Southwest Cay and Pta. Sal, Honduras
Morning light found us riding quietly at anchor off Southwest Cay, not far from the island of Utila in Honduras. Like so many of these tiny coral islets sprinkled across the sea here, Southwest Cay looks like a stage set of a tropical paradise. It’s a little hard to believe that we are really here! Just beyond the gently swaying palm trees the water is a color that jewelers and stained glass artists might ache for, a blue that could be called aquamarine or cerulean if these words were not actually utterly inadequate for the task of describing this celestial hue.
Among the healthy coral heads in the shallows, the snorkelers found schools of tangs and grunts, skulking squirrelfish and elegant rays which sailed away on graceful rippling wings. Not far off, just beyond the ramparts of the coral wall surrounding the little island, the divers floated through a weightless world marveling at another astounding shade of blue provided by the Azure vase sponges. Near the end of the dive Vicky spotted this pretty little Hawksbill sea turtle resting among the coral, so relaxed that it merely looked back at us with frank curiosity while we admired it for several minutes.
Lunch, a siesta and a presentation of underwater video (which brought the turtle to a new group of admirers) passed quickly while the Sea Voyager positioned to the mouth of the Rio Tinto on the mainland coast of Honduras. Zodiacs and kayaks were launched and many of us enjoyed an exploration of the lower reaches of the river, which turned up Howler monkeys, toucans, parrots, and an exquisite white orchid low in the branches of a tree overhanging the water. Meanwhile the ship waited in the quiet bay beyond the dramatic rocky teeth at the river’s mouth and some chose to take a final swim off the stern.
As the sun finally set into the tropical haze over the sea, we gathered for cocktails and another delicious dinner, saying farewell to new friends and looking back over our new wealth of memories of the reefs and rivers of the Mayan world.
Morning light found us riding quietly at anchor off Southwest Cay, not far from the island of Utila in Honduras. Like so many of these tiny coral islets sprinkled across the sea here, Southwest Cay looks like a stage set of a tropical paradise. It’s a little hard to believe that we are really here! Just beyond the gently swaying palm trees the water is a color that jewelers and stained glass artists might ache for, a blue that could be called aquamarine or cerulean if these words were not actually utterly inadequate for the task of describing this celestial hue.
Among the healthy coral heads in the shallows, the snorkelers found schools of tangs and grunts, skulking squirrelfish and elegant rays which sailed away on graceful rippling wings. Not far off, just beyond the ramparts of the coral wall surrounding the little island, the divers floated through a weightless world marveling at another astounding shade of blue provided by the Azure vase sponges. Near the end of the dive Vicky spotted this pretty little Hawksbill sea turtle resting among the coral, so relaxed that it merely looked back at us with frank curiosity while we admired it for several minutes.
Lunch, a siesta and a presentation of underwater video (which brought the turtle to a new group of admirers) passed quickly while the Sea Voyager positioned to the mouth of the Rio Tinto on the mainland coast of Honduras. Zodiacs and kayaks were launched and many of us enjoyed an exploration of the lower reaches of the river, which turned up Howler monkeys, toucans, parrots, and an exquisite white orchid low in the branches of a tree overhanging the water. Meanwhile the ship waited in the quiet bay beyond the dramatic rocky teeth at the river’s mouth and some chose to take a final swim off the stern.
As the sun finally set into the tropical haze over the sea, we gathered for cocktails and another delicious dinner, saying farewell to new friends and looking back over our new wealth of memories of the reefs and rivers of the Mayan world.
