Snorkeling in Roatan

This is just starting out from the beach in shallow water.In the middle of a feeding frenzy. It's so cool to feel the fish hit you and I had fun touching them.
Going out a little deeper.This resembles a parrotfish but I don't think it is.Gray Angel fish.In deeper water the fish got bigger.
We liked going in the deep water.I bought a cheap underwater camera and took these pictures. It really was more spectacular than the pictures depict.Click on the picture to enlarge.This is a post card I bought that closely resembles how it looked scuba diving in Belize. We did see a huge lobster just like this one...along with a huge Spotted Eagle Ray... and we were lucky enough to see the poisonous Scorpion fish which our guide told us is rare to see.

Grand Cayman, Island

View on arrival.
Again we had to take tenders to shore.
I think the pirate's of the Caribbean have been following us.
The amazing water on or boat ride out to go snorkeling.
My favorite thing to do.
All the dark spots are reef gardens full of fish.
Of course I am the last one back on the boat. I could stay out there for hours.
After snorkeling we went to a shallow sand bar near the barrier reef and got to walk around and play with the stingrays. All those dark spots are stingrays.
Yes, I got to hold them and they also give you a kiss on the mouth. So cool. These are wild stingray with their barbs still intact. But they are used to people and are very friendly.
I held this one and then let it go.
The guy on the bottom right is kissing one. We all got to do that if you wanted to.
The guides catch and pick them up with ease.
While we were snorkeling the guides grabbed these conch shells; in the U.S. that is a huge fine because they are endangered.
They take a blunt object and go through the top of the shell then pull out the animal. Then they cleaned the shell with a scrub brush.

They cleaned the animal and cut up the meat for all of us to try. It wasn't that bad; but would of preferred it breaded and deep fried.

Belize and Roatan Island, Honduras

We had to take tenders back and forth to Belize from the ship. The ships can't get through the barrier reef.
The Port of Belize's shopping area.We had a 30 minute boat ride to this private island for our instruction to scuba dive. Then after our training we had another 30 minute boat ride to the barrier reef and had the experience of a lifetime free diving down 40 ft. It was a dream come true for me. And Rick was very glad I insisted we scuba too. I wish we could of taken pictures but we weren't allowed to use camera's during our dive.After our dive we got to relax on this private beach before we were taken back to the ship.Pinch me I think I'm dreaming.
On the ride back to the ship we saw several tiny islands. Pretty amazing to see them just sticking out of the water.This is the view we had from our balcony when arriving in Roatan. This was our favorite place. This island was so fascinating.The Port of Roatan's shopping area was the best. Roatan recently became a tourist destination for cruise ships(2009). From what I understand they haven't even had electricity but just in the last few years.
Getting ready to zip line in the jungle.Wild.
The jungle bridge.
Iguanas were everywhere.
Roatan is such a beautiful place.Tabyana Beach is a picture perfect beach, we went snorkeling at the reefs and saw such a variety of fish they were all so colorful. It was like swimming in a tropical aquarium. We hope we can come back here someday. We fell in love with this place.
Looking towards the Caribbean Sea.The swimming area.
Scenes from our ride back to the port.Mahogany Bay Beach near the port.I took these pictures from our balcony as we left the port.Ye ole pirate ship.