at Half Moon Cay. After breakfast we set out to the island on our Zodiacs, gently skirting the numerous reefs to make it to the beach where we snorkeled a good part of the morning. During different moments of the morning, groups of eight of us would walk to the platform set among the orange-flowered ziricote trees to observe the so numerous red-footed boobies and the “pirate” kleptoparasitic magnificent frigatebirds with their seven-foot wingspan. The males of these frigates inflate their dashing-red gular pouch, sit on the nest they have built, and clack their beaks every time a female flies by, to attract them.
Among the trees we could also observe numerous iguanas. One of them, the “bamboo chicken,” showed off its drab red and black colours. The wish willies, slightly smaller, grow up to four feet in length, and are almost as common. Landcrabs and hermit crabs of all sizes walked around everywhere.
Meanwhile, the divers had a good time along the reefs, and places where the depth of the water made immersion more interesting.
Back on board, we repositioned to Long Caye, where the divers had another full session in the deeps, and the snorkelers enjoyed the views of so many fish and sponges among the reefs.
Aquamarine and blue waters surrounded us as we arrived this morning at Half Moon Cay. After breakfast we set out to the island on our Zodiacs, gently skirting the numerous reefs to make it to the beach where we snorkeled a good part of the morning. During different moments of the morning, groups of eight of us would walk to the platform set among the orange-flowered ziricote trees to observe the so numerous red-footed boobies and the “pirate” kleptoparasitic magnificent frigatebirds with their seven-foot wingspan. The males of these frigates inflate their dashing-red gular pouch, sit on the nest they have built, and clack their beaks every time a female flies by, to attract them.
Among the trees we could also observe numerous iguanas. One of them, the “bamboo chicken,” showed off its drab red and black colours. The wish willies, slightly smaller, grow up to four feet in length, and are almost as common. Landcrabs and hermit crabs of all sizes walked around everywhere.
Meanwhile, the divers had a good time along the reefs, and places where the depth of the water made immersion more interesting.
Back on board, we repositioned to Long Caye, where the divers had another full session in the deeps, and the snorkelers enjoyed the views of so many fish and sponges among the reefs.
