On the sea again
15 March 2011 | Warderick Wells
linda and patty
On the sea again, we traveled to Warderick Wells--a place Gary and I had visited early in our adventure. This is part of the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. In1958, the Bahamian Parliament set aside 176 square miles of land and ocean as a trust. The Bahamas National Trust manages 25 national parks and protected areas within the Bahamas. Warderick Wells is the home of the Park Headquarters as well as the famous BooBoo Hill (where the ghosts from sunken vessels whisper at night) and spectacular snorkeling. We hiked to the ruins where pioneers of the area tried to set up farming in the 1700s and spent time looking out over Exuma Sound. We waited until slack tide in order to avoid the huge currents running from the Sound to the Tongue of the Ocean and then dinghied over to snorkel. It was towards sunset, which is the perfect time to observe lobsters emerge from their hiding places in the reefs. We were treated to the mating dances of several pairs of spiny lobsters, some of them over three feet long and weighing over 20 pounds. It was amazing how fast they moved through the water. In addition, we saw sea turtles, squirrel fish, lion fish, huge grouper and angel fish, parrot fish and many other species. All of these fish and the invertebrates--fan and brain coral, sponges of every color--are protected. Tom and Gary were so anxious to spear a lobster or grouper for dinner, but we have to wait until we get outside of the Park before we can hunt.