Lighthouse Reef, Belize
Our day began with a little rocking and rolling as we tied up to our buoy on the edge of the blue-black abyss. We had crept up to the south-east side of the Lighthouse Reef atoll in the early dawn. The eastern horizon looked a threatening grey and the sun struggled to make its presence known. But what was this? Rain in the dry season? Ah, yes, we are in the tropics and intermittent showers can be expected at any time. But this didn’t deter us in any way as we set off in various directions, some with binoculars in hand and some with snorkeling equipment.
Halfmoon Caye was our destination and we had all day to explore the area known as the Halfmoon Caye Natural Monument This was Belize’s first reserve established in March of 1982. About 41% of the total area of Belize is under some form of protected status. As we approached the island, we could easily see the dark forms of the magnificent frigate circling above the island like pepper in the sky. But the principal inhabitant is the red-footed booby and it has been established that there could be as many as 4,000 breeding birds. They share this 45 acre paradise of coralline sand and littoral forest with scaly reptiles such as the wish willy (Ctenosaura similes), “bamboo chicken”(Iguana iguana) and nesting loggerhead turtles.
But it was obvious that protected areas really do work as is evident in the healthy populations of numerous species of marine life. I have been visiting this region for approximately 25 years and had watched sadly as the spiny lobster, queen conch and large fish had all but disappeared because of over fishing. It was clear today that these species were on their way back to being well established here within the safety of the park. Huge lobsters waved their antennae at us as we drifted by. A purple waterfall of creole wrasse cascaded over the edge of the precipice we call the “wall.” The ghostly silvery shapes of tarpon hung suspended in the grooves between the immense coral spurs unmoving even as we approached them.
Back on the ship, we were lured into the lounge to sample tasty tacos and sweet juicy bits of fresh pineapple and melon. Recap had started and “tails” of fish and a song of a moray filled the air.
Our day began with a little rocking and rolling as we tied up to our buoy on the edge of the blue-black abyss. We had crept up to the south-east side of the Lighthouse Reef atoll in the early dawn. The eastern horizon looked a threatening grey and the sun struggled to make its presence known. But what was this? Rain in the dry season? Ah, yes, we are in the tropics and intermittent showers can be expected at any time. But this didn’t deter us in any way as we set off in various directions, some with binoculars in hand and some with snorkeling equipment.
Halfmoon Caye was our destination and we had all day to explore the area known as the Halfmoon Caye Natural Monument This was Belize’s first reserve established in March of 1982. About 41% of the total area of Belize is under some form of protected status. As we approached the island, we could easily see the dark forms of the magnificent frigate circling above the island like pepper in the sky. But the principal inhabitant is the red-footed booby and it has been established that there could be as many as 4,000 breeding birds. They share this 45 acre paradise of coralline sand and littoral forest with scaly reptiles such as the wish willy (Ctenosaura similes), “bamboo chicken”(Iguana iguana) and nesting loggerhead turtles.
But it was obvious that protected areas really do work as is evident in the healthy populations of numerous species of marine life. I have been visiting this region for approximately 25 years and had watched sadly as the spiny lobster, queen conch and large fish had all but disappeared because of over fishing. It was clear today that these species were on their way back to being well established here within the safety of the park. Huge lobsters waved their antennae at us as we drifted by. A purple waterfall of creole wrasse cascaded over the edge of the precipice we call the “wall.” The ghostly silvery shapes of tarpon hung suspended in the grooves between the immense coral spurs unmoving even as we approached them.
Back on the ship, we were lured into the lounge to sample tasty tacos and sweet juicy bits of fresh pineapple and melon. Recap had started and “tails” of fish and a song of a moray filled the air.
