What Rodriguez Key looks like if you don't have a wide angle lens (it doesn't look any different when you do)

Our trip out to Hens and Chickens to go snorkeling didn't go so well. Well the trip did actually. We had an easy, pleasant six hour sail over there and back averaging about 4 kt in light winds. It was the snorkeling that didn't make it. We went to H and C because it's inside the channel and so is supposed to be less chopped up by waves when the outside reefs are rough. The guide books warn, however, that the water can be cloudy and that's exactly how it was. Ann found the visibility to be less than four feet during her checkout of the site. As most of the attractions are more than six feet down, that put an end to the snorkeling.

The other problem we found with Hens and Chickens is that it can be at times just as rough as the outside reefs. Not with wind waves but with power boat wakes. Hens and Chickens lies right in the middle of the channel and is washed by every power boat that passes.

Tomorrow we are going to give Molasses Reef another chance. The winds are forecast to be nearly calm in the morning so we are hoping for a wave free snorkel.