Magic Dragon Blog

We decided we were going to check out some of the other anchorages inside the reefs outside of Culebra, so we got up this morning and motored over to Culebrita. Culebrita is a little uninhabited island next to Culebra. We were going to anchor on the south side of Culierita, but boat acquaintances on Safari Tu whom we talked to on the radio on the way, said they were leaving to go to the anchorage on the North side. There had been a pretty big North swell running the past few days, but it was subsiding today and this anchorage is not a good anchorage to be in during a North swell.

We both arrived going through the entrance between the reefs at the same time. There were three other boats there already and we anchored in about 15 feet of water on a nice sandy bottom. Scott, from Safari Tu radioed us after anchoring and asked if we wanted to hike up to see the remains of the old light house on the highest point with them. So after eating a quick late breakfast, we left to go hike up.

The hike up was pretty easy, but very hot. Matthew, Scott and Jen's 9 year old son, was the trail leader and guided us right up to the top of the hill, right through a hole in the fence surrounding the lighthouse marked NO TRESPASSING, and right up the rusting out spiral stair case that led right to the top of the light house for some incredible views of the anchorage and surrounding islands. It was a bit hazy but still nice views.

After the hike, we decided to hike over to the windward side of Culebrita to check out the Jacuzzi's. They are pools of water inside boulders that when the swell is running large or during high tide, the water from the Atlantic come flowing in over the rocks into the pool creating bubbles. These pools were different from the Baths and the Bubbly Pool in the BVI's in that they had marine life in them. One of the Jacuzzi's had a bunch of tiny little baby sea urchins all over the place with lots of other baby Sargeant Major fish. Another Jacuzzi had actual live brain coral and sponges growing in it with even a larger variety of baby reef fish in it. As you would walk through the pool the fish would gather around your feet as the bottom would get stirred up as we took steps and they would gobble up all the algae that would float up. We are guessing that these fish can eventually get out to the open waters during large swells or unusual high tides, but while we were there, there was hardly any wave action making it's way into the pool.

After the Jacuzzi's, we decided to snorkel on one of the reefs here at the anchorage. The water was not the clearest and the coral close to shore was pretty much dead. As we swam our further from shore and in the direction of the entrance to the anchorage, the water started getting more clear with more live coral. We happened to get right in the middle of a passing school of Blue Tang. It was the largest school of Tang we have seen yet with literally hundreds of them! The water starting getting pretty cold and we had a long swim back to the beach so we had to turn around. Tomorrow we plan on taking the dinghy out to another reef that should be more healthy.

By this time it was 5pm, so we showered and headed over for Ti Punch over on Safari Tu. Scott makes the biggest Ti Punch we have ever seen; but we did not complain. We had a great time with them and their two kids Anna, 13 and Matthew 9. These are possibly the two smartest kids we have ever met who are soaking up all of this special adventure that they have been on this season.

At one point they were telling a story about how they keep finding these miniature sea creatures on their boat or in their dinghy. Anna has a jouranl where she has been 'preserving' them behind tape on the pages of her journal. She had a couple of little fish, a crab, a shrimp, and even a tiny tiny octopus. All of these were no bigger than 1/4" long. It was pretty amazing. That brought up the subject of finding other 'treasures' and/or collecting odd things like bottle caps, stickers, and bar coasters. Herb then started telling a story about just the other day on Culebra walking to Flamenco Beach he found a bracelet on the road. It was one of those that had the tiny square letters to spell out words. Herb at first thought it was something in Spanish as it started with EL, then a small knot, then VIS; Herb was saying out loud: 'The' hmmm. what is VIS mean? Then Frank asked, what the next word was. Well, it was PRESLY (spelled wrong, but still) we both busted out laughing! Figure the odds of finding a bracelet in Culebra that said ELVIS PRESLY. All of a sudden, Scott gasped and pointed at his daughter Anna and she pointed to her wrist and said: "just like this one?" !!!!! We could not believe it! Anna had made her Dad a bracelet just like hers and he had lost it (he had not known when or where) on their walk to Flamenco Beach the day before. This is about a 3 mile hike on a paved road! Unbelievable that we found it! Herb still hasn't decided yet whether to give it back. LOL.

As usual Happy Hour lasted until 8:30pm so we apologized for staying so late and hopped back in the dinghy and went back to the boat for a late dinner of a cheeseburger and then BED!