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| Nurse sharks feeding while Don and Katie approach |
Today started out returning to The Coffee Bar and then finding a quick breakfast before our snorkel trip to play with nurse sharks and rays.
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Carleigh decorated the chalkboard at The Coffee Bar
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We then headed across the street to Latitudes Cafe for a quick breakfast. It was really good and a very cute place. Don found his lobster omelet. This little town is so cute. As we were walking the front desk manager of our hotel was eating breakfast with her two little boys and recognized me by name. She asked what we were doing today and genuinely cared about our interaction. The people here are so nice and truly genuine. We haven't encountered any rude or inhospitable locals.
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| our view from breakfast |
We stopped on the walk home for a few pics while the streets weren't yet crowded.
These two pictures - above and below- are Central Park - sort of a town center in San Pedro...colorful benches, statues and playgrounds. It's a sort of gathering spot for locals to hang out.
After returning to the room, we got our gear and headed to Chuck and Robbies dock to meet our boat for our 3 hour snorkeling adventure.
First stop was Hol Chan Marine Reserve. It's a national park of sorts out near the coral reef. You have to pay an admission fee and before anchoring you have to check in with the park rangers (on boat) to pay the entrance fee.
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| the park ranger boat |
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| park ranger boat behind Katie |
Here is some information about Hol Chan - one of Belize's national parks:
Off the southern tip of Ambergris Caye is Belize's oldest marine reserve,the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Hol Chan is Mayan for 'little channel." The entire reserve focuses on a cut through the reef (called a quebrada) which is little more than 25 yards (23 m) wide and 30 feet (9 m) deep about 4 miles southeast of San Pedro.
The reserve was formed primarily as a community-based initiative due to concern over the high level of uncontrolled, often destructive fishing and diving activities in the area. Reserve status was also called for by international organizations such as the New York Zoological Society (NYZS) and Peace Corps, due to the unique formation of the channel, the abundant fishery resources (including conch and lobster) and the feasibility of including an interlinked system of coral reef, seagrass and mangrove habitats in this area.
The entire reserve covers approximately three square miles (7.8 sq km) and is divided into four zones:
All four zones are clearly marked on the surface by buoys. Zone A through C each represents one of the major marine habitat types in Belize. Zone D was recently added as a location where nurse sharks and southern sting rays congregate.
Realizing the importance of the coral reef community off Ambergris Caye, Belize, the Government of Belize established the Hol Chan Marine Reserve on May 2, 1987. Shark Ray Alley was officially declared Zone "D" of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve on August 31st, 1999.
Due to its protected status, what was once a depleted fishing area has now been allowed to re-generate, providing an unparalleled diving/snorkeling experience for visitors and an important refuge for marine life along the northern section of the Belize Barrier Reef.
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| now it was time to snorkel |
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| Don's go-pro at work |
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| the view from the boat |
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| other boats visiting |
We then got back on the boat and headed to Shark/Ray alley. This is a spot that the nurse sharks frequent and have come to appreciate the boats visiting. Our captain told us that the motor of the boats is like a "dinner bell" for the sharks. They then throw some fish chum over and the sharks gather. Everyone got in quickly to view the sharks feeding and then also to see the rays near the bottom.
These are nurse sharks and are harmless to humans. When we snorkeled a few days ago, we saw some on the bottom just hanging out. Their mouths are on the bottom of their head and they don't bother people. This has become a natural spot for them because the fishermen would visit here and dump their "extras" into the water and the sharks would eat it. Since then, boats visit and feed them to attract them for the tourists.
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| feeding the sharks - Katie in green with Don |
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| Don getting a little too close for my comfort |
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| Don, Katie and Carleigh in pink to the right |
After our 3 hour tour to Hol Chan Marine Reserve, we returned and went to Palapa's for lunch. The place was hopping for lunch. We had been there for dinner our first nght. Notice the tubes in the water...you can sit there and the restaurant will bring you your food and their famous "bucket of beer" through a pulley system overhead.
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| The Phoenix from the dock at Palapa |
After lunch we headed back to enjoy the pool for the remainder of the afternoon. And we made the instagram feed again. We met the girl who is in charge of the instagram feed for The Phoenix. She's fairly young and was working many part time jobs on the island to get by and survive. She told us her story - she mentioned to the people at The Phoenix that their instragram "sucked" and they asked her how to improve it...she offered to take it over and is now in charge of The Phoenix and 3 other resorts/hotels and is getting paid by each to do it. She told us how she's found her calling and is making very good money doing this full time.
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| we're in their somewhere :) |
We cleaned up and went to happy hour. After that, Carleigh exclaimed that she was done with island food and just wanted something american....we found Melt - a grilled cheese restaurant. She got what she wanted...an american grilled cheese sandwich. Don had the lobster grilled cheese sandwich.... :)
We stopped in the lobby after dinner before heading back to D and E's Custard for milkshakes and ice cream for dessert.
Today was a fun day - snorkeling and relaxing.
Stay tuned for tomorrow - our last day on the island!!
We are planning on hitting all of the "must do's" before we leave list - souvenir shopping, another coffee shop and ending with some final pool time before packing up to return to reality on Tuesday morning!
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