The one with all the fishes

 

Though we discovered our interest for kayaking in Vietnam, we discovered our love of kayaking in Guadeloupe. So it just makes sense that we get a chance to do at least a little bit of it when we are back here. Today's excursion took us back to the Réserve Cousteau, and the reefs that surround îlet Pigeon.

We also discovered our love of snorkeling in Guadeloupe, even when the only equipment we could get our hands on were child-sized masks from the grocery store. Now we have better equipment, and though we have been using them extensively this trip, nothing compares to the smorgasbord of fish that populate the reefs in the Réserve Cousteau.

We`ve also discovered the benefits on water shoes this trip. Yes, snorkeling is less work with flippers. I find they make you swim too fast to truly enjoy the sea life below you. 

The schools of fish are very much not afraid of us as we swim by, like this group of Sergeant Majors swimming just below the surface.

Kayak parking - this is a popular area for snorkeling, though as a protected area, there is a limit on accessibility, and vehicle use. Motor boats are not permitted.

The larger of the two island is accessible to us, and has some short hiking trails leading to various view points. It's nice to get out of the water and stretch the legs, too.

More schools of fish, this time in an area called the coral garden.

Floating on the surface.

Corals everywhere - I guess that explains the name!

A brightly-coloured male parrot fish.

Coming up for air - snorkeling is great, but the mask can start to squeeze the face too tightly after a while, so we come in for breaks and snacks.

This guy was not scared of us whatsoever. I saw him open his mouth (beak?). There were lots of teeth!

More Sergeant majors.

Swimming with the fishes.

Snack time for fishes.

They were grazing on the corals like cows in a field - I've never seen fish do that before!

I am having so much fun, I have a hard time wiping the smile off my face!

Stopping for lunch on shore before continuing on with our adventures in the kayak.

We head back to the shore, where a further beach offers more snorkeling, but also the possibility to see sea turtles.  Excited by this prospect, we head over for a look.

There's definitely more coral and fish to see. 

BIG corals.

Searching through the turtle grass, Mario finds a lion fish. Very beautiful, but also very toxic. 

Then we spot an area where snorkelers seem to be accumulating, and sure enough, they are all floating above a sea turtle, grazing in the underwater grass! 

It chomps away at the vegetation for a while, before slowly floating up to the surface for a breath of air. I can see its head poking up above the waves, and then it heads back under for more snacks. Eventually, some really excited girls get in too close with their cameras, and the turtle begins to swim off, the girls close behind. I think they nearly swam into a rock trying to follow the creature, and not looking where they were going!

After a full day out on the water, we headed home. Snorkeling, for me, is a bit of a sensory overload, and I was toast by the end of the night. After dinner, we both crashed in front of the TV and watched random programming until we fell asleep.