Corn Islands, Nicaragua
We are now approaching The Corn Islands, a group of isolated islands that lie about 30 miles off the mainland of Nicaragua. As we approach the island of Big Corn, I can’t help but notice how clear the water is! One can clearly see the seagrass waving up from the bottom! As soon as we clear in with the local officials then we’re on our way again to drop anchor gently on the seafloor off of Little Corn Island. The Zodiacs are lowered and we all head over to one of the beautiful white beaches that seems to go on forever.
The coral heads grow in patches here and there with small juvenile fishes darting in and out around the coral reef and snorkelers. Sea Rods and Sea Plumes move slowly back and forth following the swell of the sea. Brightly colored Christmas Tree Worms festoon nearly all the small Brain Corals and a few large Ocean Triggerfish make their presence quickly and then disappear. A shark is spotted and we think that it’s a Lemon Shark with it’s two large dorsal fins of the same size. Rock boring and Long -Spined Sea Urchins peer out from the darkness of the coral crevices.
Soon, our presence attracts the attention of some of the indigenous Moskitio native children and they frolic in the water beside us. Ashore in the settlement, busily exploring, our guests sample some of the local fruit - the delicious mango!
All too soon it’s back to the ship for another tantalizing lunch as we make our way continually north soon to enter the country of Honduras. And what better way to end the day than with Margaritas on the sun deck and the chance encounter of a “green flash”! So many places to see and so little time.
We are now approaching The Corn Islands, a group of isolated islands that lie about 30 miles off the mainland of Nicaragua. As we approach the island of Big Corn, I can’t help but notice how clear the water is! One can clearly see the seagrass waving up from the bottom! As soon as we clear in with the local officials then we’re on our way again to drop anchor gently on the seafloor off of Little Corn Island. The Zodiacs are lowered and we all head over to one of the beautiful white beaches that seems to go on forever.
The coral heads grow in patches here and there with small juvenile fishes darting in and out around the coral reef and snorkelers. Sea Rods and Sea Plumes move slowly back and forth following the swell of the sea. Brightly colored Christmas Tree Worms festoon nearly all the small Brain Corals and a few large Ocean Triggerfish make their presence quickly and then disappear. A shark is spotted and we think that it’s a Lemon Shark with it’s two large dorsal fins of the same size. Rock boring and Long -Spined Sea Urchins peer out from the darkness of the coral crevices.
Soon, our presence attracts the attention of some of the indigenous Moskitio native children and they frolic in the water beside us. Ashore in the settlement, busily exploring, our guests sample some of the local fruit - the delicious mango!
All too soon it’s back to the ship for another tantalizing lunch as we make our way continually north soon to enter the country of Honduras. And what better way to end the day than with Margaritas on the sun deck and the chance encounter of a “green flash”! So many places to see and so little time.
