You can see IT from our anchorage. IT lies to the left, way off in the distance,
You can also see IT from the beach, as we travelled ever onwards on our afternoon adventures, exploring Martinique in our little white zoom-zoom!
We were getting ever closer to IT, and IT was getting larger, but still seemed forever and far away, off in the distance.
We also saw IT from the Cap 110 Memorial we were just at.
IT stands tall and large, jutting out of the water at impressive and non-describable heights.
Can we call IT an Island? Or should we call IT a rock?? From where we stand it looks quite desolate and dry and well, rock-y.
So why would anyone call IT Diamond Rock?? Le Rocher Diamant en français?? A Diamond in the Rough perhaps?
Last year, when we sailed by it, we captured this photo of it,
It's a volcanic plug, most likely formed millions of years ago. There was some smoke seen rising from one of the caves in 1902 . Yikes.
It's approximately 600 feet high. Inhospitable. Uninhabited. Perhaps home to some animals?
Whoever happened to be King of this Rock could easily rule these waters, the passage to and from these islands.
It's geographic location strategically important. And so it was in the wars between the English and the French. It was occupied by the English for awhile. Commissioned as
HMS Diamond Rock in 1804. And re-captured by the French in 1805.
Interesting tidbit "The British Royal Navy still regards "HMS Diamond Rock" as being in commission. Therefore, Royal navy ships are required, when passing, to show due respect, personnel on the upper deck to stand at attention and face the Rock whilst the bridge salutes" (
wonder if that's true?)
Food for thought: IT's unsinkable.
The billboard tells of hospitals and caves and tunnels on site. The caves served as sleeping quarters for the men.
Doesn't look that comfortable does it? Not even a Sealy Postrupedic would fix that, would it?
There was a system of pulleys and ropes used that raised supplies to the various locations on it. Impressive. Challenging. Ingenious.
And to put you in the mood, a photo of the photo of the billboard.
There are experienced divers who like to be challenged in these waters and swim the currents to explore the caverns below. There are reportedly even sunk cannons to explore. Risky.
And so we have a Rock. A natural habitat. A story of wars. And all that this now needs is a Legend. And sure enough, the billboard panel suggests that the rock was home to "l'homme marin", a Sea Creature seen surfacing in these waters in the early 1600's. A Sea Creature resembling a merman.
Scary stuff.
And so there you go. Believe IT... or not !?