Manatee River and Goff’s Cay
We awoke to a cool unseasonable rain and hot breakfast. Soon we were out exploring the Manatee River, some by kayaks and others by Zodiacs. This waterway is noted for the large marine mammals that live here. Manatees consume over 7% of their 1000 to 3000 pound weight in water-filled vegetation every day. Because they ferment this large amount of low-quality vegetation in their long hindguts, they can’t extract very much energy from their diet. Consequently, they need warm water temperatures above 67 degrees Farenheit, they move slowly, and sleep or loaf most of the time. They periodically need a fresh water source, and that brings them to freshwater lagoons like the one we explored today. The photograph shows kayakers framed by sea grapes in the foreground and red mangroves along the far side of the river. Many of our guests were able to get a glimpse of a manatee. Some of the birds we saw were anhingas, white ibises, 5 species of herons and egrets, and kingfishers. To the delight of our guests, hot chocolate was served along the way.
Our afternoon was spent at Goffs’s Cay swimming and snorkeling in the warm Belizian waters. Coral reef fish were abundant and exciting and included four-eyed butterflyfish, stoplight parrotfish, queen angelfish, and yellowhead wrasses, but it was the blue ones many people asked about. Immature yellowtail damselfish have electric blue spots on a black background, and blue chromis are so brilliant they appear lit from within. The warm water and superb underwater sights hid the numerous squalls that passed over us all afternoon. A hospitable ship improved an already great day.
We awoke to a cool unseasonable rain and hot breakfast. Soon we were out exploring the Manatee River, some by kayaks and others by Zodiacs. This waterway is noted for the large marine mammals that live here. Manatees consume over 7% of their 1000 to 3000 pound weight in water-filled vegetation every day. Because they ferment this large amount of low-quality vegetation in their long hindguts, they can’t extract very much energy from their diet. Consequently, they need warm water temperatures above 67 degrees Farenheit, they move slowly, and sleep or loaf most of the time. They periodically need a fresh water source, and that brings them to freshwater lagoons like the one we explored today. The photograph shows kayakers framed by sea grapes in the foreground and red mangroves along the far side of the river. Many of our guests were able to get a glimpse of a manatee. Some of the birds we saw were anhingas, white ibises, 5 species of herons and egrets, and kingfishers. To the delight of our guests, hot chocolate was served along the way.
Our afternoon was spent at Goffs’s Cay swimming and snorkeling in the warm Belizian waters. Coral reef fish were abundant and exciting and included four-eyed butterflyfish, stoplight parrotfish, queen angelfish, and yellowhead wrasses, but it was the blue ones many people asked about. Immature yellowtail damselfish have electric blue spots on a black background, and blue chromis are so brilliant they appear lit from within. The warm water and superb underwater sights hid the numerous squalls that passed over us all afternoon. A hospitable ship improved an already great day.
