Lighthouse Reef, Belize
Gentle, ripe mango colored light comes streaming in the lounge windows as the sun rises directly over Halfmoon Cay. We are at Lighthouse Reef, the furthest offshore group of islands and reefs in the barrier reef system of Belize. Here the water is clear, warm, full of life, and very deep. A short distance beyond the reef face, where the water turns to cobalt blue, there is more than a mile of it below our hull. Oh yes, we snorkel, dive and generally frolic in this water place. Soon after Zodiacs put us on the beach, yells come from the reef: “barracuda, queen trigger, nurse shark, and look at all these lobsters!” This is a testament to the health of this reef and the protection it has received from being designated a national park in 1982. This conservation effort also allows for the continued breeding of hundred of red footed boobies and magnificent frigate birds. We are afforded a close up look from a park maintained observation platform. Male frigates resonate beak clicks in their inflated red throat pouches. Their usual target to steal fish from, the red footed booby nests on the branch nest door with no quibbles.
After a reluctant yet rewarding return to the ship for lunch we are in the water again. It is deeper and the fauna reflect it. Spotted eagle and sting rays, squid, turtles and a ledge drop off impress those of us on the second round of water time. As the light turns from midday lemon back to mango we linger in the snorkel boat, feeling more than speaking our farewell to this bit of reef, this patch of water, this country, Belize.
Gentle, ripe mango colored light comes streaming in the lounge windows as the sun rises directly over Halfmoon Cay. We are at Lighthouse Reef, the furthest offshore group of islands and reefs in the barrier reef system of Belize. Here the water is clear, warm, full of life, and very deep. A short distance beyond the reef face, where the water turns to cobalt blue, there is more than a mile of it below our hull. Oh yes, we snorkel, dive and generally frolic in this water place. Soon after Zodiacs put us on the beach, yells come from the reef: “barracuda, queen trigger, nurse shark, and look at all these lobsters!” This is a testament to the health of this reef and the protection it has received from being designated a national park in 1982. This conservation effort also allows for the continued breeding of hundred of red footed boobies and magnificent frigate birds. We are afforded a close up look from a park maintained observation platform. Male frigates resonate beak clicks in their inflated red throat pouches. Their usual target to steal fish from, the red footed booby nests on the branch nest door with no quibbles.
After a reluctant yet rewarding return to the ship for lunch we are in the water again. It is deeper and the fauna reflect it. Spotted eagle and sting rays, squid, turtles and a ledge drop off impress those of us on the second round of water time. As the light turns from midday lemon back to mango we linger in the snorkel boat, feeling more than speaking our farewell to this bit of reef, this patch of water, this country, Belize.
