Rendezvous Caye and Seine Bight, Belize
Dawn found us at Sittee Point off the southern coast of Belize. Belize is a tiny Central American country of no more than 8,860 sq. miles but is home to a rich variety of biodiversity. Our Zodiacs entered the mouth of the Sittee River slowly as we looked around with binoculars glued to our faces. The mangrove trees here provided such a lush exterior that it was difficult to see into. Off in the distance we could hear the cries of the brown jay known locally as the “piam piam”. Aztec parakeets squawked noisily overhead and great egrets flew gracefully past us. Green iguanas scurried out to the end of their branches as if to get a better look at us.
After a hearty and delicious breakfast back on board the ship, the divers got a chance to drop under the water and explore. A spiny lobster stood its ground at the entrance to its home while the antennae of others poked out from beneath the sheet coral. Curious gray angelfish circled around us playfully. Some of the other guests waded into the warm waters from the beach at Rendezvous Caye while the kayakers paddles neatly sliced the surface as they explored the outer edges of the Caye.
Our expedition leader promised a surprise for us all at Seine Bight, our next stop. Seine Bight, located seven miles north of Placencia village, is where a small community of Garifuna people have settled. They are a unique racial blend of escaped African slaves and Caribbean Island Indians that were accepted into Belize after an epic two-century journey across the Atlantic and around the Caribbean.
As we anchored off shore, Bud, our expedition leader announced our surprise! The Garifuna people were going to perform their popular dances for us on the beach at the Nautical Inn. Under the gently swaying coconut leaves, the Garifuna children undulated and gyrated their hips to the rhythmic beat of the primero and secundo drums. One couldn’t help but join the dancing group and soon we were all shuffling our feet alongside the dancers while attempting to imitate the flowing movements of our young friends. Sadly, all good things must come to an end as we said goodbye to Seine Bight.
Dawn found us at Sittee Point off the southern coast of Belize. Belize is a tiny Central American country of no more than 8,860 sq. miles but is home to a rich variety of biodiversity. Our Zodiacs entered the mouth of the Sittee River slowly as we looked around with binoculars glued to our faces. The mangrove trees here provided such a lush exterior that it was difficult to see into. Off in the distance we could hear the cries of the brown jay known locally as the “piam piam”. Aztec parakeets squawked noisily overhead and great egrets flew gracefully past us. Green iguanas scurried out to the end of their branches as if to get a better look at us.
After a hearty and delicious breakfast back on board the ship, the divers got a chance to drop under the water and explore. A spiny lobster stood its ground at the entrance to its home while the antennae of others poked out from beneath the sheet coral. Curious gray angelfish circled around us playfully. Some of the other guests waded into the warm waters from the beach at Rendezvous Caye while the kayakers paddles neatly sliced the surface as they explored the outer edges of the Caye.
Our expedition leader promised a surprise for us all at Seine Bight, our next stop. Seine Bight, located seven miles north of Placencia village, is where a small community of Garifuna people have settled. They are a unique racial blend of escaped African slaves and Caribbean Island Indians that were accepted into Belize after an epic two-century journey across the Atlantic and around the Caribbean.
As we anchored off shore, Bud, our expedition leader announced our surprise! The Garifuna people were going to perform their popular dances for us on the beach at the Nautical Inn. Under the gently swaying coconut leaves, the Garifuna children undulated and gyrated their hips to the rhythmic beat of the primero and secundo drums. One couldn’t help but join the dancing group and soon we were all shuffling our feet alongside the dancers while attempting to imitate the flowing movements of our young friends. Sadly, all good things must come to an end as we said goodbye to Seine Bight.
