Manatee River and Goff’s Cay, Belize
Zodiacs zipped over the flat-calm water to carry kayakers and cruisers to the mouth of the Manatee River for our morning’s exploration. Thickets of red mangroves lined the banks. Barnacles and oysters clung to the arching roots that provide perches for herons and egrets as well as hiding places for small fish. Mangrove environments are very productive, and we passed white ibises, snowy egrets, and little blue herons while paddling or motoring upstream. Some of the boats entered a narrow opening up the side channel in the photo. After a full morning, we returned to the ship in time to watch an excellent presentation on tropical ecology by Dr. Jim Gould, the lecturer for the Princeton group on board. Meanwhile, we pulled anchor and headed on toward Goff’s Cay, the afternoon destination.
By mid-afternoon we were off to enjoy the white sand beach and the undersea world. Scuba divers took off to visit one section of the reef, and the rest of the group landed on the perfect tropical island, complete with hammocks and coconut palms. It was a lovely spot to try out our snorkel gear, go for a swim, or relax with a book. Wrasses and blue tangs swam through the coral and tilefish worked on their burrows in the sandier sites. We returned to the ship after a delightful time ashore and watched a beautiful sunset before darkness gently settled in around us.
Zodiacs zipped over the flat-calm water to carry kayakers and cruisers to the mouth of the Manatee River for our morning’s exploration. Thickets of red mangroves lined the banks. Barnacles and oysters clung to the arching roots that provide perches for herons and egrets as well as hiding places for small fish. Mangrove environments are very productive, and we passed white ibises, snowy egrets, and little blue herons while paddling or motoring upstream. Some of the boats entered a narrow opening up the side channel in the photo. After a full morning, we returned to the ship in time to watch an excellent presentation on tropical ecology by Dr. Jim Gould, the lecturer for the Princeton group on board. Meanwhile, we pulled anchor and headed on toward Goff’s Cay, the afternoon destination.
By mid-afternoon we were off to enjoy the white sand beach and the undersea world. Scuba divers took off to visit one section of the reef, and the rest of the group landed on the perfect tropical island, complete with hammocks and coconut palms. It was a lovely spot to try out our snorkel gear, go for a swim, or relax with a book. Wrasses and blue tangs swam through the coral and tilefish worked on their burrows in the sandier sites. We returned to the ship after a delightful time ashore and watched a beautiful sunset before darkness gently settled in around us.
